The Holocaust did not begin with labor camps, ghettos, concentration camps, pogroms, or death squads. None of it suddenly happened. It happened under our noses and it began with the normalization of discrimination and hate. It began with party loyalty over moral integrity.

I'm in the Washington Post​ today, where I was interviewed for a story about what unites us as Americans. When I feel the frustration of political division, I remember that we are a young country, and that we are bound as Americans--simply through our presence in this country--by our shared sense of exploration, innovation, and courage.

Megan Hunt, 31, of Omaha, Neb., is co-founder of a clothing company and a single mom. A sixth-generation Nebraskan, she’s running for state Senate. “We have the highest population of refugees in the entire country. I have to do everything in my power to make sure the state is a place where they can put down roots, where they can say, ‘I’m an American, I’m accepted by my community, I belong here. And I contribute here.’ ”

"AMBITIOUS AND LASER-FOCUSED, MEGAN HUNT, 1/2 OF HELLO HOLIDAY, CURRENT CANDIDATE FOR STATE LEGISLATURE AND MUCH IN BETWEEN, IS DEFINITELY BOTH A DREAMER AND DOER. DETERMINED TO MAKE A STATEMENT FOR ALL FASHIONABLE, QUIRKY, FREE-LOVING WOMEN AROUND HER AS WELL AS FIGHTING FOR WHAT SHE BELIEVES IN WHERE SHE RESIDES - MEGAN IS MAKING HER MARK IN SEVERAL WAYS. GET INTO THEM."

"However people come into advocacy and activism is great," she told me when I asked about this. "But lasting policy change can't be a reaction. If I didn't have strong policy ideas and know that I'm the best candidate to implement them, I wouldn't waste my time running reactively."

In 2018, I wish for everybody the fortitude, compassion, and courage to find common ground on that which works to divide us. And I wish for you an abundance of success and happiness, and to find all the good that 2017 owes you.

I’m proud to have received the endorsement of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen! I thank them for their encouragement and support of my campaign. I look forward to standing with working men and women all across Nebraska by supporting integrity, transparency, and public safety in the Unicameral.

Today I’m launching my end of the year fundraising drive, #RunMegRun. I’m setting a goal to receive contributions from 1,000 individual donors before the end of the year, which is my first filing deadline as a candidate. It’s a really big deadline for me and I want you to be a part of it by being counted as a contributor in my first financial report.