I voted no on the Republican bill to reopen the government.

Even though it's long past time for the government to be reopened, I could not in good conscience vote for something that does nothing to address the health care costs for millions of Americans. As it stands, nearly 300,000 Coloradans are facing skyrocketing health care costs.

My vote was a clear rejection of Washington Republicans choosing political games over American families.

I have always been a champion for more affordable and accessible health care. Fifteen years ago, I cast the deciding vote for the Affordable Care Act –and I made it clear I would do so even if it cost me my Senate seat. From day one, I’ve said I won’t support a government funding bill that doesn’t protect families’ access to care. I'm not about to back down now.

While it looks like the shutdown battle is ending, the fight is not. Now that Trump and the GOP are listening, we must make our demands heard loud and clear: first and foremost, that Obamacare premium tax credits must be renewed.

No matter what cruel tricks Trump and his party try next, I will never waver in the fight for working Colorado families.

And unlike the Republican Party, I am not bought and paid for by big corporations. In fact, I don’t accept donations from corporations or their backers. I'm running on people-power, which means I can't cross the finish line without your continued support behind me.

So friend, I'm humbly asking you to please chip in $5, or anything you can spare, toward my campaign today. Together, we can, and we will, make Colorado a beacon of hope out of the GOP's disastrous governance – and make it the best state to live, work, and raise a family.

Everything I do is made possible by supporters like you. Thank you again for standing with me.

Michael