Hey, my team was in touch earlier today about the big reporting deadline we’re up against tonight, but I needed to reach out myself.

Listen, I know campaign emails like this are pretty annoying. (I get plenty of them, so I know firsthand.) And I want you to know that while my team and I are VERY fired up about catching up to our goal in the next few hours, no one here is panicking, and the world is not going to fall to pieces if you decide now’s not a good time for you to donate.

But if you are in a place to pitch in tonight, we could really use a boost in these next few hours — because after midnight, we have to file our next public fundraising report and show the world how our campaign is faring. We’re still a bit behind on our goal, so if that’s all you need to hear, then here is a link to pitch in a few dollars.

I also want to take a moment to explain why this campaign — right here, right now — is worthy of your investment.

There are only two gubernatorial elections in 2025, and one of them is right here in New Jersey. The last time this seat was up for grabs, Republicans shocked the nation by nearly winning it. And then we swung 10 points to the right in the presidential race just six months ago.

Make no mistake about it: New Jersey is now a battleground state, and the stakes are too high for us to get caught sleeping this time around.

Trump and his extremist allies think that if they behave like bullies for long enough, they will wear us all down — so that they can exercise unchecked power without consequence.

But one thing I’ll never do is back down to a bully. As a Navy helicopter pilot and Russian policy officer, I served in places where people get disappeared off the streets for criticizing the regime — and I’m not going to be silent as Trump takes our nation down an increasingly dangerous path.

This election is the first chance we’ll have to put the Trump administration on notice that their actions will have consequences at the ballot box.

It’s our chance to stand up and show the Trump administration that while the voters elected him in last November’s election, we reject the destructive path he has taken since taking office.

And we’re not the only ones who know how important this race is. The New Jersey GOP knows too, which is why they’re doing everything they can to avoid facing me as the Democratic nominee in November — because they know I’m the biggest obstacle they face in their mission to flip this seat.

So if you’re ready to join me in sending a message that we will not sit silently while Trump attacks our basic freedoms, then I could very much use your help tonight. Please pitch in any amount — even just $5 would be hugely helpful — to power our grassroots team at this pivotal moment in the race.

I couldn’t be more grateful to have you in my corner. Thanks for everything, and have a great night.

-Mikie