Friend: My mom and dad cross my mind a lot, but I'm thinking about them even more so these days. Campaigns are tough – and each of us has summoned the courage to fight on in a unique way. For me, that courage comes from my parents. 

My dad was a World War II veteran who poured his heart into teaching in Michigan public schools for three decades. Mom was a nurse’s aide and an SEIU steward who organized her workplace – for the betterment of her family and colleagues. They inspired me to work hard so I could put myself through school and join the Navy Reserve.

Mom and Dad have continued to inspire me throughout my entire career. Take 2010, for example. I was a first-term congressman up for reelection during the Republican Tea Party wave – a wave that saw huge GOP gains in the Senate and the beginning of a Republican House majority that would last eight years.

Even though the odds were stacked against me, I thought about how hard my parents worked their whole lives – and how they would never back down from a tough fight. I was determined to do the same. I campaigned hard across my district in Michigan, and I was one of only a handful of freshman Democratic members of Congress who won reelection that year. 

So you know what I think when people tell me I'm one of the most targeted Democratic senators up for reelection? I think that important things in life are worth fighting for – and I'm determined to win and keep fighting for the people of Michigan. But I can't win this thing alone.

With the stakes of this Senate race so high – and with Michigan deciding control of the Senate – I need you to be all in: Will you rush a contribution of $3 now to help me win? Whatever you chip in will ensure we have the resources to defend Michigan’s Senate seat and take back the Senate for Democrats.

Good middle-class jobs. An environment that's cherished and protected. Affordable health care and quality public education. These are the things I've been fighting for in Michigan. These are the things that, along with my parents, have motivated me to win tough campaigns before. We can do it again, and for the future of our country, we must do it again.

But this time is different. There's no beating around the bush: My race is targeted more than ever before because if I lose, Democrats will have zero chance of taking back the Senate. It's why Betsy DeVos' family has already spent nearly $1 million to defeat me, along with other right-wing super PACs and dark money groups who have poured in millions more.

And by Election Day, millions of dollars more of right-wing money will pour into Michigan to prop up my opponent — who supports Donald Trump's agenda "2,000%," in his words. That's what we're up against. Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump and all the billionaire money they want.

But you know what I say to all that? Go ahead and try. 

Right now, the reality of the situation is that polls show our race neck and neck. And I know full well that will be the case until the very end. But I just heard from my finance team that we need to raise about $7,500 more before midnight if we're going to win in Michigan and take back the Senate for Democrats. 

I’m proud to have you on this team, friend, and I’m proud of everything we’ve accomplished so far. I know we can win this, but I need you now more than ever. So I’m asking: Will you make a donation of $3 – whatever you can spare to help us defend Michigan’s Senate seat – so we can win this reelection and take back the Senate for Democrats?

Thank you very much. 

Gary