John,

As we approach our first FEC deadline of the year and the election year ramps up, I’ve been thinking a lot about the youth vote here in Michigan. I’ll get to that in a moment, but first, will you chip in to my campaign right now to help us hit our major deadline goal in a few days?

MI-03 has one of the highest numbers of young voters of any district. Last year, we won in large part because of our DIY youth mobilization program, driven largely by peer-to-peer organizing. It was a clear demonstration that when young voters are empowered and engaged directly by those who genuinely serve their interests, remarkable things can happen.

There are a lot of organizations out there that say they're working on the youth vote, but no one can mobilize the youth vote better than the person who works to serve them every day. I've been serving young people my entire career–from working in the summer program at a local housing shelter to serving as a volunteer in a youth ministry program. Now, as a member of Congress, I make youth outreach a top priority–from reading to elementary schools to hosting town halls specifically designed for youth, I make sure to show up.

Because, when it comes to winning elections, it's not just about asking people to do something FOR you by asking for their vote; you've got to make sure to do the work first, and then people will want the kind of representation you offer. But getting our message out and organizing the vote takes time and money. Last year, we ran an almost 50% volunteer-led operation, but we still need materials and staff to organize the volunteers.

That’s where you come in. Our first FEC quarterly deadline is in a few days. Even a $10 donation would help us immensely in our ability to engage with and mobilize younger voters. Your support now will help us reach our fundraising goal and ensure we have the materials and staff necessary to continue this vital work.