Friend,

Back in 2010, I was a first-term congressman up for reelection during the Republican Tea Party wave – a wave that saw huge GOP gains in the Senate and the beginning of a Republican House majority that would last eight years.

In all honesty, the odds were stacked against me in that race, and national GOP interests were determined to see me lose. But I've never backed down from a tough fight in my entire life. I campaigned hard across my district in Michigan, and I was one of only a handful of freshman Democratic members of Congress who won reelection that year.

I owe a lot of that grit to my parents. Dad was a World War II veteran who poured his heart into teaching in Michigan public schools for three decades. Mom was an SEIU steward who organized the heck out of her workplace – for the betterment of her family and colleagues. They inspired me to work hard so I could put myself through school and join the Navy Reserve.

So you know what comes to mind when I hear that I'm one of the most targeted Democratic senators up for reelection this year? Or that I'm one of the few senators fighting to win in a state Donald Trump carried in 2016? I think of Mom and Dad and how hard they worked, always, for the betterment of others. I think of that House race when the odds seemed impossible, but we won. 

That's my motivation, friend, and I'm determined to win and keep fighting for the people of Michigan. For good middle-class jobs, for our environment, for affordable health care and quality public education. But I can't win this thing alone.

Will you rush a contribution of $3 now to help me win? Whatever you chip in will ensure we have the resources to defend Michigan's Senate seat and take back the Senate for Democrats.

I've fought and won tough campaigns before, friend. But this time around, at least TWO right-wing super PACs and a dark money group have funneled big money into attacking me – not to mention that Betsy DeVos' family is dropping nearly $1 million to defeat me.

But do you know what I say to all of them? Go ahead and try. My right-wing opponent can depend on Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump and all the billionaire money he wants. I'm determined to win this thing the right way: by standing up for the people of Michigan and fighting with a grassroots team. 

The truth of the matter, however, is this: Our race in Michigan will decide Senate control. Plain and simple. And with polls showing me in a dead heat with my Trump-backed opponent, falling behind our fundraising goals puts us in danger of losing. And after checking in with my finance team, we're $8,100 short of what we need to win.

I'm proud to have you on this team, friend, and I'm proud of everything we've accomplished so far. I know we can win this, but we've got to come together and fight harder than ever. So I'm asking: Will you make a donation of $3 – whatever you can spare to help us defend Michigan's Senate seat – so we can win this reelection and take back the Senate for Democrats?

Thank you very much. 

Gary