John,

The first end-of-quarter deadline of my campaign is less than 36 hours away. We’re statistically tied with Rick Scott in a new poll, so we need to show strong fundraising numbers here to make sure he can’t pull ahead of us. But right now, we’re $32,119 short of my $350,000 goal.

That’s why I’m about to ask you to make a $25 donation to my campaign. But first, will you let me explain why I’m in this race? (If you’re ready to donate now, you can click here to split an end-of-quarter gift between Fight for Progress and my campaign.)

I came to this country as a 14-year-old immigrant from Ecuador. My family lived in a one-room apartment, and my mom worked double shifts to pay the bills. I got a job at the local doughnut shop to help her make ends meet.

I’ve seen firsthand just how difficult it is for working families to get by. But I’ve also seen the incredible opportunities that are only possible in America.

I was able to attend college, give back to my community, and become the first South American immigrant ever elected to Congress. And, after years of long shifts and late-night classes to learn English, my mom was able to retire with dignity thanks to Social Security and Medicare.

Make no mistake: There’s a lot of work that we have to do to make sure that every family has the chance to achieve their American Dream. That’s why I’m running for Senate — to protect and expand the opportunities that made my story possible.

I’m running against Rick Scott, who’s spent his career attacking those opportunities and threatening vital programs like Social Security and Medicare. He has a personal fortune of up to a quarter of a billion dollars to fund his campaign. That’s why I’m counting on a grassroots army made up of people like you to fight back.

Please, will you split $25 between Fight for Progress and my campaign before midnight tonight to help me hit my end-of-quarter goal and protect the opportunities that make the American Dream possible?

Thank you,

Debbie