I’ll be honest, folks. I never saw myself running for U.S. Senate.

Back in the mid-1980s, I was laid off for 27 months as a geologist. Then, I took every scrap of savings in my bank account and took a gamble on opening my own business, a brewpub in downtown Denver.

I remember working 80-hour weeks. I remember lying awake at night wondering how we were going to make it. And I remember being so angry that my government wasn’t working for me.

So, I ran for Mayor. And once elected, I focused every day on making decisions based on what was best for Denver.

Then, I was elected Governor on the premise of uniting people, finding common ground, hashing things out, and getting things done.

Now, I see how broken Washington is. I see politicians who only listen to those who cut big campaign checks while ignoring the rest of us. It’s clear Colorado needs a different kind of Senator to get the job done.

Here’s why I’m telling you this: my story is the reason I remain grounded amid the partisan politics and nonsense that’s happening in our government.

Because with all the chaos in Washington, you need somebody who will roll up their sleeves and get to work fighting to ensure the most vulnerable of us are being taken care of.

Like I said, I never thought I’d run for Senate, but Coloradans deserve a leader they can trust to do right by them. I’m just a geologist-turned-brewer who turned to public service to do what’s right for the people of my state.

Because of that, I don’t take money from the corporate PACs a lot of politicians rely on. Instead, I rely on grassroots folks like you.

That’s why I’m depending on your contribution today to power this campaign across the finish line in November. Your $5 here or $10 there goes a long way in a campaign like ours.

So, I have to ask: will you make a donation of whatever is meaningful to you before our fundraising deadline ends at midnight? Together, we will flip Colorado’s Senate seat and put power back in the hands of the people:

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Thanks for helping us kick off this all-important election year. We need to reach every single fundraising goal from now until Election Day to secure victory. Your donation -- no matter how much -- helps us do that.

— John