Friend, I'll never forget what it felt like to finally become an American citizen.

I came to America as a 14-year-old. Moving to a new country and trying to make ends meet wasn't easy. But this country gave my family the chance to dream of a future full of opportunities that we could not have had in Ecuador.

So when I had the chance to become a citizen, I took it. I studied hard to pass the exam, memorizing branches of government, founding fathers, and articles of the Constitution. My naturalization ceremony was held in a huge room with hundreds and hundreds of new Americans. American flags were everywhere. I remember proudly singing the national anthem and saying the Pledge of Allegiance as the weight of the moment began to sink in.

If you were born an American, I don't think it's possible to fully understand exactly what becoming a citizen means — the sense of relief after spending so many years fighting for and dreaming of this moment. Knowing that you've finally made it. This is truly your home now. You're here. You've done it. And more than anything else, you're safe.

Your freedoms and rights are guaranteed. Your government will protect you. You have the right to choose your leaders. And you can count on the peaceful transition of power.

I knew in that moment, as I proudly said the Pledge of Allegiance, that I had a sacred responsibility to protect my new country and make sure that families here could count on this all-too-rare sense of safety for generations to come. I vowed to vote, to be involved in my community, to give back, and to make a difference however I could.

That journey led me all the way to Congress, where I had the privilege of speaking at naturalization ceremonies like the one I had attended decades ago. But in the years since I became a citizen, I've watched extremists threaten that precious safety. They've spread conspiracies about our elections, blocked commonsense gun safety reforms, and incited a deadly insurrection that ended the peaceful transition of power.

That’s why I’m running for Senate. To save the promise of the American Dream — prosperity, freedom, and safety.

With experts saying Rick Scott is one of the most vulnerable Senators up for reelection this year, I know that we can defeat him and restore the promise of America — but not without all hands on deck. So please, will you join the fight for a better, safer future by donating $5 to my campaign? Polling shows a tied race, but I am counting on your help to pull ahead and defeat extremism.

Thank you for joining me in this fight. I’m so grateful to have you by my side.

Debbie