U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar
California Democratic Party State Convention
San Francisco, CA
June 1, 2019

Hello California Democrats. It is so great to be in a state that has led the way on paid family leave, $15 minimum wage, worker protections and reproductive rights.

You are the Golden State Democrats and you have shown us what democracy looks like, giving us not one, but two great women, U.S. senators. You have given us so many new Democrats in the House, and you have given us a Speaker of the House in Nancy Pelosi, who in one great move after she got out of that meeting in the White House, flipped on those sunglasses, and showed us what a strong woman leader was. And when people ask me, can a woman take on Donald Trump? I say one already has, and her name is Nancy Pelosi.

Now, you may have seen my announcement in the middle of that blizzard. You know what happened after that? The president, he sent out a tweet. And he called me snow woman. And he made fun of me for talking about climate change in the middle of a blizzard. Well you know what I did? I wrote back and I said, Mr. President, the science is on my side, and I'd like to see how your hair would fare in a blizzard.

So I announced by that river in the middle of the Heartland, because I wanted to make the point: I don't come from money, but I have grit. And California Democrats if you want to help me out, you should know this about me. I have won every single election I've ever run. And I have always had less money when I started running. And one time I even had to actually call everyone I knew in my life and I set what is still an all time record. I raised $17,000 from ex-boyfriends.

As my husband has pointed out, it is not an expanding base. So anything you can do, write us at AmyKlobuchar.com. Check us out.

So here's my background. It's different than Donald Trump's. My grandpa, a union member, worked 1,500 feet underground in the iron ore mines. He saved money in a coffee can to send my dad to community college. My mom grew up in Wisconsin; she came to Minnesota, a proud union member. She taught school until she was 70 years old. And I stand here before you today as the granddaughter of an iron ore miner, as the daughter of a teacher and a newspaperman, as the first woman elected to United States Senate from the state of Minnesota, and a candidate for president of the United States.

That is because this is a country that no matter where you come from, no matter who you know, no matter who you pray to, no matter who you love, that you can get ahead in America.

But here's what's happening, my friends. We have a president. No, he doesn't respect that. So that is why we must beat him and we must win.

Let me tell you what we need to do.

We need to pass comprehensive immigration reform. Because immigrants don't diminish America, they are America.

And climate change, Donald Trump, isn't happening in 100 years, it is happening right now. That's why I'm not taking fossil fuel money. And that's why as your President, I will sign us back into the international climate change agreement on day one.

We need to tear down the barriers to success and make sure everyone has opportunity and a seat at the table, good childcare, fair housing, and getting our education system back on track. Thank you, California teachers for all that you do. The way I look at it, if billionaires can refinance their yachts, students should be able to refinance their student loan. And when unions are strong, our economy is strong.

What does this mean? Universal health care, it means taking on the pharma companies. And these guys think they own Washington; well they don't own me.

And after that concerted effort to take away a woman's right to choose and send doctors to prison, we stand with the vast majority of Americans, 73%, who do not want to overturn Roe v. Wade. We will not let that happen.

Our democracy must work. And today after that shooting, and what we saw yesterday, we know we take on the NRA, and the only way we do it, is with a strong democracy where everyone can vote.

That means taking the big money out of our politics and passing a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United. That means passing my bill to allow every kid in this country to automatically register to vote when they turn 18. That is how bring back the right to vote.

We need to win in California and the Midwest, and California Democrats. I know how to win in the Midwest. I have won every single red single red congressional district three times including Michelle Bachman's. And and if you think we can't win in the Midwest, I have four words for you. Former Governor Scott Walker. We can do this.

We are on an arc; we are on an arc.

The day after that Inauguration, millions of people marched across this country.

On day nine they showed up at airports to protest that Muslim ban.

On day 100 they marched for science. And my favorite sign "What do we want science? When do we want it? After peer review."

They went into the fall and they won those legislative races. Those Parkland students, they marched and then last fall, we took back this country and made the House of Representatives the people's house.

California Democrats, that is how you shorten that arc of justice, and we must do it again, and we must win. And let's get it done. Thank you, California.
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Ed. notes:  After lauding California Democrats and Speaker Pelosi, Klobuchar led with biography, followed by some policy points and also made the case that she knows how to win in the Midwest..