Friend,

I wake up every morning and fight to elect Val Demings because I know she'll make my family, my friends and my home state of Florida proud. Today, on her birthday, I'd love to tell you why.

The first time Val Demings ran for Congress, I was working at a Democratic Party committee writing about upcoming political leaders, and she was one of the only Black women on our radar that cycle. It also meant a lot to me that she is from Florida like I am.

Researching Val Demings more, I learned that she dedicated her life to service, working as a police officer for 27 years. I was so impressed that she extended her love for her community through her police work – just as my cousin Robin did for the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office when I was younger.

So, as soon as I learned about Val Demings' dedication to our state, I knew right away that I had to work for her in some capacity. It's been my dream since I was growing up to show the world that you can be Black and from somewhere like Jacksonville and accomplish big things. Val Demings has proven exactly that to folks like me.

When Chief Demings is elected to the Senate, her election won't just expand our Senate majority, it will have a very real impact on Black kids in Duval County Public Schools and at colleges like Florida State University – and it will make Floridians of all political backgrounds proud to have a senator who never tires of fighting for them.

No one knows better than I do that this race will be a challenge. Val Demings is up against Republicans with deep pockets who are spending millions in attack ads against her. It's going to take all hands on deck to overcome that kind of spending, but I know that we can make Florida proud if we work together.

I'm giving everything I have to this race, so I have to ask: Will you donate $5 right now to help Val Demings defeat Marco Rubio, deliver better leadership to the people of Florida and expand our Democratic Senate majority?

Thanks for joining this grassroots team, 

Ryan
Deputy Campaign Manager
Team Demings