Friend: Growing up, my family didn't have much. We lived in a small A-frame house in a rural part of Jacksonville. Mom was a maid and dad was a janitor – and they did everything in their power to make life better for me and my six siblings.

Life must have been hard for my mother and father, working long hours on their feet all day only to come back to more work at home with the seven of us kids – but even when they were tired or had to sacrifice for us, they never showed it. "Never tire of doing good, Val," my parents would tell me, and I never have.

Now, I aim to embody that same sense of duty. I travel back to Florida every Sunday because that's a sacred day for my family, and I spend every other moment working to build a better, more equitable country for my own kids, my grandkids and our country's future generations.

My husband, Jerry, and I have dedicated our lives to public service.

If you're ready to help me build a better future for our kids, then I need you to give today. This race will determine whether Democrats have enough votes to protect our democracy and secure a brighter future, so please: Will you pitch in $5 or more now to help me defeat Marco Rubio, win in Florida and defend our Senate majority?

It wasn't easy becoming the first woman to serve as Orlando's Chief of Police – nor was it easy to take on the monumental task of managing an impeachment trial for a sitting president. Along the way, I've had people send nasty emails calling me names and have even had Trump attack me personally – but I've stayed laser-focused on my goals, never giving up on doing what's right. 

Now, I have the amazing opportunity to replace Marco Rubio in the U.S. Senate, to do more good for my community and our country. It's not going to be easy, though: With the help of Mitch McConnell's super PAC, Marco Rubio just launched an attack ad blitz to defeat me. 

It's because they know this ONE seat could determine whether we have enough votes in the Senate to take action on everything from preventing gun violence to securing reproductive freedom for women. Losing just isn't an option.

If you're with me in wanting to build a better future for the next generation, please donate $5 or whatever you can right now. In a race as close as this one, it could be your single donation that allows me to reach just enough voters to tip the scale and surge ahead in the polls – so please don't wait to give.

Thank you for being part of this grassroots team. Together, I know we have what it takes to win. 

Val Demings