We're headed to the runoff, friend!

After starting this campaign trailing our Republican opponent, we've surged into first place and forced a head-to-head match-up – something that pundits said was all but impossible just a few months ago. Now, experts from Nate Silver's FiveThirtyEight to NBC say we can win.

As someone who grew up in the projects, I never thought I'd be running for U.S. Senate. I was the 11th of 12 kids and the first in my family to graduate college – and today, I have the great honor of serving as the senior pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, the spiritual home of Dr. King.

I'm running for Senate because I've always believed that my impact doesn't stop at the church doors – it's where it begins. That's why I've spent my life fighting for health care, social justice, voting rights and more.

Whether I'm looking across the pews or traveling across the state, I see Georgians hurting – folks who have been ignored by a Washington that works if you're wealthy and well-connected but leaves most people behind.

I'm running to change that – and thanks to every member of this grassroots team, we're one step closer to making our shared vision a reality.

But if we're serious about creating a better future for Georgia and our nation, the fight isn't over yet. All eyes are on us now – and the GOP plans to throw everything but the kitchen sink at our campaign to keep this seat red. So please, friend: 

If you care about flipping Georgia's seat blue, securing our Democratic Senate majority and restoring moral leadership to Washington, please give $5 or more now – as much as you can spare – to help us win this battleground race in January.

Together, we can change Washington by being a voice for the voiceless, by giving power to the powerless and by overcoming the darkness and being beacons of light in the search for change.

My name might be the one on the ballot in January, but make no mistake – this is our mission, and I wouldn't be here without your support.

Thank you. Now let's win this thing.

– Raphael