Friend,

I am continually aghast at what the Republican Party – or should I say, the Republican Party under Donald Trump – has become. Day after day, GOP leadership grows more extreme and beholden to his dangerous, discriminatory agenda. The party is now shameless – its leaders cross lines of decency and their followers are doing the same in lockstep. 

This bigotry doesn't shock me, friend. I was called slurs from the age of four. But as a little girl I admired our representatives and senators even though none of them looked like me. That's because Congress is a revered place, an honorable institution that should represent the best of America. But the GOP has traded honor for extremism – and its members stand behind a so-called leader who incited insurrection upon the very symbol of American democracy. 

So here's the hard truth: I don't need to tell you how dire the consequences will be if the Republican Party of Donald Trump takes back the House majority – a majority that would be shameless in their assault of the most vulnerable among us. But I do need to tell you that they are well-positioned to do so – and they're weakening voting rights around the country to make sure they win. And right now, we're falling $3,227 short of our first FEC end-of-quarter fundraising goal of the year. 

Thankfully, a passionate group of donors is still matching all donations to power us across the finish line. Waiting in the face of such extremism is not an option, so I am counting on you, friend: Please rush a donation of $5 or more to win in Florida and defend our Democratic House majority and progressive values.

With so much gratitude for all you do,

Congresswoman Val Demings