John, you wouldn't believe how many folks have told me this on the campaign trail.

But it never ceases to disappoint me. Because, like Adam, I have served in Congress for over 20 years. I’ve sponsored over 600 bills. And I’ve brought tens of millions of dollars home to California for infrastructure and transportation projects. 

The difference? Adam is a white man, and I am a Black woman.

You see, since 1789 there have only been two Black women elected to the Senate – Vice President Kamala Harris and former Senator Carol Moseley Braun. Together, they served a total of just 10 years.

Maybe that’s why, when people think about what a senator looks like, they don’t think of a Black woman with decades of experience like me – they think of someone who looks like Adam Schiff. But I think it's high time we change that.

Already, we've made up several points in the polls while raising significantly less than my opponents. Now, I'm just 3 points away from qualifying for the general election. And I know that, with your help, I can get there and finally shatter this glass ceiling – even though I don't look like the stereotypical senator. 

So please, can I count on you to chip in $5 or more to my campaign ahead of my midnight fundraising deadline so I can become just the third Black woman elected to the Senate and build a progressive future for all of us?

Thank you for standing with me in this fight.

– Barbara Lee