JOHN,

I want to be real with you about what it takes to win in Texas, so this email will be a bit on the longer side. If you don’t have time to read all the way through, but still want to support my campaign, you can click here to do so.

Right now, I feel like I’m back on the International Space Station and the warning klaxon is blaring. Except the warning isn’t about a spacecraft emergency — it’s that the Democratic Party in Texas is once again at risk of nominating a candidate who can not win a statewide general election.

This isn’t a social media popularity contest. This isn’t about who sounds the best in a primary contest. This is about who can beat Ken Paxton — a scandal-plagued extremist — in a red state that Joe Biden lost by 14 points.

I want to be very clear that I do not take joy in presenting arguments against candidates in my own party and against people I admire. But I also feel it is my duty to do all that I can to fight for our democracy and for the future of our state and nation. So let’s lay out a few facts.

Democrats came within 2.5 points of flipping Texas in 2018. We can do it again. But only if we nominate someone who can appeal to moderate, conservative, and independent voters across the state.

And respectfully — we’re not going to do that with a candidate who goes on record saying “God is non-binary.”

That’s not a winning message. That’s not common sense. That’s not how we win Texas and save our country.

I’m not the most famous guy in this race. I know I’m facing an uphill battle in dollars. But I also know I’ve got what it takes to win and to do some real good for our state. I’m a retired Air Force Colonel, a former F-16 fighter pilot, and the former commander of the International Space Station. I don’t scare easily.

I’ve spent my life serving this country, making life-or-death decisions under pressure, and leading teams in the toughest environments imaginable. I didn’t get into this race to make headlines — I got in to win.

I do not believe we will flip Texas with a candidate who makes it easy for Republicans to run culture war attack ads.

We need someone who can go toe-to-toe with Paxton and win over swing voters who are tired of extremism and being at each other’s throats. That’s what I bring to the table.

But I need your help to build this campaign the right way from the ground up. Can I count on you to chip in $25 or more today?

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We have a real chance to flip Texas. But only if we put forward a candidate who doesn’t sound like he just walked out of a grad school seminar.

Let’s bring Texas back to common sense — and send a serious, disciplined leader to the U.S. Senate.

All my best,
Terry Virts
Democrat for U.S. Senate (TX)

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