Hi there, John – it's Deb, and you're looking at a photo of me and my daughter, Abby, enjoying cupcakes we baked together the other night. You might be wondering: What the heck do cupcakes have to do with Abby's Senate race against Sen. Chuck Grassley (R) here in Iowa? Well, if you give me just a moment, I'd love to explain.

In 2019, Abby agreed to host eight Democratic presidential candidates, multiple union presidents and hundreds of voters at her Finkenauer Fish Fry event. I knew this was an especially important moment for Abby and a valuable opportunity for Iowans to hear from these leaders. So when she asked for my help making the day a success, I happily agreed.

We knew that her guests would be eager to talk politics and just as eager to eat, so Abby tasked me with making dessert. Over a few days, I baked nearly 1,000 cupcakes – chocolate, pumpkin, red velvet, a flavor for everyone! I even ran out of space in my freezer to store them. (Thankfully, my husband's pickup truck and sub-freezing temperatures provided the perfect backup.)

You see, our family understands the meaning of hard work and the importance of showing up for each other. That's how we raised Abby, and it's how she won election to the Iowa House at only 25 and then became the youngest woman to flip a U.S. House seat from red to blue.

Now, thanks to that same work ethic, she's going to defeat Sen. Grassley, become the youngest woman elected to the Senate and give Iowa families the fighter in Washington that we need. But this has never been a one-woman team. From cupcakes to grassroots donations, Abby is counting on this scrappy, passionate team to stand with her.

Iowa is ready for Abby – nearly two-thirds of likely voters here don't want to reelect Sen. Grassley! That's why today I'm asking you to make a contribution to my daughter's campaign of $5, or whatever you can spare, so that she has the resources to defeat Sen. Grassley, bring new leadership to Iowa and protect our Senate majority.

Thank you for standing with my daughter. It means the world to Jerry, Abby and me.

– Deb Finkenauer (Abby's mom)