Friend,

Last night, Democratic presidential candidates held a debate in L.A., barely 70 miles from where the Ventura Fire ravaged thousands of acres of Southern California.

And for the first time since the presidential contest began, debate moderators directed climate questions at the candidates within the first hour. Good. Finally. The media, the party, and the candidates are starting to see the power of our movement demanding climate action.

And yet this must be the start of something a lot bigger. Confronting the climate crisis is a challenge greater than anything the American people have faced in generations. We can -- we must -- rise to meet this challenge. But to do it, we need national leaders committed to a transformative agenda for climate action.

This week in Washington state, we announced a bold agenda for 2020 that includes five pieces of climate legislation that I am calling on our legislature to take up as soon as session begins. States like Washington across the country are taking action. But we're being left behind by folks in D.C. -- especially in the Senate -- more interested in excusing the corruption of Donald Trump than in taking action on behalf of the American people and the world.

So last night's debate was a start. But it was just a start. We need the climate crisis to be our top priority. If you agree, head over to Facebook and join me in sending a clear message demanding every candidate prioritize climate action, because -- you know what? -- we must defeat the climate crisis.

Very truly yours,

Jay Inslee