Connie Schultz’s husband

Love is about showing up for people.

Happy Valentine’s Day.

Tonight, I’ll be having dinner with my favorite person – my wife and biggest supporter, Connie Schultz.

I love sitting with Connie and talking about everything: our days, the people we met and, of course, how the Guardians are going to do this year.

Connie and I have been together for 23 years now. She’s been with me through the good days – and the not-so-good days. And she’s always reminded me why this fight matters because, at the end of the day, the choices we make have real consequences for real families.

In fact, when I asked Connie out on our first date back in 2003, she had just one thing she needed to know before she would say yes. She wanted to see my voting record – on reproductive rights and on LGBTQ+ rights. Both had to be 100%. Otherwise, no date.

I passed the test. And I learned something important right then: Connie has always believed that what you stand for matters, and showing up for the people you care about isn’t optional.

That hasn’t changed over the past two decades.

Most evenings, Connie and I walk our dogs, Franklin and Walter. Those walks are where I talk out policy ideas or conversations I had earlier that day. Conversations like I had with a mom worried about how she’s going to afford her kid’s prescriptions, an auto worker whose plant just shut down, or a retiree scared they won’t be able to keep up with rising rents.

Connie listens. She asks questions. She challenges me. And she reminds me, over and over again, who this fight is for.

It’s not for politicians in Washington. It’s not for cable news. It’s not for billionaires.

It’s for the people who make this country work – the people who work hard every day, hustle for tips, or care for a family member. The people who are doing everything right and still falling behind.

That’s why I’m in this fight. For the people who are being pushed aside in a system rigged against them. And that’s what Connie always brings me back to.

I’m especially grateful for her support right now, because winning this race won’t be easy. But two new polls show we’re leading by a slim margin and I know we can keep our momentum going because of a belief Connie and I bonded over long ago: When working people show up for one another, real change is possible.

I’ve seen it in working families who help each other with child care and I’ve seen it in Ohioans who refuse to let divisive politicians tear us apart.

Love isn’t just about flowers or cards. For me, it’s about commitment. It’s about showing up – again and again. Connie has done that for me for 23 years. And I see Ohioans do it for each other every day.

On this Valentine’s Day, I’m so grateful. Grateful to be in this fight. And grateful for the people of Ohio. And the thousands of folks who have joined this team.

And I’m grateful for you, Connie. For 23 years of dinners. I love you.

In love and solidarity,

Sherrod

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Hi there! 👋 Before you scroll away:

Sherrod Brown is running for U.S. Senate in Ohio to make life better for working people. He’s delivered real progress to Ohioans and pushed the fight for the Dignity of Work to the forefront of the national conversation.

Winning this race won’t be easy, however. Polling is statistically tied, and dark-money super PACs are set to spend millions to defeat him. We need your help to fight back and fuel our grassroots campaign to victory. Will you chip in today to help Sherrod flip this seat and give workers a real voice in Washington?