Can I share something with you? When I first decided to run for office, I could have never expected how the next few years would go.

In 2019, just a year into serving in Congress, then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi chose me to be a manager for Donald Trump’s first impeachment trial. Newspapers said it was “unexpected,” with the Denver Post calling me a “surprise pick” for the job.

And to some extent, they were right. Congress is a body of tradition. It takes time to gain seniority — and as a freshman legislator, you’re at the bottom of the rung.

I didn’t come from the usual political background like others before me. But as a former Army Ranger, I was an outspoken voice in defending our national security and advocating for our men and women in arms.

So while I didn’t have the same experiences, I knew we could bring a new perspective to the job. I worked to sift through mountains of evidence and lay out the case to indict Donald J. Trump.

But that fight didn’t end after the trial: In the years since, Donald Trump and his MAGA allies have continued to threaten our democracy and rule of law for personal gain — culminating in this November’s election.

But this election is about more than just Donald Trump. It’s about protecting our values — like the freedom to vote, the freedom to make our own health care decisions, and the freedom for every family to achieve their American Dream.

We can’t afford to pass the buck any longer. We need leaders who are ready to step up to the plate and solve the problems that Americans have struggled with for years. That starts by taking back the House majority and restoring commonsense leadership to Congress.

Can I count on you to donate $10 to help us hit our February fundraising goal, so we can fight to keep Colorado blue and flip the House?

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Thank you,

— Jason Crow