This letter was originally written for my religious community to share my personal decision to run for President of the United States. I am sharing it publicly to provide transparency about my motivations and to invite broader dialogue on the important issues it addresses. My intention is to foster understanding and to invite support from anyone who shares my vision for a more inclusive and representative government. While I spent over four hours drafting and refining this message, I utilized OpenAI’s ChatGPT for assistance with approximately a third of the editing, language refinement, and organization, ensuring clarity and flow throughout the document.
1,400 words
Read time @ 250 words/minute: 6 minutes
Why I’m Running for President: A Message to my Religious Community
rain on Labor Day
may dharma’s grace bring Healing
fresh for the Sangha
Dear Community Members,
I am writing to inform you all that I am running for the office of President of the United States of America.
I hope this message finds you well, on this rainy Labor Day morning in Portland. As many of us are still easing into the day, possibly adjusting our holiday plans due to the drizzle, I wanted to take this moment to share something deeply important with you.
I have been running for president quietly for over a year now, and this email is to officially notify you of my candidacy and to ask for your support in spreading the word within – and maybe outside of — our Sangha community.
After several months of contemplation last year, I began campaigning in August 2023, but I did not formally file until that September. I switched my formal filing from a party affiliation to independent on August 15th, shortly before Marianne Williamson ended her own campaign on August 17th. This decision came just before the Democratic Party’s convention in Chicago, where the limitations of the current political system became even more apparent to me, especially following President Biden’s decision to end his campaign—a development that came as no surprise to me on a Sunday morning as we gathered downstairs to listen to the Taiko drums together. While I cannot speak to Marianne Williamson’s reasons, I respect her commitment to her principles, as shown by her choice not to endorse any candidate. My decision to run independently stems from a desire to break free from the constraints of the two-party system and to represent a truly inclusive vision for all Americans.
Personal Reflection and Experience
I was raised in a Christian household with a strong belief in the separation of church and state. This upbringing instilled in me the conviction that religious leaders, especially when in their sacred spaces—whether physically elevated or speaking through a microphone—should refrain from endorsing one political candidate over another. In the eyes of the divine, all humans are equal, and our sacred spaces should reflect that equality. While it’s natural for leaders to express support for certain policies or moral viewpoints, endorsing specific individuals can undermine the unity and purpose of our gatherings.
This belief was brought into focus after the attempted assassination of former President Trump. The following morning, our son Joao and I attended a service where Reverend K was leading. He handled the situation with great care, not mentioning names but simply condemning violence and expressing relief that no one was harmed. In that moment, as I closed my eyes and placed my hands together, I felt tears welling up, thinking about the risks I am taking for my family by running for office. Reverend K’s words reminded me of the importance of maintaining a neutral, compassionate stance, especially in times of political tension. This reinforced my view that our sacred spaces should remain free from explicit political endorsements.
Over the past year, however, I have felt that Reverend K has come close to crossing that line on two or three occasions. I had hoped that the gravity of the assassination attempt would mark the end of political commentary in our services, but two weeks ago, I felt that he crossed the line. I spent several hours that evening speaking (transcribed), writing, and editing considering my response before sending an email to Reverend K.
Background and Context
After his comments two weeks ago, I initiated a discussion with Reverend K about the role of political endorsements in religious settings. Recently, during a community gathering, remarks were made that, in my view, seemed to endorse a specific candidate for the upcoming presidential election. While I appreciated his intent to use the story of the blind men and the elephant to illustrate different perspectives, I felt that, in this instance, he had gone beyond what is appropriate in our Dharma hall.
This raised significant concerns for me about the need for neutrality in our community spaces to uphold inclusivity and spiritual sanctity. In our ongoing dialogue, Reverend K and I have discussed how to balance the freedom of speech with the importance of keeping our sacred space welcoming for everyone, regardless of political affiliation. Recognizing the importance of this conversation, we have tentatively decided to collaborate on an essay to explore these perspectives in greater depth.
My Campaign and Motivation
I have been reflecting on these experiences and my journey toward this candidacy. In 2016, I voted against both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, casting my vote for a third candidate. After Trump’s inauguration, I began considering how I could serve my country and realized that I might be a good candidate for the presidency. After several years of hesitation, and a poorly attended “exploratory speech” with family and friends in mid-2019, I finally committed to this path in August 2023.
You may not have heard about my campaign because I haven’t been canvassing or setting up tables outside the temple. Many Americans believe that ending the two-party control over the presidency is an impossible task, but I believe it is necessary to return the presidency to the people, with a candidate who is independent-minded, a veteran, and committed to doing the right thing for all Americans, regardless of political affiliation.
Clarifying My Decision to Reach Out
Given Reverend K’s recent remarks and his belief that political discourse is welcome within our community, I felt it necessary to inform you all of my candidacy in the least intrusive way possible.
I seriously considered setting up a table and banner outside the temple gates with flyers to politely make the community aware of my campaign. I debated choosing September 1st or September 7th before the NW District Convention, however, especially after a recent major anniversary event, I ultimately decided against physically canvassing outside OBT’s gates. I recognize that such actions could be seen as disruptive or disrespectful to our sacred space.
Instead, I chose to send this email because I believe it allows for a more respectful engagement. This format enables you to ignore or reflect on my message in your own time and space, without feeling pressured or distracted during our gatherings. It was important to me to communicate my candidacy in a way that aligns with our community’s values and ensures that our Dharma hall remains a place of spiritual refuge, free from political contention.
Call to Action
As part of this effort, I invite you all to sign up for our email list @ https://www.fialforward.com/ at the bottom of the page. This week we’ll start our first “Wacky Wednesday” bullet-point emails, intended as a fun, non-political weekly message to stand alongside our more serious campaign updates on weekends. You can stay informed and entertained while supporting a campaign that aims to break away from the norm.
Additionally, our social media presence is growing, but we still need your help to reach more people. Our latest video, where I discuss some fleeting suicidal thoughts I had as a teenager, was posted last night, but our best video’s performance has yet to break 2,000 views. You can watch it here.
Our campaign runs on a shoestring budget. Unlike the two major political parties, which are heavily fueled by wealthy donors seeking to maintain their power, we are driven by a desire to return the presidency to the American people. I believe we can win this election and make history with less than $100 million—just 10 million Americans donating $10 each. If you can take one actionable step today, please consider donating $10, sharing this email with everyone you know, and spreading the word on social media, email, or even by word of mouth.
While some Americans may think a write-in campaign is impossible, especially for an independent candidate, it’s my job—not the job of the voters or supporters—to find the strategic path forward. There is no reason to wait for 2028 or 2032. There’s still time in 2024 to make this a historic election and return our country to its constitutional roots.
Please visit FialForward.com to donate and learn more about how you can get involved. Every share, every conversation, and every donation brings us one step closer to healing.
Thank you for taking the time to read this open letter. I deeply respect the diversity of political views and understand that my message might evoke a range of emotions. If you’d like to share your thoughts, especially if they are passionate or in strong disagreement, I encourage you to reach out to me directly through the contact information provided on this blog. I want to reassure you that you have not been added to any email list by reading this post. This outreach is a unique circumstance, and I hope it is the only time I need to communicate in this manner. My intention is not to use any community for political gain but to inform you of my journey and seek your understanding and support in whatever form feels right to you.
The haiku, once again:
rain on Labor Day
may dharma’s grace bring Healing
fresh for the Sangha
I wish you a peaceful and reflective Labor Day.
With reverence, 
— John Fial
www.fialforward.com : 2024 Presidential Campaign