Hi there,

I'm Val Demings, and I'm running for the U.S. Senate to defeat Marco Rubio and win better, stronger leadership for the people of Florida. We're barely out of the gate, and election experts are already calling my race a top battleground race for the Senate. But this isn’t the only battleground race in 2022. Republicans are targeting Maggie Hassan in New Hampshire in an attempt to flip her seat red with one of Mitch McConnell’s hand-picked candidates.

Winning these seats is critical to protecting our Senate majority, but the margins are slim. Just 10,033 votes (0.2 percentage points) decided Florida's last Senate race. And in 2016, Maggie won by only 1,017 votes (0.14 percentage points), making it one of the closest Senate races in history. It's clear that the scales could tip either way in swing states like Florida and New Hampshire. So I'll tell you the plain truth: we cannot win without you.

If we’re going to protect and expand on our slim Democratic majority, we need to flip this seat here in Florida and defend Senator Hassan’s in New Hampshire.

Every day, I carry with me that I am a descendent of enslaved people, people who knew that they would not make it, but dreamed and prayed that one day I would.

Their prayers carried me to this day – carried me through a life of public service as a social worker, as a law enforcement officer, the first Black woman to serve as Orlando's police chief, and as the proud representative of Florida's 10th Congressional district.

So hear me when I say this: Only in America can a little Black girl, the daughter of a maid and a janitor growing up in the South in the ’60s, have an amazing story of opportunity like mine.

The prayers of my parents propel me forward, even now, giving me the strength and courage it takes to do what's right. To impeach and prosecute a corrupt president. To never stop fighting for gun safety reform. To push for truth, accountability, justice.

In my decades of public service, I've worked with some truly incredible individuals – champions of civil rights like my friend John Lewis, who said, "Each generation must do its part to create an even more fair, more just society."

We're at an inflection point for our democracy that will decide if we live up to John Lewis' dream, friend. The modern-day Republican Party is committed to the exact opposite of what Congressman Lewis stood for. Marco Rubio and Senate Republicans grow more extreme by the day, more committed to a dangerous, anti-democratic agenda. Putting party over the future of our democracy, over the wants and needs of Florida's working families.

You have my word, that when it comes to winning this race and delivering better leadership for Florida, I will fight like never before. Because when your friends and neighbors put their trust in you to be their voice, you work for them – and that's just not what we're seeing from Sen. Rubio. But it's only together that we'll have a shot at protecting and expanding our slim Senate majority – so here's what I'm counting on: splitting 6,112 donations between my campaign and Maggie’s before 11:59 p.m. tonight. Are you in, team?

From the bottom of my heart, friend, thank you.

Congresswoman Val Demings