Received this e-mail today from U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I. VT) in support of Deborah Ross’ (D. NC) U.S. Senate campaign:
Our political revolution is responsible for the most progressive Democratic platform in the history of our country. That is the direct result of the grassroots activism that you, and millions of others, engaged in over the last 18 months.
Now, for the future of our country and our progressive agenda, it is imperative that Democrats regain control of the Senate with a progressive majority. Perhaps the most important reason to do so is because we must elect senators who will support nominees for the Supreme Court who will vote to overturn Citizens United.
One race where we have a very good chance of winning a seat currently held by a Republican is in North Carolina's Senate race. But the Koch brothers know the stakes of this race too, and they know that they can't afford to lose a reliable vote that would stop Citizens United from being overturned. That's why the Koch brothers are spending millions of dollars to win that election.
Deborah Ross is the Democratic nominee for Senate in North Carolina. She is a strong progressive with whom I would be proud to serve in the U.S. Senate. She's not afraid to stand up to big polluters while moving us towards clean energy. She's fought for equal pay for women and good jobs for everyone. I know that Deborah Ross would make a fantastic member of the U.S. Senate -- one who would stand up for working families no matter what.
You better believe the Koch brothers don't like Deborah Ross very much.
In order to ensure that we win a progressive majority in the United States Senate, we must help Deborah Ross win in November. That is why I am asking you directly:
Your contribution of $2.70 will help Deborah Ross win her race for Senate in North Carolina. Please make a contribution to her today so we can advance our progressive agenda, defeat the Koch brothers, and take back the Senate.
We were victorious in making it a clear priority of the Democratic Party to fight for a $15 an hour federal minimum wage, expand Social Security, abolish the death penalty, put a price on carbon, enact major criminal justice reforms, end for-profit prisons and detention facilities, break up too-big-to-fail banks and create a 21st century Glass-Steagall Act, and so much more.
Our job is to make sure that platform is implemented. That will not happen without Democratic control of the Senate.
The Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling handed millionaires and billionaires — who have already rigged the economy — unlimited influence in American elections. It gave billionaires like the Koch Brothers and Sheldon Adelson the opportunity to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to elect candidates who will represent their interests.
The Koch brothers, who want to move us toward an oligarchic form of society, are making a bet in the race for Senate in North Carolina. They think that their big money can buy this election. And they're using the Citizens United decision to do it.
I want our political revolution to make a different bet: one that says campaigns powered by small contributions of whatever people can afford, backed by a grassroots movement of volunteers, can take on big money and win elections.
It is so important we do everything we can to help Deborah Ross win her election in November.
Please make a contribution of $2.70 to Deborah Ross's campaign today to help her become the next senator from the state of North Carolina so she can fight with me to implement our progressive agenda.
Thank you as always for everything you do for our political revolution.
In solidarity,
Senator Bernie Sanders