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Hello and Welcome

On Tuesday, November 6, 2018, we put the politics of rage, of hate, bigotry, racism and sexism on notice.

We said, you cannot exist in our space, on our airwaves, in our communities and in our elections. Because we announce a new wave, a new generation of young, hungry and passionate progressives who will pick up the mantle of leadership into a new era.

But before we celebrate, we have a world of people to thank.

On behalf of my campaign, I want to thank all our supporters, voters and volunteers. Your money, your countless hours of calling, knocking and lit dropping carries us over the top tonight. As neighbors, constituents and friends, you shared your fears, hopes and dreams with me so I can better represent you at the House. You were the best salespeople to your fellow voters and neighbors in selling our east side vision. Thank you to all our friends, voters and supporters!

I want to give my personal thanks to my campaign team and everyone who has helped us along the way since I declared my candidacy a year ago. The road has not been easy, and we had to fight through a very talented and well qualified field in the convention. Thanks to my campaign staff and advisors who have stuck with me 100% of the way through. Your hard work cannot be repaid for how you believed in me more than I could believe in myself. I cannot thank you enough for leading the charge to get us to this moment. Your wisdom, innovation, bold vision and leadership is a credit to the amazing organizing network in our community. And I cannot tell you how grateful I am to be on your side and the honor I have in knowing the finest organizers in Minnesota. Thank you to my campaign team for inspiring me.

I want to thank last but definitely not least, my family, on whose immigrant shoulders I stand. My family has given me always, their unwavering support. Whether it was cooking meals and providing snacks for volunteers or twisting relatives arms to vote and give money, they are my first campaign team at home and in my life. My parents came to this country as refugees and worked hard all their lives to provide for us, while speaking very limited English. It will be my life's greatest honor to fight for them and others like them, at the Minnesota House. Thank you to my family.

If I see far, it is because I stand on the shoulders of giants. Great respect is due to those leaders who came before us. I want to thank Sheldon Johnson, who has given so much of his life to public service. Sheldon has been staunch champion of the East Side and our neighborhoods, and his wisdom and intelligence has guided us through great changes in the city. I have much respect for Sheldon, having seen him on the job first hand at the legislature. Sheldon, it is great leaders like you who live the mantra of servant leadership, which has inspired an immigrant Hmong kid from the projects like me to come take your job. Thank you for your example and have a wonderful retirement.

The hard work has just begun. The good fight is not over. Though we may celebrate to night, tomorrow brings a new fight, that of governance.

Winning a campaign is hard. But governing is harder, especially if you work in divided government.

I need you to help me help all of us. We need to keep our new progressive leaders accountable. We need to call, write and speak to all legislators to share our issues, vision and concerns. Your advocacy should not end here today. It has just begun.

To keep this momentum worthy of our dreams, we need to organize even more. We need to agitate for greater equity, advocate for even more progressive candidates. We cannot fight alone. I cannot stand alone, and neither should you.

We have arrived.

We changed a narrative and chart a new chapter for all our communities.

Thank you so much for your belief in me. I will fight hard for you.

Jay Xiong
Representative (DFL- St. Paul 67B)
Vice Chair, House Military & Veterans Affairs Policy & Finance Division

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