John, the last few weeks leading up to the Democratic primary in Missouri have been a whirlwind, to say the least. Now that we're past the primary election, I finally have a free moment, so I want to take a second to reintroduce myself and tell you a bit more about why I'm running for Senate.

I've spent my whole life in Missouri. As a young girl growing up here, I watched my parents live the American Dream.

At a young age, my parents taught me that “to whom much is given, much is required.” That sense of duty to help others is what drove me to choose a life of service.

When I was a kid, I dreamed of becoming a nurse. To me, nurses were the real superheroes. They took care of people and saved lives. That’s what I wanted to do – so I set out to make it happen.

As a young woman, I fulfilled my dream of becoming a nurse. Right after nursing school, I worked at a hospital and cared for children, seniors, people who relied on Medicare and Medicaid for their healthcare, and folks from all walks of life.

During my time working in a hospital, I saw the importance of quality healthcare firsthand. As a nurse, I believe that every person deserves access to the very best medical care, and as a parent, I believe that everyone should have access to contraception and abortion care – full stop.

I’ve spent my life giving back and helping others, and now I’m running for U.S. Senate because we need a nurse's heart in Washington.

If I could go back and talk to any of the younger versions of me in these photos, she wouldn't believe it if I told her we would one day be on the cusp of taking our heart of service all the way to the U.S. Senate. I hope I am making her, my family, and – most importantly – you proud.

Running a campaign with stakes this high is scary, for sure. Still, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited for November. I know that on Election Day, we're going to prove to everyone that hope, compassion, and people-first politics can win. But I need your help to do that, and right now, we're falling $3,482 short of our next midnight grassroots fundraising goal.

I'd really hate to miss a critical goal like this one so soon after our primary victory, so I have to ask you: Please, can you make a donation of $5, or whatever you can spare tonight, to power this campaign to November and help me bring compassion, honesty, and respect back to Washington?

Thanks so much for taking the time to read this email. I'm really grateful to have your support.

– Trudy