I took my first oath to serve the United States of America when I was 18. My grandfather was a pilot in World War II, and ever since I was a little girl, it had been my dream to serve as a pilot, just like him. After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy, I served as a helicopter pilot for nearly 10 years, flying missions across Europe and the Middle East. When I returned to the United States, I obtained a law degree and eventually took my next oath to serve the United States, this time as a federal prosecutor in New Jersey. I have spent most of my life fighting for this nation and our values.  Those values are the same values that I learned from my grandparents and my parents when they raised me: Serve your country, fight each and every day for a brighter future for your children and your community, and your country will have your back.

But right now, the people who represent us in Washington do not have our backs. I’m not just speaking of President Trump. The lack of earnest representation of our American values and our economic needs is widespread. We only have to look in our own backyards to see that our representatives have turned against our interests in favor of personal politics. Representative Rodney Frelinghuysen may have started his tenure 22 years ago as a “moderate,” but in recent years, the promise of party power has convinced him to serve according to his own interests rather than the desires of his district. Since November, he has voted down the line in agreement with President Trump. And the President is anything but a “moderate.”

Representative Frelinghuysen voted for the House’s bill to repeal the Affordable Healthcare Act – effectively taking away healthcare from tens of thousands who need it most, including 33,000 people in his own district – after he promised us that he would not. Even more concerning is the fact that he has refused to meet in person with his constituents for over 1,500 days. To me, listening to the concerns of the citizens you represent is job one for any Congressperson. His actions demonstrate his lack of compassion and his disrespect for the public trust that has been given to him for over two decades.

This is why I’ve decided to step up and run for Congress. Congress is the people’s house, and the oath of office is a promise to work for the citizens you serve. But when the very people who have sworn to serve us turn against our best interests, they dismantle our Democracy and the values that uphold it. I believe it is our responsibility to speak up and demand accountability.

As a mother of four, I see no way forward but to continue fighting for a better future. That future includes a stronger middle class, infrastructure that supports economic growth, and quality and affordable education and healthcare for all. In times like these, we need leaders who will stand up for our values, and put people before personal interest. In Congress, I will be the leader who puts our communities first.

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Mikie Sherrill is running for Congress in New Jersey in District 11. She served as U.S. Navy helicopter pilot and U.S. Federal Prosecutor. She is a mother of four and she spent most of her life fighting for our nation and for our values. She will ensure America’s children have a bright future.