John,

With Election Day closing in, voters in our community are about to start seeing a ton of political ads. I’m sure you’re all super excited about that 🙄.

There's no doubt Ken Calvert and his super PACs allies are planning the standard barrage of mudslinging and distortions. So today, I wanted to share more about my story because I’d rather you hear it straight from me.

Before I jump in, tonight at midnight marks our August fundraising deadline to make sure our TV ads aren't drowned out by my opponent's. If you can, send in a donation of $3 before midnight.

Okay, here it goes:

I was 17 when the World Trade Center collapsed, and like many Americans, I felt a deep sense of patriotism and a duty to serve our country. At that time, homophobic policies like “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” discouraged me from joining the military, so I decided to study law.

After law school, I came home to California and clerked for two federal judges. Then, as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, I helped prosecute white-collar criminals who defrauded seniors, thieves who targeted disabled victims, and corrupt doctors who perpetrated the opioid crisis. I also handled cases in counterintelligence -- including shutting down a smuggling operation that sent American-made microchips to China.

In recent years, I’ve learned firsthand that some of the biggest threats we face are right here at home. The January 6 attack on our capitol didn't happen by accident, and as a federal prosecutor working on related cases, I saw how extremists in Washington and media outlets helped contribute to the violence and division that’s eroding our democracy.

My opponent Ken Calvert has been one of Donald Trump's most outspoken supporters. He perpetuated the Big Lie that the 2020 election was stolen, and within hours of the attack, Calvert voted to decertify the election results.

My campaign is about stopping extremism so we can get to work for the American people. We need to agree on basic facts. Only then can we move forward on the things that matter -- improving health care access, growing the economy, and saving our environment from the climate crisis.

I’m committed to getting our democracy working again. That starts by ousting extremists like Ken Calvert who fuel and benefit from the chaos. If you're with me, send in a donation to power our efforts before tonight’s deadline hits.

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Thanks for hearing me out,

Will