I’m used to being written off.

When I first ran for Congress in Wisconsin in 1997, no one thought I could win — especially when an extremely popular challenger jumped into the race.

I remember huddling with one of my staffers at the time, and she said, “Well Tammy, maybe you want to rethink what you’re doing because it’s going to be tough.”

I looked her right in the eye and asked, “Do you think I should wait my turn?”

The next thing I said was this: I believe that women have to run — especially when it’s hard — and not wait our turn. We can’t wait until we get a tap on our shoulder or we’ll never get anywhere.

I ended up winning that race and became the very first woman elected to the House of Representatives from Wisconsin. And it wouldn’t be the last time our team would make history.

When I ran for U.S. Senate in 2012, an incredible team of grassroots supporters like you fought alongside me — even as some people wrote us off. You helped me become the first woman elected to the chamber from our state and the first openly gay Senator in our nation’s history.

In 2018, despite being a top target for national Republicans and enduring over a year of attacks, you stood with me again, and we won.

Time and again, grassroots supporters like you have defied the odds. The battle to protect my seat this year will be no different. With my Republican opponent, Eric Hovde, prepared to spend up to $20 million of his own fortune to buy this seat and polls showing this race in a dead heat, this will be my toughest election yet. I can’t protect this seat without your support.

Together, I know we can defy the odds once again. So folks, I’m humbly asking: Will you make a donation today to help us protect this battleground seat and the Senate majority?

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Your support has made all the difference time and time again, and I can’t thank you enough for that.

I’m so glad to have you on this historic team.

— Tammy