In the heat of election season, we spend a lot of time talking about things like polls, TV ads, and news articles. But today, I’d like to take a step back and talk a bit about my story — and why I’m so motivated to take on this work every day.

If you have time to read this entire email, I’d be grateful, but if you’re in a rush I’ll cut to the chase: our fundamental values are on the line in this election, and I could really use your help to win it. Anything you can contribute today would mean the world.

My family comes from humble roots. My dad came to the U.S. from Mexico in 1950 and worked the fields picking cotton and tomatoes before he was in first grade.

Later in life, he joined the military, served two tours in Vietnam, earned his U.S. citizenship, and spent the next three decades as a police officer. It was a good-paying union job that launched our family into the middle class.

My parents taught me the value of hard work. It was a value that I kept in mind every day as I worked my way through college — serving cups of coffee, painting fences, and working whatever job would allow me to pay my tuition and afford the basics.

I’ve seen firsthand the change that can come when you work hard. But I also know that for so many families today, hard doesn’t quite describe it. Too many folks feel like they’re stretching themselves to the breaking point to make things work and it’s still not enough. It’s time for that to change.

That’s why I’m fighting to make it easier to get a place to live in the community you love at an affordable price.

It’s why I’m fighting so hard to reduce healthcare costs, raise the minimum wage, and ensure every family has access to basic benefits like paid family and medical leave.

It’s why I’m standing up to corporate fat cats to lower costs for Oregon families — because special interests shouldn’t get to turn record profits by ripping off Americans who are just trying to put food on the table.

I am running for re-election because I believe in the American Dream — but we have to work for it and we have to keep that dream within reach for all American families.

We need to level the playing field and give families the tools and freedoms they need to overcome the challenges of today and create the change for a better future.

I am proud to have achieved the American Dream, alongside my family, and I will never stop fighting for a better future for my daughter, her generation, and every family in Oregon.

If you’ve gotten this far in this email, thank you. And if after knowing more about my story and my values, you’re all in our fight to make life easier for hardworking families, I’d be honored to have your support in this campaign, because we’re in one tough fight here in OR-06.

Thanks so much,

Andrea