In June, just before his strong primary victory over a conservative Democrat, Nate Shinagawa introduced himself to Blue America supporters with a guest post about the role of young leaders in our democracy. Tuesday, he's being formally endorsed by Blue America and he'll be joining us for a live blogging session here at 2pm, EST. To set the mood, we want to give everyone an opportunity to get to know Nate a little better by watching the video he recorded for us yesterday (above).

His compelling personal story is quintessentially the All American story-- like every last one of us, his antecedents had come to America, struggled, persevered and quickly begun to love and cherish their new homeland and the opporunities it offered. His Japanese ancestors were interred in concentration camps while his grandfather joined the U.S. Marine Corps to fight for the country that was the only home they had ever known. That story helped to define how Nate saw himself as he grew into the best America has to offer itself. This week he's our latest Blue America candidate and the third energetic progressive we have endorsed who has gone through the training of People For the American Way's Young Elected Officials network (YEOs). Nate's story led him to explain his campaign to us as one "about being brave and fighting for a government that provides for its senior citizens, creates opportunities for its young people, and protects the pristine lands and waters of this great country."

Tuesday you'll read more about his Tea Party opponent, Tom Reed and meet Nate himself. Please come by the live chat and please, if you can, consider making a contribution to Nate's grassroots campaign against a corporately funded teabagger.