Friend, this is a longer email than I usually send, but I want to take a minute to tell you why I first ran for Congress in 2018, and why I decided to take on Ted Cruz in 2024. 

Before that, I have to respectfully ask: If you're ready to help me defeat Ted Cruz and give Texans the leadership we deserve, will you chip in a couple bucks to our campaign today? →

Friend, I was lucky to have a strong support system growing up in Texas. My mom, a Dallas public school teacher, raised me on her own and took on extra jobs to make ends meet. My aunt and uncle were always around to lend a hand, not to mention my coaches, teachers, and the staff at the local YMCA. 

With their support, a lot of hard work and a little luck, I earned a full ride football scholarship to Baylor and made it to the NFL. After that, I became a civil rights lawyer and eventually decided to run for Congress to serve the community that gave me so much. 

I ran for Congress because my story shouldn't be the exception, it should be the rule.

It was an uphill battle to get here – I took on a 22-year Republican incumbent. But again, with a lot of hard work and a lot of support, this time from a strong team of grassroots supporters, I flipped this seat blue and helped Democrats flip the House in 2018.

Since I was elected, I've worked hard to help build a government that doesn't kick families when they're down, but creates the ladders of opportunity to help folks chase their version of the American dream – like affordable and accessible health care and a strong economy with good-paying jobs. I'm proud of the work I've done in Congress – but there's still so much to be done.

I know that to build on that progress and tackle the fights ahead, I need to defeat Ted Cruz. 

I know that Texas couldn't afford another six years of Ted Cruz's dangerous extremism, and that he only won his last election by just 2.6%.

And since I launched my campaign, the results have been incredible. This grassroots team has continued to defy expectations, keep up with Ted Cruz's dark money millions, and has enabled me to reach voters across the state. 

Ted Cruz is terrified, especially after a brand-new poll showed us statistically tied, with 11% of voters still undecided. But we're finally in the election year, and it's only going to get harder from here. If we want to beat him, it's going to take the biggest, strongest grassroots movement Texas has ever seen, and I'm counting on you to be a part of it. So I'm personally asking: Will you chip in $5 right now to power my fight to defeat Ted Cruz? →

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I'm so grateful to have you on this team. 

– Colin