Friend, with recent polls showing me just 1 point behind Marco Rubio in Florida's must-win Senate race, I'm about to ask for your grassroots support before our FEC quarterly deadline – the final one before Election Day. Let me explain.

The fact of the matter is that Florida and our country deserve better than Marco Rubio. He has shown time and again that he can only be counted on to stand up for his own selfish political interests.

While I've fought tirelessly to protect reproductive rights for all, Marco Rubio celebrated the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade – and even went as far as to cosponsor a national abortion ban in the Senate.

While I've been a steadfast champion of gun safety reform, Rubio has been nothing but a lapdog for the gun lobby and has refused to work with Parkland survivors.

While I was risking my life for my community as a member of law enforcement, Rubio was busy plotting his political career. Now, he's shamelessly attacking the 27 years I spent as a police officer.

The choice at the ballot box may seem clear, but here's the problem: Rubio is breaking fundraising records, and national Republicans have already poured $10 million into this race to crush our momentum. It's all because they know that this race will determine which party wins Senate control.

Now, with time running out before this critical FEC end-of-quarter deadline, we're on track to fall short of our $250,000 goal. But while Rubio depends on Fox News donors and GOP super PACs to swoop in and help him flip this seat, I'm relying entirely on grassroots donations from people like you, friend.

So please, friend, I need your help. Will you rush $5 or more right now – split between my campaign and Jacky Rosen's – to help me close this gap, flip Florida blue, and expand our Democratic Senate majority?

Thank you,

Val Demings