Friend,

When I was a teenager, my dad – a World War II veteran and Purple Heart recipient – was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

It got to a point where he could no longer work. Our family had some help from the VA, but my mom had to step up to keep a roof over all of our heads and cover his rising medical costs. Luckily, back then, the government didn't just say "you're on your own." Veterans benefits, food stamps, federal student loans, and a federal work study were there for us – allowing for my mom to return to school to get a better paying job, and for me and my six siblings to all go to college and get a higher education.

This experience is part of the reason why I fight every day for progressive policies that support working families in Washington state and across the U.S. I've seen firsthand the difference they can make, but to keep up the fight, I need your help.

National Republicans are desperate to retake Senate control this year. In a race experts are calling the "Senate map from hell," we have to invest in defending and expanding our blue majority to keep it – and policies that put working families first – intact.

So before Jan. 31, I'm relying on your urgent grassroots support to help protect our slim majority and keep fighting for the solutions that working families need. Will you please chip in $5 or more today to help me meet my first end-of-month goal of the year, defend our blue Senate, and keep our nation on a path of progress for all?

Thank you for all you do.

Patty Murray