BREAKING: Senate Republicans vote to spike insurance premiums for 24 million Americans. Chip in now to win in Virginia and flip the Senate for Democrats >>

Folks –

You couldn't create a more opaque health care system than the one in the U.S. No one pays more for less than we do.

And when we’re facing an urgent affordability crisis, it’s unconscionable to me that 48 of my Republican colleagues just voted against the simplest and easiest way to ensure millions of Americans don’t face skyrocketing insurance costs next year.

But let me also say this: extending the Obamacare tax credits is at best a short-term solution to a larger problem.

It's become obvious to me that in order to have a sustainable system, we have to have universal health care, so that we don't focus only on who has coverage, but put our focus on bringing costs down for everyone.

Folks who have known me for a while understand that I haven’t always felt that we needed universal coverage – I thought the market would solve the coverage problem – but our economy and the way we work is changing. Most Americans no longer hold the same nine-to-five job for the majority of their careers, as they have in decades past. We have seen exponential growth in people starting or working at small businesses. Many people work as contractors. Many Americans have side hustles, gigs, and second jobs to cover their bills.

However, what I have seen is that it’s time to move past the unhelpful partisan fights over coverage and pieces of the Affordable Care Act and move towards a system that cuts out the middleman, guarantees health care coverage no matter your employer, and ensures Americans are not deciding between paying for food on the table or covering their monthly premiums.

The path forward won’t be easy. Huge systemic change like this doesn’t happen overnight. And frankly, it will require bipartisan leadership, deal-making, and consensus-building.

It’s a tough job – but one that I am ready to lead. That’s why I am asking Virginians to rehire me for one more term in office. And I can’t win without your help.

Please, if you’re able to, chip in to my reelection campaign before our critical end-of-year deadline.

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The fight continues,

Mark Warner