About 4 months in the past, I canceled my well being care plan. A few months earlier than that, I put my scholar loans — of which I nonetheless
About 4 months in the past, I canceled my well being care plan. A few months earlier than that, I put my scholar loans — of which I nonetheless owe $30,000 — into forbearance. My story isn’t distinctive amongst working-class millennials within the nation. However what units me aside is that I needed to do all of this as a result of I made a decision to run for Congress.
Final February, I took a leap of religion and entered the congressional race for my residence district, Georgia’s Seventh. Working for workplace comes with loads of recommendation from well-meaning buddies and colleagues concerning the lengthy hours, the time spent making cellphone calls and shaking arms, the scrutiny into your private life. However few warned me about cash.
So I’m right here to inform you what I’ve realized: Political campaigns are sometimes a pastime for the rich, that means they’re off-limits for working-class folks with backgrounds like mine. Let’s begin with the truth that it’s almost not possible to run for Congress whereas holding down a job. Campaigning is a full-time endeavor that requires having sufficient cash to stay and not using a wage for months on finish. It additionally normally means paying out of pocket for medical insurance, forgoing cash that might have been put towards a retirement account, shopping for a home, or caring for family members.
All of this may be effective should you’re independently rich, however that’s not me. I grew up in Gwinnett County because the daughter of Bangladeshi immigrants, attending Gwinnett public faculties. My father was a file clerk with the IRS for almost 30 years, and my mom has labored a number of low-wage jobs all my life. I labored odd jobs as a young person and in faculty, placing myself via college and serving to my household make ends meet.
I by no means thought I used to be electable. However 2018, the yr we elected essentially the most numerous Congress in historical past, confirmed me that “electability” is a fable. So I got here again residence and labored actually laborious to place collectively a grassroots marketing campaign.
And but, laborious work isn’t sufficient. Individuals like me can do all the pieces of their energy to chop prices and climb the ladder, and nonetheless discover themselves on the backside financially.
I believed I’d be capable to maintain down a part-time job waitressing or driving for Uber whereas campaigning, however the calls for — calling and assembly with voters, attending occasions throughout my neighborhood, pursuing endorsements — turned too excessive. For some time, I used to be paying out of pocket for a junk well being care plan. It was sadly the one plan I might afford, particularly since Georgia has refused to broaden Medicaid. I knew the plan wouldn’t do a lot for me if I bought sick or bought damage on the path, so ultimately, I canceled it. Having no earnings additionally means I’ve eaten sufficient packets of greenback ramen to final a lifetime.
My scenario is troublesome, but it surely’s not distinctive. Working-class folks don’t normally run for Congress, and after they do, they usually discover themselves struggling like I’m. It’s laborious to construct up impartial wealth should you aren’t paid pretty, and girls and other people of coloration are disproportionately impacted by the wage hole. I’m struggling to assist simply myself, and I do know it could be almost not possible for me to proceed my bid for Congress if I had a household to look after too. It’s no marvel almost 40 p.c of Congress members are millionaires. Three of my opponents on this race have spent greater than $250,000 to self-fund their campaigns.
If we don’t get rid of obstacles that forestall candidates from supporting themselves whereas working for federal workplace, we’ll proceed to see a Congress that’s largely composed of rich, older white males. People will likely be disadvantaged of illustration by individuals who perceive their lived experiences, and can proceed to battle underneath mounting scholar and medical debt.
The Federal Election Fee at the moment doesn’t permit candidates to make use of marketing campaign funds for well being care. I’m difficult the FEC to change its rules and to explicitly permit working-class candidates to make use of marketing campaign funds to pay for well being care, so a minimum of one hurdle to working for Congress is eradicated for the non-wealthy.
I’ve hope that the FEC’s place will change. Liuba Grechen Shirley, an activist and founding father of Vote Mama, efficiently petitioned the FEC to make use of marketing campaign funding for child care costs in 2018 whereas working for Congress, and it’s why I’m hoping to alter the face of well being care funding for candidates for years to come back.
Working for Congress has taught me that the method shouldn’t be designed for the working class. It’s additionally taught me that voices like my very own are badly wanted within the Home of Representatives. And that begins with making a system the place folks like me can run within the first place.
Nabilah Islam is a Democratic activist working for Congress in Georgia’s Seventh Congressional District.