Hi friend – I never thought it would go this way. 

My mom was a Milwaukee school teacher for 30 years, and my dad worked third shift at the General Motors plant.

I never thought I’d become a state representative or Wisconsin’s first Black lieutenant governor. But my parents taught me to never settle for what is – we must reach for what can be.

I never thought I’d be running for U.S. Senate with control of the chamber at stake and so many important issues on the line.

I never thought tens of thousands of people would contribute and volunteer to be a part of this campaign after I decided to run.

And I never thought I’d have to ask supporters to do even more in order to help send Ron Johnson packing.

But that’s what I have to do today. I have to ask you to do more.

Ron Johnson has his special-interest donors and right-wing super PACs that will stop at nothing to protect this seat. 

I know you probably didn’t start your day thinking you’d make a donation to my campaign, but that’s what I have to ask you to do if we’re going to flip this seat and beat Ron Johnson. 

So please: 

Can you split a $5 contribution between my campaign and Rev. Raphael Warnock's so we can protect and expand our Democratic Senate majority? I know that we can flip this seat in November – as long as we're in this together.

Between Ron Johnson being named the most vulnerable Republican Senator up for re-election and a recent Marquette poll showing me leading him by 2 points, we are in a strong position to win. But all of us need to stay involved between now and the election to keep up our momentum and organize all across the state.

That's why your contribution today is so important. Thank you for chipping in, if you can afford it. 

All my best, 

Mandela Barnes