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Friend,

Veterans know the importance -- and the value -- of public service.

That's why I'm so proud that so many of them are continuing that path of public service by running for office. In fact, this year, five of them are running to represent their states in the U.S. Senate.

We need Americans serving in the Senate who are a voice for members of the military.

That's what we'll get in Mark Kelly in Arizona, Cal Cunningham in North Carolina, MJ Hegar in Texas, Amy McGrath in Kentucky, and James Mackler in Tennessee. A donation today puts us closer to flipping the Senate and showing real support to our veterans and servicemembers around the world: Donate $5 or more right now.

Let me tell you a bit more about these incredible Americans:

Mark Kelly is running for Senate in Arizona because he learned through 25 years in the Navy and at NASA how to solve really tough problems and how to get along with and lead people from different backgrounds and different opinions in service of a greater mission. We need this hero in the Senate.

After the attacks on September 11, Cal Cunningham volunteered to join the U.S. Army Reserve and has since served three active duty tours, including overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was awarded the Bronze Star and the prestigious General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award, in part for groundbreaking work prosecuting contractors for criminal misconduct. Until recently, he trained special operations forces at Fort Bragg -- that's the kind of dedication and leadership North Carolinians need from their next senator.

As a young girl, MJ Hegar's dreams of becoming a military pilot were dismissed with claims that "the front is no place for a woman." Unwilling to back down, MJ became a commissioned officer in the Air Force after graduating from the University of Texas. MJ went on to serve three tours in Afghanistan as a combat search and rescue and medevac pilot and earned a Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor for her service. After she was injured and unable to compete for a ground combat position because she was a woman, she worked across the aisle to change the rules and level the playing field -- she's exactly who Texans deserve as their next senator.

When Amy McGrath was 13 years old, she dreamed of becoming a fighter pilot, but women were not yet allowed to serve in combat roles in our military. Determined to find a solution, she wrote her elected officials to ask them to change the law. She never heard back from her senator, Mitch McConnell, who she's running to replace right now. She attended the Naval Academy and became a commissioned Marine Corps officer anyway, and served 20 years in the Marines. Mitch has no idea who he's up against.

James Mackler closed his law practice to join the U.S. Army after 9/11. He earned an age waiver, learned to fly Black Hawk helicopters, and did so in Iraq. Following his deployment, James became a JAG officer, protecting survivors of sexual assault and prosecuting criminals. Today, James is running for Tennessee's open Senate seat for the same reason he joined the army -- he sees our country in crisis and is stepping up to serve.

Each one of these incredible candidates knows what it means to work hard and sacrifice for our country. I couldn't be more grateful to them, and I know each and every one of them would use their service background to bring real progress to the Americans they represent.

Support veterans Mark Kelly in Arizona, Cal Cunningham in North Carolina, MJ Hegar in Texas, Amy McGrath in Kentucky, and James Mackler in Tennessee with a donation of $5 or more right now.

Sincerely,

Chuck Schumer