Friend, Marco Rubio is attacking my 27 years of law enforcement service, so I'm reaching out to set the record straight.

Back in 1983, I answered a call to serve because I loved my community and wanted to protect it from harm. And while I was working the midnight shift, Marco Rubio was plotting his trajectory as a career politician.

But the problem is that some voters have only heard Marco Rubio's lies about me, and I need the resources to share my story of service with more Floridians before it's too late. Please understand, friend: How quickly I'm able to correct the record for voters will make or break this election.

If you can spare $5, will you donate before midnight to help me counter Rubio's attacks?

I was one of a few women in a class of 30 when I joined the police academy – and I always remembered what my mom had told me: "Be the best you can be, even if people say you don't belong."

And when it came time to choose a class president, one of the other women in our class convinced me to run. I was nervous, but I went for it – and I won by a landslide.

I graduated not only as class president but at the top of my class. When I got out of the academy, I went straight to work protecting and serving my community. And after decades of service, I became the first Black woman to serve as Orlando's chief of police.

Fast forward to today: I'm about to take on my biggest challenge yet. There are obstacles ahead, but with my "never tire" attitude and a massive grassroots movement behind me, I know that I can become Florida's next U.S. senator and expand our Democratic Senate majority.

If you're on my side, please donate $5 or whatever you can right now to help me share my story with more voters and defeat Marco Rubio.

I'm no stranger to adversity, friend. If naysayers like Rubio think their attacks will make me feel defeated, they've got another thing coming. I've heard it all before – and I've only come out stronger.

Thank you for joining this grassroots movement.

Chief Val Demings