Friend,

I'm only where I am today thanks to the generations of strong women who paved my path — so in honor of International Women's Day, I'd like to share how they've inspired me to run for Florida's Senate seat.

While my mother worked full-time to provide for my sisters and me — a pretty uncommon path for women in Ecuador then — my grandmother would help out by coming over to cook. She was resilient, caring, and there for us when we needed her most.

She passed down that loving strength from generation to generation, including to my mother, who made the tough but incredibly brave decision to bring my sisters and me to America when I was 14.

My mother worked so hard during those first days in America, working double-shifts back-to-back and taking English classes at night, all to give us a shot at a better life. I did everything I could to pitch in and help her make ends meet.

And when I faced any sort of difficulty or hardship, my older sisters were always ready to stand up for me. By watching them, I learned how to stand up for myself.

Women like my grandmother, my mother, and my sisters shaped who I am today. Their sacrifices, strength, and courage are why I was able to go to college, begin a career in giving back to my own community, and eventually become the first South American immigrant to serve in Congress.

In short, they're the reason I was able to achieve my American Dream.

Now I'm raising my girls to have the same strength, courage, and resolve those women passed to me — but sometimes, I'm afraid it won't be enough to overcome the growing barriers to the American Dream that I never had to face.

Today, it's so much harder to pay for a college education, get a good job, or afford a home. And at the same time, we're facing unrelenting attacks on reproductive rights, which have left my daughters with almost zero bodily autonomy and fewer freedoms than I had at their age.

That's why I'm running for Senate: to ensure the next generation of women, and everyone, can have the freedoms and opportunities to achieve the American Dream my family came here to find. But, friend, in a race this competitive, I can't make that happen without you.

Recent polls show my race to unseat Rick Scott is neck and neck — but more than that, I can see with my own eyes that Florida is ready for something new. Florida is ready for a leader who will fight for their fundamental rights. Florida is ready for a leader who will deliver. Florida is ready for progress. So if you're ready for a strong Latina to lead Florida into a future where the American Dream is within reach, will you please donate $5, or anything you can spare, to help me win this race and fight for our future in the Senate?

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and for all your support going forward.

With resolve,

Debbie