This email is about my story, my community, and my fight to deliver real progress to millions of hard-working families. It’s on the longer side, and I hope you’ll take the time to read it through. But if you’re in a hurry, and you already know you’re with me in this all-important election year, you can chip in to support my campaign right now using the button below.

Unlike a lot of my colleagues in Washington, I understand what it’s like to see your family struggle.

Growing up in Colorado, I came from a working-class family. My dad worked in construction and my mom was a hairdresser. When I was 6, my life was forever changed when my mom suffered a back injury. Like so many Americans, she was over-prescribed opioids to treat her pain — which led to a decades-long battle with addiction, including to heroin.

But even when my family and I were facing so many challenges at home, my community gave me a chance to build a better life. I had access to amazing schools and great teachers that gave me the foundation to succeed.

Because of the investments my community made in me, I went a much different path than I was likely to go. I became the first person in my family to graduate from high school and college, working all sorts of low-wage jobs to pay my way through school. I started working for candidates and organizations that were committed to leveling the playing field for regular people like me, and eventually ran for the state house and served in the legislature for a decade — fighting for those who are oftentimes left behind.

Today, I’m in Congress because American families deserve leaders who understand the struggles that so many families are going through. For too long, many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have been more focused on policies that benefit the wealthy and cutting vital programs that reinvest back in the American people.

That’s why I’m working every day in Congress to protect the programs that so many working families rely on to get by.

I’m committed to defending Social Security, so seniors throughout the nation can retire with dignity.

I’m committed to protecting Medicare and Medicaid, so hard-working families can go to the doctor without paying exorbitant amounts for care.

And I’m committed to solving our country’s most urgent needs, like expanding access to affordable housing, protecting our reproductive freedoms, and creating a fair economy where everyone has the opportunity to get ahead.

I know, with the right leadership, we can find impactful solutions to the most pressing issues facing our nation, despite the extremism we’ve seen from many of my Republican colleagues.

And I also know that it’s easy to feel overwhelmed about what’s ahead and worried about the choices our nation will make in November.

But I refuse to wake up on November 6 wishing we had done more.

I’m running for re-election because the people of Colorado deserve real, lasting progress on the issues that matter most. If you’re with me, I’d be so grateful to have your support as Election Day draws closer and closer.

Thank you for reading, and for supporting my fight.

Brittany