John, take a look at this photo that I found.

If you had told him he’d grow up to run for the U.S. Senate from California, he’d probably be thrilled — and definitely surprised.

You see, growing up, I was fascinated by history and politics.

Sitting around the dinner table at night, my family would talk about the news of the day or the history book my father was reading at the moment.

The conversations at our family table were always lively — my dad came from a long line of Democrats, while my mom’s side was deeply Republican (her father was even a Republican County chairman). You can just imagine!

Back then, Democrats and Republicans often disagreed, but there was mutual respect. They could debate without turning hostile.

So, what changed? A lot. The way we consume information, cable news, and algorithms are designed to fuel anger and division.

And then Donald Trump became President. He didn’t just divide us; he used old tactics like bigotry and hate while inventing new ways to pit us against each other.

When I first entered politics, Democrats and Republicans still worked together to get things done. Disagreements were common, but they always prioritized the American people and found common ground. And still find a way to seek out others across the aisle and deliver for California.

But those days when I was growing up seem quaint now. We have seen a seismic shift in the last few years — since a charlatan celebrity and reality TV host who called disabled veterans “suckers” and “losers,” denigrated our immigrant communities, and railed on about “fake news” was elected President of the United States.

But I’ve never backed down from bullies. So, I took on Donald Trump — not because it was easy, but because it was necessary.

And for standing up, I’ve become one of Trump’s favorite targets.

The little boy in that picture never would have imagined being attacked by a U.S. President and his allies.

But if defending democracy, our rights, and the Constitution makes me an enemy of Trump and the MAGA movement, I’ll proudly wear that badge.

These are the battles I’ll continue to fight in the U.S. Senate, where many of Trump’s biggest enablers still reside. That’s why he’s doing everything to stop me.

With just weeks until November 5th, we have little time to waste if we’re going to stop MAGA extremism — so please, help me keep fighting by contributing $10 or whatever you can today.

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Thank you for taking the time to read this longer note and for standing with me in this fight.

— Adam