Hi, friend.

I’m Verlene Warnock, Raphael’s mom. I’m reaching out on behalf of my son because he’s working so hard right now to give Georgians like me a voice in the Senate and move our country forward. In a moment, I'm going to ask you to make a contribution to help Raphael win his campaign for reelection – but first, I hope you'll let me share a little bit about myself and why your support is so important.

When I was growing up, Jim Crow segregation was at its full power. I spent my summers picking cotton on land I didn’t own, and then went on to become a pastor. My husband – also a pastor – and I taught all 12 of our children the importance of not just dreaming about change and impact, but making it. We taught them about the power of community and service – of having a spiritual home and nourishing it like it nourishes you.

I always knew Raphael was going places, but I never imagined one of those places would be the U.S. Senate. I can't say I'm surprised: When Raphael was a boy, he would go to the library and come back with a stack of books as tall as he was, dreaming about changing the world.

No matter what hardships we faced as family, he never let his circumstances keep him from thinking and acting big. That's who Raphael is.

With your help last year, he flipped Georgia blue for the first time in years – and I can't express how grateful we were for your support. Now, he's in the Senate fighting to cut costs of prescription drugs, to expand voting rights, and to ensure all children to have access to the same opportunities he had.

But Raphael's now in a runoff election – and he won't be able to defend his Senate seat and keep up this critical work without grassroots folks like you. Experts are saying the runoff election will be incredibly close, and folks on the other side are spending millions to defeat him.

I'm so proud of my son. I know how dedicated he is to living a life of service and making positive change for our community. But in a race this close and competitive, he needs supporters like you by his side to win. I’m personally asking, friend: Will you chip in what you can for my son to help him win in Georgia and keep on fighting for families like yours and ours?

Thank you so much.

– Pastor Verlene Warnock