Hey, friend, it's Colin, and I'd love to share my story with you if you have a minute.

This kid has no idea ...

... that one day he'll be speaking at the DNC to chants of "Beat Ted Cruz" and defying all odds to pull even in the polls all while he's poised to become Texas' first Black Senator. (If you're feeling inspired, I'd be honored if you would chip in now to help me win.)

It was just me and my mom growing up. When I talk about being a leader for all Texans, it's often single parents like her I'm thinking about – the single mom taking on extra work to make ends meet, just trying to give her child the best opportunities in life.

Even though I played sports from an early age, my mom made sure school always came first.

Thanks to her, I'm a voracious reader – and unlike Ted Cruz, I'm not pushing for book bans outlawing any literature I don't agree with.

My own childhood taught me that it takes a village to raise a child. Thanks to my mom, my aunt and uncle, my teachers, my coaches, and the good folks at our local YMCA – I earned a full football scholarship to Baylor and went on to play in the NFL.

Now, I'm fighting to make sure today's kids and parents have access to the same support I did.

After the NFL, I fulfilled another lifelong dream: going to law school and becoming a civil rights lawyer like my hero, John Lewis.

I also met my amazing wife, Aly, in law school when we were assigned to review each other's papers.

After we got married and served in the Obama administration, we decided to move back to where it all started – my hometown of Dallas, Texas – to build a life and start our family in the community that raised me. 

Nobody gave me a chance when I ran for Congress against a 22-year GOP incumbent – but I outworked my opponent, knocked on every door I could in the district, and pulled off a huge upset.

Now, I'm running for Senate against Ted Cruz because I know Texans deserve better than his divisive extremism and hyperpartisanship.

Ted Cruz doesn't represent the Texas values I grew up with.

The Texas of my childhood was filled with hard work and some lean times, but also kindness, laughter, and camaraderie. I had a lot of help along the way to get to where I am today, and I want to make sure Texas kids and families continue to have the support they need, from a good public education and jobs to affordable health care and child care.

And here's the best part: We're closer than we've ever been to making that a reality and finally kicking Ted Cruz out of the Senate.

Five polls show this race statistically tied, but with nearly 8% of voters still undecided, we have a lot of work to do between now and Election Day with not much time to do it.

That's why I'm personally asking for your help in the final stretch.

We need to raise $300,000 a day to keep up with Ted Cruz and the dark money allies he has propping up his campaign, so please: Will you give $5, or any amount that makes sense for you, before midnight to help me defeat Ted Cruz and deliver real leadership for Texans?

The kid in that silly red rain poncho could never have imagined he'd end up here – but with your help, he's going to make it to the Senate.

Thanks so, so much for your support.