Good morning bread friends!

It has been a while since I woke up early enough to literally sit and watch the darkness of night fade away as the light took over the sky. But that is what I did today.

I had no particular intention to watch today’s sunrise, but I inadvertently woke up around 4:45 a.m. For a while, I lay in bed trying only to think about falling back asleep. But it turns out that sleep was no match for how eager I was for the polls to open at 7 a.m.

🎉 Today is election day! While I’ve done my fair share of door-knocking to remind people to vote early… truth be told… my family has a strong preference for voting in person on election day.

Democracy is a process that requires active participation. I count myself blessed to have had the opportunity to run for office in the past. While most people probably won’t participate in democracy by putting their own name on a ballot, we can all do our part to vote in elections.

In a moment in time where politics & politicians are so often derided, I feel really grateful that we have kind & earnest people running for office right now here in Wisconsin.

I have made my feelings known about Ron Johnson in previous newsletters. I could write a long letter about Senator Johnson and how his lies, election denying, and racism threaten the safety of my family… but frankly I don’t want to. And for that matter, Wisconsin’s largest newspaper (whose editorial board certainly does not consider itself liberal) has already done the work of writing a scathing and detailed accounting of why Ron Johnson is “Wisconsin’s worst senator in decades”.

Instead, I want you to know that Mandela Barnes is a kind and hard-working man. He’s been a friend to me for many years now. When he first decided to run for Lieutenant Governor ~5 years ago, I was excited because I knew he’d wake up every day working to build a Wisconsin that is safer, more sustainable, and more fair. That is the Wisconsin that I want to raise my kids in.

By now you’ve likely read or heard plenty about him from a political perspective. There is plenty to be proud of on that front… but I just want you to know what I know about him. He is someone who shows up for people when there is nothing in it for him, he works insanely hard, and keeps his word.

We desperately need more kind and earnest people in federal office. On character alone, he’ll make an excellent United States Senator.

Likewise, Tony Evers is a decent and kind man. I believe that he has done a good job as Governor during one of the most tumultuous 4 year stretches in recent history. After ~10 years of Wisconsin’s public investment into public education systemically shrinking, I’m thankful that he’s spent his tenure prioritizing re-investing in our schools. It is literally essential to our state’s future and I’m excited for him to continue that investment for another 4 years.

I hope you vote today Wisconsin friends.

Even if you’re not in Wisconsin, I hope you are voting today. With some 60% of Americans having election deniers on the ballot today, it is as important as ever to be sure that you engage in our democracy.

Cheers,
Mo

P.S. I’m sincerely humbled by how many of you have asked about when bread is returning for sale. I so appreciated the supportive notes when I decided to take a break from weekly bread-making for the summer, and I’m doubly thankful that folks haven’t given up on me when summer turned into fall. It has been a much more busy season than I expected.

Here is the scoop: I’m going to start making bread again soon. I’ve determined that waking up at 4 a.m. twice a week in order to produce as many as 50 loaves a week isn’t going to be the schedule that I return to. But I do miss making bread for you all, and I am confident that a more pop-up type of schedule will work as I balance the bakery with the growing demands of my day job, my work travel, and my family. More on all of this soon… but I anticipate having an announcement of a bread sale again in the coming weeks.

P.P.S. I waited until after I voted this morning to send this email. The line was long and the vibes were great! Happy election day. 🗳

Bread & Justice

🗳Voting for kindness & democracy today