"Never tire of doing good, Val."

That's what my mother told me from a young age, friend. She was a maid, and my father was a janitor. When I was growing up as a poor Black girl in the South, my mother knew I had to have faith in both progress and opportunity – and to never grow tired of fighting for it.

Never tire.

They're the words I heard every day of my 27 years on the Orlando police force. The words I heard upon becoming the first Black woman to serve as chief. The words I hear while serving in Congress.

And they are words that I hold close to my heart today, as I tell you this: I'm running for U.S. Senate because I will never tire of standing up for what I believe is right. Never tire of serving Florida. Never tire of doing good. 

But to win, I need you. I need every last bit of grassroots support. I need a movement that will flip Florida blue and defend our Democratic Senate majority. 

Will you take a moment to watch the first video of my campaign for Senate, then make a contribution to help us win in Florida and defeat Marco Rubio? Floridians should have real leadership in the Senate.

My mother also taught me this: When someone gives you an opportunity to do something big – do not disappoint them. I'm ready for this moment. Let's win this together.

Congresswoman Val Demings

P.S. CNN is already calling Florida's Senate seat one of the most likely to flip. Just 10,033 votes decided the last Senate race in the Sunshine State: Can you chip in $5 now to make sure we can hit the ground running to win in Florida and defeat Marco Rubio?