Friend, it's official: Trump is the presumptive GOP nominee. This is a huge victory for far-right extremism and corrupt politicians like Rick Scott. But it is a devastating loss for America and all of us who are proud to call it home.

It's hard to speak truthfully about Donald Trump without sounding hyperbolic: The GOP presidential nominee is a man who's facing more than 90 criminal charges, who incited a deadly insurrection to try to hold onto power, who attacked our service members and praised foreign dictators like Putin, who told grieving families to "get over" a school shooting, who spread lies and sowed chaos during a deadly pandemic, and who has promised to be a dictator on “day one" if he's reelected. This is our reality. And this is who Rick Scott loves and proudly endorsed.

Watching Trump's campaign as an American and a proud immigrant, I am infuriated, I am disappointed, and, truthfully, I am scared.

Many of us take a strong democracy, the peaceful transition of power, and the right to live in safety for granted. But I grew up in South America where political violence was far too normal. I know exactly how dangerous a man like Donald Trump can be if we allow him to take power.

Listen, people come to the United States for so many reasons. But underneath almost all those reasons is a need to feel safe. Safe to practice your religion, speak your mind, participate in elections, and exercise your freedoms. And a sense of financial safety, too. Living in a country with opportunities to build wealth, buy a home, and access affordable education is far too rare in our world.

That's why, the moment that I took my naturalization oath to officially become a citizen here, I made a promise to always protect the American Dream of safety and security that we're so fortunate to enjoy.

Today, Donald Trump and extremists like Rick Scott are threatening that American Dream. Ya no más. Enough is enough. I'm running for Senate to defeat Rick Scott, Donald Trump’s strongest ally in the Senate, and make sure that generations of Americans can keep feeling safe the way that I finally did when I became a U.S. citizen.

I know that this campaign has what it takes to win — polling shows our message of unity has already made this race a tie. But Rick Scott is already spending millions to defeat us. And now that Donald Trump has become the GOP nominee, this race is about to kick into high gear. So please, if you believe that we have a responsibility to protect the American Dream, will you donate $5 now to help me defeat far-right extremism and defend everything that we hold dear?

Thank you for taking the time to read this email and for believing in a better tomorrow.

With gratitude,

Debbie