I’m used to being written off, folks.

When I first ran for Congress in 1997, nobody thought I would win, especially when an extremely popular challenger jumped into the race — who won his last election in a landslide.

I remember huddling with one of my staffers at the time, and she said, “Well Tammy, maybe you want to rethink what you’re doing because it’s going to be tough.”

I looked her right in the eye and asked, “Do you think I should wait my turn?”

The next thing I said was this: I believe that women have to run — especially when it’s hard — and not wait our turn. We can’t wait until we get a tap on our shoulder or we’ll never get anywhere.

I ended up winning that race and became the very first woman elected to the House of Representatives from Wisconsin. It wouldn’t be the last time this team would make history.

Because when I ran for U.S. Senate in 2012, folks like you fought alongside me — even as some others wrote us off. You helped me become the first woman elected to the chamber from our state and the first openly gay Senator in our nation’s history.

I understood that this extraordinary opportunity needed to be used to make a difference in people's lives.

The reason I’m telling you all of this is because I want you to know that I ran for office not to make history, but to make a difference. And folks like you supported me because you wanted to make a difference, too.

Together, I know we will continue to fight for affordable health care, for living wages, to protect our fundamental right to vote, and for everyone who has been written off, counted out, or left behind. Now, I'm asking you to keep going.

Will you double down on your commitment to the movement that will continue to fight for what’s right? Your support has made all the difference time and time again. You can chip in right here:

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Thanks for reading and supporting my campaign. I am so grateful you are a part of this historic team.

— Tammy