I'm Ericke Cage and I'm just a small town country boy from Halifax County and darn proud of it!

After many months of discussion and personal reflection, I am excited to announce my candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 5th District. I'm running as a Democrat, but I'll be fighting for all voters in Central and Southern Virginia.

Growing up in a hardworking middle class family in rural Halifax County was a tremendous character building experience that was full of teachable moments, lasting impressions, and fond memories.

Although we were small town kids our parents always encouraged us to dream big and regularly offered a simple promise, which assured that if we worked hard, got a good education, and stayed on the right side of the law, there was nothing that we could not achieve. For me and countless others growing up in rural Virginia this simple promise--this Virginia Promise--become a reality thanks to hard work and the unwavering support of family and community.

They say that you can take the boy out the country, but that you can't take the country out of the boy. Looking back over my own career in public service, I reckon I'd have to say that there's some truth to that. Whether through my service as a high school government teacher in Halifax County, or my work in Congress alongside Tom Perriello on behalf of our military veterans, I have never lost sight of my small town roots and have been extremely honored to serve Central and Southern Virginia at home and in our nation's Capital.

When I travel through Central and Southern Virginia today and see vacant storefronts in areas which once were bustling with commerce - or run into one of my most promising former students and learn of dreams deferred - or watch the ongoing partisan gridlock and dysfunction in Washington DC - I become deeply troubled about the future of the 5th District of and our country.

For far too many of our children and working families the promise of a bright and boundless future has become unattainable. For far too many women the promise of equal pay for equal work has been denied. And for far too many of our seniors the promise of retiring with dignity and respect has gone unfilled.

I'm running for Congress because I believe that every citizen deserves a voice in government, that every child deserves a rigorous high quality education, that every individual deserves equal footing in the eyes of the law, and that every rural community deserves a fighting chance at economic prosperity.

As a common-good leader, I will stand up for what is right, speak out against what is wrong, and work a double shift to advance commonsense policies that move our nation forward while leaving no one behind.

I'm Ericke Cage and I'm just a small town country boy that stands for strong working families and a strong future for Virginia's children. I look forward to meeting with you and to earning your support.

May God bless your family, the great Commonwealth of Virginia, and our nation