Eric Freeman

Wow - what an incredible and historical election! Millions of voices showed up by casting early, by mail, and at the polls. Let this be a reminder to us allthat democracy isn’t something that happens to us -  It’s something we build, one vote at a time, and it is only as strong as the people willing to show up for it. And man, did we show up! Take a moment to look at all the history that was made: Congress: Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York) is on track to become the first Black Speaker of the House in January! My home state of Michigan sent Abdul El-Sayed (D-Michigan) to Washington as the first Muslim senator in American history Peggy Flanagan (D-Minnesota), the first Indigenous woman ever to serve in the Senate Chris Pappas (D-New Hampshire), the first openly gay man elected to the Senate Women Governors: Keisha Lance Bottoms (D-Georgia), the first Black woman ever elected governor in American history, and the first woman to lead her state Deb Haaland (D-New Mexico), the first Native American woman elected governor Gina Hinojosa (D-Texas), the state’s first Latina governor Dr. Amy Acton (D-Ohio), the first woman voted into the governor’s office in the state’s history Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), the first woman voted into the governor’s office in the state’s history Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), the state’s first woman governor Stacey Plaskett (D-U.S. Virgin Islands), the territory’s first woman governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R-Arkansas) Kelly Ayotte (R-New Hampshire) Helena Buonanno Foulkes (D-Rhode Island) Jocelyn Benson (D-Michigan) Hannah Pingree (D-Maine) Katie Hobbs (D-Arizona) Tina Kotek (D-Oregon) Maura Healey (D-Massachusetts) Kathy Hochul (D-New York) And potentially, the projected governor-elect Cindy Holscher (D-Kansas). When they take office, a record 17 women will lead their states! Absolutely incredible. For the first time ever, five Black governors will serve side-by-side: Keisha Lance Bottoms (D-Georgia), the first Black governor-elect in Georgia history David Crowley (D-Wisconsin), the state’s first Black governor Aaron Ford (D-Nevada), the state’s first Black governor Wes Moore (D-Maryland), re-elected Byron Donalds (R-Florida), the state’s first Black governor Never let anyone tell you your vote doesn’t matter! Every barrier that was broken, every historical moment is because of every person who stood in line, filled out a ballot, and believed it did.

I want to thank BMO Bank U.S. President, Aron Levine and BMO Head, U.S. Commercial Bank Tony Sciarrino for allowing me to be the keynote speaker at their executive dinner tonight where they hosted 60 CEOs and their spouses from around the country at Pelican Hill Resort.