Friend, my family has been built on the backs of generations of strong women. Will you let me tell you a bit about my family and how they've inspired me to run for the Senate?

My mother worked full-time to raise my older sisters and me. That was pretty uncommon in Ecuador back then. With my mom so busy (and never much of a cook anyways), my grandmother was the one who would come over and prepare meals for us. She was an amazing cook, and she was an even stronger woman. 

I remember watching her cook some of the best meals I’ve ever had — and always being there when my sisters and I needed her. Her strength and her resilience have been passed down, from generation to generation.

When I was 14, my mother made the difficult but incredibly brave decision to bring my sisters and me to America. She worked so hard in those early days. I remember her taking on double shifts at work and somehow still fitting in English classes at night. All of us kids stepped up to help make ends meet and build a home in our new country. My older sisters were always there for me, too. When school got hard, when bullies made fun of my accent, or when teachers underestimated me because of my background, they always stood up for me — and taught me to stand up for myself.

My grandmother, my mother, and my sisters taught me to work hard and never, ever give up. Their sacrifices and courage are the reason why I was able to go to college, start a career giving back to my community, and eventually become the first South American immigrant to serve in Congress.

They are the reason I was able to achieve my American Dream. And now, I'm raising my daughters to live the same way — to follow their dreams and always stand up for themselves. But these days, the American Dream is out of reach for more and more families. It's harder to get a good-paying job or afford a home. And our fundamental rights — to vote, to access health care, and so much more — are increasingly under attack.

That's why I'm running for Senate: To give every family, here in Florida and across the country, the opportunities that mine had. And to help make it a bit easier for the next generation to achieve their American Dream.

Look, polling data shows that my race is a statistical tie. But more than the numbers, I feel it in my bones that Florida is ready to flip blue. Families here are ready for a Senator who will listen to them and deliver results, not pull our communities apart. So please, if you believe in a future where we all can achieve our American Dream, will you donate $5 or whatever you can spare to help me flip Florida blue and fight for your family in the Senate? In a race like this, every donation makes a difference.

Thank you for taking the time to read this message. I'm so grateful to have you on my team.

– Debbie