There's no other way to put it, friend – flipping Florida blue and defending the Senate will not be an easy task. Here's the latest of what I'm up against:

Marco Rubio just hauled in $4 million over the last few months alone, a huge sum that he can use to attack me and destroy my momentum.

On top of that, the Senate Republican campaign arm just raised a whopping $28 million, which they can spend at the drop of a hat here in Florida.

But right now, my campaign is falling 215 Florida Defenders short of my goal – and if I can't make up this shortfall, I have to make some difficult decisions about where I can compete and win. 

I need you to keep in mind an important number, friend: 10,033 – the number of votes that decided Florida's last Senate race. In a race that close every dollar I raise, every phone bank I run, every door I knock matters immensely. It is the difference between winning and losing come Election Day.

This campaign has tremendous momentum behind it – but political experts are reporting that my biggest challenge to handing Marco Rubio a massive upset is having enough resources to do it. This could be the most expensive Senate race ever: $600 million is expected to be spent on political ads in Florida alone in 2022.  

It's why I'm emailing you, friend – I can't win this race alone: Will you activate your Florida Defender membership by making a contribution of $5 or more right now? Every dollar you give will help us defeat Marco Rubio and protect our Democratic Senate majority.

I've won in Florida before, so believe me when I say this: The race to Washington is a marathon, not a quick sprint to the finish line. I need to hit every one of my goals to flip Florida blue, and that's why I'm counting on YOU to become one of 215 people to activate their Florida Defender membership today: 

Please, donate $5 or more to become a Florida Defender right now so we can flip Florida blue, defend the Senate and deliver the bold agenda that Americans deserve.

I appreciate your support so much.

Congresswoman Val Demings