Last week I officially announced my endorsement of Senator Bernie Sanders for President of the United States.
Conventional wisdom is that it is not politically expedient for a congressional candidate to make a primary (or caucus) endorsement because of the risk of alienating other voters.
My decision to come forward with an endorsement was based on many things, but primarily it was this:
Political expediency is the antithesis of representative democracy.
I entered this congressional race specifically to mount a campaign that was not contingent upon polls, but relied on following the compass of my conscience as I listened to people’s concerns.
That has meant calling attention to LGBTQ rights when those civil rights were not front and center. That has meant calling attention to climate change when pundits said that wasn’t an election issue. It means taking on the gun lobby and corporate special-interests even when surrounded by the immense influence of both.
This is a time in American history when the Progressive Movement must be bold and genuine. That does not mean that we are creating “extremism”; it means we must adhere to uncompromised “rationalism.” It means that our actions must be based on reason; from research, from the facts that history provides, and making decisions that benefit a Republic of, by and for, the people.
My political ideology, which holds the Preamble to the Constitution to its highest standard, and my purpose to work toward changing a course 
moving us toward oligarchy, aligns with Senator Sanders. I see no reason to hide or dodge that association. In fact, to do so would betray my own premise for running.
No endorsement should be a blank check, but rather a testament to the character of the candidate and the conviction of their purpose. I may differ with Senator Sanders on some issues, but where I will always find sturdy ground is the fact that he is not swayed by the winds of political expediency; he follows his conscience.
As Senator Sanders says at every event, “This movement is not about me, it is about all of us.” My goal is to get to Washington as the representative from Iowa’s First District, but my race is 
not about me, either. It is about upholding the ethical and moral responsibility of a Constitution that begins with:
“We the People…”
www.kroegerforcongress.com
