John,

Two weeks from today – September 30th – marks our final quarterly fundraising deadline before Election Day. After this, we're required to report our numbers to the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

Reporters, pundits, and the national GOP will all read the same numbers this quarter – and decide from them whether we have the strength to keep this seat blue, or not.

Two years ago, we won this seat by 653 votes. I don't get to coast on that. This report is my chance to show that the coalition that elected me the first time is standing behind me again.

There's no playbook for a freshman Democrat defending a seat this competitive. What I do know is that from Westminster to Fullerton, the people who sent me to Congress didn't do it so I could play it safe now.

So before the quarter closes, I'm asking you to be part of this next chapter the same way you were part of the first one. This is the last full report anyone will see before Election Day – will you chip in $3 to help me file a report strong enough to hold the line in CA-45?

If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately:

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Thank you,

Derek