Listen, Rick Scott is a bully, plain and simple. But I'm no stranger to bullies like him — and he doesn't scare me. Will you let me explain?

(If you're ready to stand up to this bully right now, you can chip in a donation here to help me defeat Rick Scott.)

Moving to America from Ecuador wasn't easy for a 14-year-old girl. Even though I spoke English, my classmates would mock my accent. I struggled to make friends. It was one of the hardest times of my life. But I was lucky. I had the best secret weapon a girl could dream of: older sisters.

My three older sisters were bold, confident, and proud. I grew up admiring and adoring them. They taught me how to stand up for myself, how to demand better, and how to handle a mean schoolyard bully. My sisters were never afraid to go to bat for me — and they taught me not to be afraid, no matter how mean the bully.

One year, I got into an AP English Literature class. I was thrilled. But my teacher refused to call on me — even when I was the only one raising my hand. She made it clear that, because I had an accent, because I was an immigrant, she felt that I shouldn't be in her classroom. She had an idea of the perfect student, and I just didn't fit it. So one day, my sister marched right into the classroom and gave that teacher a piece of her mind. She sat her down and told her point-blank, you cannot discriminate against my sister.

Unfortunately, that conversation didn't change my teacher's mind — or her actions. But knowing that my sisters would always have my back inspired me to stand up for myself, too. I refused to let the bullies stop me from being myself and speaking my mind. Eventually, I even ran for student government and became student body secretary.

Now, I'm running for U.S. Senate. And my opponent is using the same tactics as the bullies I faced all those years ago. He's spreading lies and dirty rumors. He's pushing a hateful agenda that tears our communities apart. He's even throwing temper tantrums to the press. He doesn't care about Florida or our communities. He just cares about himself.

This campaign is about standing up to Rick Scott and his extremist agenda. It's about inspiring voters to demand better and say enough is enough. Ya no más. I'll never let Rick Scott silence me or intimidate me. But my sisters taught me the power of standing together — and I need your help to win. Please, will you rush $5 before midnight tonight to help my campaign defeat Rick Scott and win a better future for all of us?

Thank you,

Debbie