Hi John,

I know you've heard from a lot of people about how Catherine Cortez Masto's (D-NV) Senate race is the most important in the country – but with just weeks until the election, I wanted you to hear it from me, too.

While you might associate me with my roles as an actor – particularly a former (fictional) president – I speak to you today as a concerned fellow American: If Catherine Cortez Masto loses in Nevada, we hand over control of the Senate to Mitch McConnell, and worse still, pave the way for a second Trump era.

I am going to do everything in my power to make sure that doesn't happen, which is why I'm emailing. While a group of donors are triple-matching all gifts, will you donate $5 (becomes $15) to help Catherine hit her $600,000 fundraising goal, win in Nevada and keep the Senate blue?

You know as well as I do why we can't let the GOP win. The last time Republicans controlled our democratic institutions – headed by McConnell and the impeached former president – was marked by deception, selfishness and every hindrance of progress possible. This period culminated in an attack on democracy itself, sanctioned by many of those who could be part of the Senate majority if Sen. Cortez Masto loses this seat.

The darkness of those years should serve as a reminder for why our Democratic majority is so crucial – but the hopefulness of recent days should be our clarion call. Sen. Cortez Masto and her Democratic colleagues have helmed historic action on infrastructure, climate change, and lowering prescription drug prices. They confirmed the first Black woman to the Supreme Court. And so much more.

With hope and hard work, we've accomplished a great deal. But with Sen. Cortez Masto down 1 point in the polls and up against more than $55 million in GOP attacks, she needs our help to win.  

Let's help Catherine hit her biggest goal, to raise $600,000, before the deadline at midnight tonight. Donate $5 and have it tripled toward the most important Senate race in the country.

I've been an activist most of my life, John. I've witnessed our nation confront and overcome a host of consequential challenges. And I've learned that, at such critical junctures of history, we must ask ourselves: Who do we want to be as a country? 

Do we want to be a country where the very right to bodily autonomy lies in the hands of right-wing extremists? The kind of country where health care and lifesaving medications are so expensive, they are out of reach for countless Americans? The kind of country where outright lies and conspiracies are used to tear down our democracy?

I say no. No to the country that MAGA Republican rule would manifest. No to extremism and attacks on democracy and fundamental rights. But – and I say this with no exaggeration – this all rides on whether Catherine Cortez Masto wins this battleground Senate race in Nevada.

Experts from The New York Times to CNN are reporting Catherine is the most vulnerable Democratic senator on the ballot, so we urgently need to do our part to help her win. Will you please donate $5 and have every dollar tripled today to help reelect Catherine Cortez Masto and save our Democratic Senate majority?

Thank you,
Martin Sheen