| John, I grew up in a single room behind my parents' family–owned liquor store, restaurant, and pool hall in Central, South Carolina. I was the first in my family to attend college, and while I was in school, I lost my mother and father within two years of one another. I quickly took on the responsibility of helping raise my 13–year–old sister, Darline, and running the family businesses.  I had to grow up fast, John, and I learned many life lessons at an early age. After attending law school, I joined the U.S. Air Force as a member of the Judge Advocate General Corps, where I served as a military prosecutor and defense attorney. Even after being elected to the United States Senate, I continued to wear the uniform and served in the U.S. Air Force Reserves, where I performed several short deployments in the war zones of Afghanistan and Iraq.  John, my story is similar to that of most Americans. I didn't grow up with a silver spoon in my mouth with everything handed to me. I had to grow up fast and work hard. I learned a lot of valuable lessons at a young age and took on a whole lot of responsibility. But one thing stuck with me over the years — the perspectives I gained from listening to the hard–working South Carolinians who were regulars at my family's pool hall or my brave colleagues in the military. Their perspectives, whether I agreed with them or not, helped build my foundation for understanding what Americans need. It's no secret that our nation is sharply divided right now, but there are some things we should all agree on. We need a country that is a safe place to live and raise a family, and we need a country where the American Dream is alive and possible for everyone, no matter where they start from. John, I'm fighting every day to make those two things a reality. Sadly, there are people across the aisle in Washington who simply can't agree with us on these issues. They are okay with open borders and the flow of violent crime into our neighborhoods and onto our streets. They are okay with punishing hard–working Americans with higher taxes, deepening the burden on them and their families. That's why I'm reaching out with a simple request: if you have a few dollars to spare, would you consider making a contribution to support my campaign by clicking this link or the button below?
If you're unable to contribute financially, I understand. I'd greatly appreciate it if you could forward this email along to a friend or family member to help amplify my message. Together, I know we can build the country that protects our communities, rewards hard work, and ensures every hard–working American has a shot at their dreams, just like I was so fortunate to have. Thank you for taking a moment out of your busy day to read this message. Sincerely, Lindsey Graham
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