Friend: Since February is a short month, we are already coming up on a critical fundraising deadline. What we do right now will determine the strength of our campaign.

I don't doubt you're getting a lot of emails, but this email is unlike any other you'll get ahead of such a big fundraising deadline, so I hope you'll give it a read.

When I'm in the middle of make-or-break moments like this for my Senate race, my mind often goes back to Jacksonville – back to the tiny house I grew up in with six brothers and sisters. Things weren't always easy. Mom was a maid, Dad was a janitor, and although we didn't have a lot of money, we had each other.

In fact, it was Mom who used to say to me: "Never grow tired of doing good, Val – never tire." Those words inspired me to get into public service, and ever since then, growing tired of doing what's right was never an option.

These words have been deep in my soul as I have served the public, from my time in the Orlando Police Department to Congress. They're the words I spoke to myself as I impeached Donald Trump. And they're the words I think about now, as I see how we desperately need more than a 50-50 Senate to build back better for the American people.

Never tire, I think, as I recognize Florida is Democrats' best opportunity to expand our Senate majority. Never tire, I think about as polls show me statistically tied with my opponent, and I come out of yet another finance meeting with the realization I'm far behind where I need to be before a big deadline like this.

My unlikely story of opportunity is proof of what's possible – and I promise I will never tire as I work to make sure the greatness of America is accessible and affordable for all Americans. A 50-50 Senate isn't working for you or our country, and it's up to us to expand our majority and secure a future for voting rights, reproductive freedom and all our shared values.

So as I face down this critical deadline, I need to build a huge grassroots team to help me surge ahead in the new year. That's why I set an ambitious goal to recruit 10,000 members before midnight tonight, and I'm counting on you to join, friend:

Friend, I ask a lot of you because I have so much faith that you'll never tire, either. You know the stakes of this election, so before my most important fundraising deadline of our campaign thus far, can you split $5 between my campaign and Jeanne Shaheen's to become a member of this grassroots team? Every donor will help me defeat Marco Rubio and expand our Democratic Senate majority.

Thank you for being in this with me. 

Val Demings