To my supporters, my donors, my friends, my fellow voters and my fellow residents of the 8th Congressional District:

On March 4th, 2026, I announced my bid for Congress. Since then, I have been moved by the level of support I’ve received. I will always be grateful to those who backed my campaign, through their encouragement, their criticisms, their time, their energy, and their financial support.

After contemplating the DFL endorsing convention held in Lindstrom on the 2nd, and after long conversations with the people I trust the most, I have decided to abide by the DFL endorsing process and suspend my campaign for the United States House of Representatives.

This isn’t a decision that has come easily to me. I entered this race out of a sense of obligation, both to my Hippocratic Oath and the oath I swore as a member of the United States Air Force to defend the constitution.

Healthcare in our country is in crisis. As the number of uninsured and under-insured patients grows, hospitals in our state and across the country are on the verge of closure. This crisis has been accelerated by the irresponsible cuts made by the Trump administration and supported by Republicans like Pete Stauber. However, this is a crisis we were always headed for. The only solution is to enact a single-payer, universal healthcare system, and we must act fast. Anything short of this is unacceptable and unsustainable.

There are also greater threats our country faces at this inflection point in our history. We are experiencing a level of blatant disregard for the Constitution and the rule of law that is unprecedented in the history of our country. This corruption didn’t occur in a vacuum. It's the direct result of allowing our politics to be funded by corporations and foreign governments. We must end Citizens United. We must demand that the people who represent us refuse to take money from corporate PACs and AIPAC.

While I’m suspending my campaign, I want you to know that this isn’t the end of my involvement in politics. This is only the beginning. My resolve to effect change in our state and our country has never been stronger. I will continue to fulfill my commitment to the oaths I swore. I will continue to fight for healthcare. I will continue to defend the constitution. As for what that will look like, stay tuned.

To my fellow 8th Congressional District candidates: I wish you the best of luck. Let’s continue the fight for democracy and kick Pete out this November.

Wendell Smith, M.D.