Dear John,

Our nation is less than a year away from a “gut check” moment for our democracy. I wanted to take a moment to share with you directly what's at stake - and why I urgently need your help today.

The mid term election in 2022 will decide whether we have a governing House majority focused on fixing our nation’s problems, or a “refusal to govern” majority led by Kevin McCarthy - one that shows no agenda other than obstructing President Biden and the basic functions of government.

Just in the past few months, McCarthy whipped his caucus to vote NO on the American Rescue Plan, to vote NO on the Bipartisan Infrastructure bill, to vote NO on a bipartisan investigation of the insurrection on January 6, to vote NO to preserve the Full Faith and Credit of our currency and to vote NO on the Build Back Better bill that will address the cost of prescription drugs, climate change, tax fairness, child day care, and job training.

It does not take a lot of imagination to understand how harmful a “Speaker Kevin McCarthy” will be if he gains the gavel in January 2023.

The contest over that gavel will play out right here at home in Connecticut’s Second District.

That's because in the hours after the results in the New Jersey and Virginia elections were finalized, the National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee moved the Second district onto its target list for 2022. That's a signal to donors and dark money interests to direct their attention - and money - to defeating me.

They are hoping that their message of division and distraction will work in eastern Connecticut. They are hoping that voters in our part of the state will ignore the national Republicans refusal to help seniors with rising drug costs, their refusal to create jobs with infrastructure, their refusal to help towns and school districts overcome COVID, their refusal to make the top 1% pay a fairer share of the costs of a healthy nation.

We are preparing now to once again again take on the challenge to win the battle for the hearts and minds of eastern Connecticut voters. It will take our collective effort to communicate our positive message - both in person, at doorsteps and public gatherings - as well as on the television, phone and computer screens of a district with over 450,000 voters.

Its a fight that that we've worked hard to win - and earn - with your support before. And with you by my side, we will do it again. But I need your help today to make sure we can be ready to go next year.

We're one month out from a crucial end-of-year fundraising reporting deadline - one that Republican party leaders in Washington and Connecticut will be watching closely. Will you help me send a strong message that this district is ready to fight back by sending me $5, $10 or even $25 today?

Your support now, as we prepare for the fight ahead, will be the most powerful message we can send. Winning Connecticut’s Second District will be key to making sure that the McCarthy agenda of obstruction and negativity does not prevail.