I’ll be honest, John — this email is a bit on the longer side, and I hope you’ll take a minute to read it through. But if you’re in a hurry, and you already know what’s at stake in this election, I hope you’ll chip in just a few dollars to help us push back against all the far-right attacks we’re facing right now.

Growing up, I wasn’t planning to run for office.

I thought I had a plan: Go to college, play on the basketball team, study pre-med, and then become a doctor.

Well, you can see how that plan turned out. I became none of those things.

Instead, I nearly failed organic chemistry and got cut from the basketball team. On the same day.

That day, my gameplan went up in smoke. I knew I wanted to serve my community in some way — but I wasn’t sure how. Then, just a few hours later, someone knocked on my dorm room door and asked if I wanted to run for student government.

Since my basketball skills clearly didn’t translate to the college level, I figured there was nothing to lose. So I ran for Students’ Association president as a freshman. And I won.

Can you believe this guy got cut from the basketball team?

We won that race the old-fashioned way, John: By knocking on doors, focusing on the issues, and not just talking to folks — but listening to them.

Over 30 years later, that’s the same mindset I’ve had throughout every race I’ve run. The belief that the most effective campaigns — and leaders — don’t just talk and talk all the time. They listen and learn from folks like you.

But John, I’ve never won an election on my own. From student government to Governor of Pennsylvania, I’ve always had a core group of supporters behind me. And now, as we stare down the most important, most consequential election yet, I need this team by my side.

Take it from me: Politics can get a little ugly sometimes. But with folks like you in our corner, I know we can make sure Pennsylvanians hear the truth about our campaign — not the far-right’s lies. If you’re with me, will you chip in just a few dollars to keep our campaign in fighting shape?

Thank you,

Josh Shapiro