Friend,

I just announced I'm running for the U.S. Senate against Marco Rubio. CNN is already calling Florida's Senate seat one of the most likely to flip – and with Senate control on the line, everybody from Mitch McConnell to Donald Trump to far-right outside groups will do whatever it takes to defeat me. 

That's why I'm making an important ask of you – one that will determine whether our campaign comes out of the gate as strong as possible: Will you become a Founding Donor to this campaign by making a contribution of $5 or more today? Every dollar you give will ensure we have the resources, from the very beginning, to defeat Marco Rubio and flip Florida blue.

There's no need to beat around the bush, friend: Defeating Marco Rubio is going to be tough. He will have tens of millions of dollars in right-wing, special-interest money on his side. The GOP will attack me relentlessly to keep this seat red, because Senate control could come down to what we do in Florida. 

Keep this number in mind: 10,033. That's the number of votes that decided Florida's last Senate race – a margin of just two-tenths of a percentage point. That's about as slim as margins come, so I need you to hear me when I say this: Our ability to register and mobilize voters – our ability to win – hinges on the resources we're able to build up from day one. 

It's how we won in Georgia and took back the Senate. It's how Joe Biden and Kamala Harris won the White House. And it's how we'll flip Florida blue and protect our majorities in Congress so we can continue delivering the bold agenda that the American people deserve.

I need you with me, friend. I need you from the very beginning – as a Founding Donor – to help me defeat Marco Rubio. Will you step up and join us now? Donate $5 or more to become a Founding Donor right now so we can flip Florida blue and defend our Democratic Senate majority.

Thank you,

Congresswoman Val Demings