John – you might be wondering why I’m dropping into your inbox with a photo of my dad and me ahead of an urgent end-of-month fundraising deadline. Well, my dad's story has a lot to do with why I’m running for Iowa's Senate seat to defeat Chuck Grassley, so I hope you’ll allow me a moment to explain.

You see, Dad, who is retired now, worked as a Union pipefitter-welder – and it was a good-paying job. But his body got beat to hell over the years as he worked his tail off just trying to provide for our family. 

I will forever be grateful for the sacrifices he made, and I will also forever fight for those who’ve gone through the same. But far too often, our government helps out the big guys with the fat wallets rather than the working families like mine.

There's no clearer example of that failed, out-of-touch leadership than my opponent, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA). He's spent decades attacking union members like my dad and their right to build good lives. In fact, when the UAW members working at John Deere in Iowa went on strike for a better future for their families, Sen. Grassley had no idea the strike was even happening.

I’m so proud to be an Iowan, to stand in solidarity with the men and women at UAW, and to ALWAYS stick up for working families like the one I grew up in. That's why I'm running for Senate – and why I am determined to defeat Sen. Grassley.

I’m in this fight for working families, like the one I come from, because Sen. Grassley has stopped showing up for us and representing our interests.

If you believe working families in Iowa need a stronger voice – if you’re with me to flip this state blue and protect our Democratic Senate majority – then I’m asking you to make a grassroots contribution to help me hit this important end-of-month fundraising goal. Chip in whatever you can before midnight tonight to defeat Sen. Grassley and give working families in Iowa a senator who will fight for them.

Thank you for standing with me in this fight.

With gratitude,

– Abby