Last night, Bernie Sanders won Rhode Island — his 18th victory so far. Interestingly, of the four contests yesterday, in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, only the last was an open primary state which allowed independents and even former Republicans to cross over and support a Democratic candidate. Consequently, Sanders won.

He performs well in open primaries and caucuses because party affiliation isn't required in either. This is also why Bernie Sanders lost every single age group in Maryland last night except for voters under 30. Nearly 70% of them chose Sanders — no, not because they think he will "give them free stuff," but because they trust him and have little to no trust or history with the Democratic Party itself.

I'm 36, but I'm in that boat as well. I simply don't trust the Democratic Party. My values don't really line up with their values.

While I've grown to be a huge Bernie Sanders fan, I didn't just vote for Sanders because I think he's cool, I voted for him because the Democratic Party is terribly uncool. What has grown to really matter to me, does not truly matter to Hillary Clinton or the Democratic Party establishment.

Simply put, I just can't imagine ever voting against my conscience.
I'm against the death penalty.

I'm against super PACs and the unfair influence of billionaires on elections.

I'm for a $15 minimum wage.

I'm for free college tuition.

I'm for closing every tax loophole for the rich and corporations.

I'm for avoiding war at all possible costs.

I'm against private prisons.

I'm for universal health care.

I'm for a complete overhaul of the criminal justice system.

Those are ideas that I value with or without Bernie Sanders. It just so happens that he is passionately for these same stances and, by and large, Hillary Clinton isn't.

She supports the death penalty.

She is deeply funded by super PACs.

She has been wishy-washy on the fight for a $15 minimum wage.

She has made millions of dollars speaking to the big banks and super rich.

She voted for the war in Iraq.

She received money from private prison lobbyists.

All of that troubles my soul. I don't hate her or anyone for that matter. I want to see an amazing woman become President of the United States, but if doing so requires me to go against many of my own core beliefs, I'm just not sure I can or will do it.

As crazy as it may sound to many of you, I am still holding out a very real hope that Bernie Sanders can win this nomination. I've done the math. It being a long shot doesn't bother me. This campaign has always had to overcome long odds. Fifteen states, including many where he will perform well, and over 1,000 delegates remain.

All I know is that I am going to hold on to what I believe in most and let those beliefs guide me all the way to November.