John, I have some bad news to share:

One of my opponents, Adam Schiff, just outraised me last quarter – and we need to make up ground fast.

This is a make-or-break moment for me, John, and I still need to raise $18,960 to reach my emergency goal before midn‌ight toni‌ght. Will you donate $5 or more now to help me get back on track, pull ahead in the polls and build a progressive future in the Senate?

Here’s the sad truth: Black women candidates on average raise just one-third as much money as white women (and even less compared to white men) – a metric that has become painfully clear in the fundraising deficit in this race. And, while Black women candidates put our campaign contributions to work as efficiently as possible, there are only so many miracles that we can pull off.

Friend, there is only one reason why a Black woman with decades of progressive experience in politics would lose this primary: money.

Because I have proven time and time again, in more ways than I can count, that I will never waver in my fight for progress. Even if it means standing alone as the sole dissenting vote against what I know is wrong, I will always use my voice to defend those who have been voiceless for far too long.

But I'm not naive, friend. I know that if I don't have the money to compete in this race, I can't win – and I know that as a Black woman, fundraising will always be harder for me. But that doesn't mean that we should give up. Because with zero Black women senators serving right now, I know my voice is sorely needed in the Senate.

But to get to the finish line in this race, it's absolutely critical that I reach my emergency fundraising goal before midnight tonight.

So I'm turning to my supporters in this difficult moment to ask: Will you rush $5 or more – anything you can spare – to help me reach my emergency goal before midnight and help me speak out for progressive values in the Senate?

I'm so grateful for your support. Thank you for coming through when it matters most.

– Barbara Lee