We need progressive leadership in Washington DC. After Tuesday’s astonishing election results, the worst thing our party could do for itself is to elevate AIPAC-funded centrist democrats who will make deals with the Trump family and profit off the war in Iran, all while claiming to represent the people. We must demand new leadership. The viability of a progressive democrat becoming President in 2028 hinges on our congressional representatives’ performance over the next two years. We must make our voices heard now before establishment Dems manage to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. 

Here’s a guide for contacting your representatives in Congress and templates for what you can say to demand that they elevate and empower progressive leaders.

HELPFUL LINKS

Find your House representative:
https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

Find your ZIP+4 (needed to contact some representatives):
https://tools.usps.com/zip-code-lookup.htm?byaddress 

REPRESENTATIVES TO CONTACT

Each of us has three representatives in Congress: one in the House of Representatives and both of New York’s senators.

REPRESENTATIVE HAKEEM JEFFRIES (NY-08)

Representative Hakeem Jeffries is poised to become the next Speaker of the House when the new Congress is sworn in in January. This is unacceptable. Jeffries is an impotent centrist who has less charisma than drywall and received over $1.7 million in pro-Israel support in 2024 alone. A petition online demanding that House Democrats select a different Speaker has already gathered over one million signatures. A recent Economist/YouGov poll found that only 26% of voters approve of his performance. He is one of the most disliked and distrusted Democrats in Congress. He cannot lead our party in the House.  

Jeffries represents much of Bedstuy. If you are his constituent, you can write to him here: https://jeffriesforms.house.gov/contact/. 

Here’s a message you can send him:

Representative Jeffries,

I write to convey my deep concern that should you become the next Speaker, you and your fellow Democrats will lose all the momentum and good will that led to the remarkable election results on Tuesday. The voters made abundantly clear that they need change. The best thing you can do for the party right now is to enthusiastically support a different representative for Speaker. 

With respect, you are not fit to meet the moment we are in, and your becoming Speaker would enrage the democratic base and undo much of the progress made during the past two years. We need to elect a Democrat to the White House in 2028. It would be a huge and unforced error for you to pursue leadership in the House, immediately deflate and alienate the voters, and risk losing the Presidency. 

This is a moment of immense importance for the country. I strongly urge you to place the will of the people above yourself, trust the voters, and support a different representative for Speaker.

Sincerely,

[FULL NAME], constituent

***

REPRESENTATIVE YVETTE D. CLARKE (NY-09) OR OTHER N.Y. HOUSE REP

Representative Clarke D. Yvette represents much of Crown Heights. Write to her (or whoever your House rep is - find out here) to demand that they NOT support Hakeem Jeffries as Speaker.

Write to Representative Clarke here: https://clarke.house.gov/contact/email/ 

Representative Clarke [OR OTHER REP],

I write to convey my deep concern that, should Hakeem Jeffries become the next Speaker of the House, you and your fellow Democrats will lose all the momentum and good will that led to the remarkable election results on Tuesday. The voters made abundantly clear that they need change. The voters do not trust Representative Jeffries and we do not want him to be our next Speaker. The best thing you can do for the party right now is to enthusiastically support a different representative for Speaker.

This is a moment of immense importance for the country. Please do the right thing and do NOT support Representative Jeffries as Speaker.

Sincerely,

[FULL NAME], constituent

***

SENATOR CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY)

Senator Chuck Schumer is 400 years old. He was born before the discovery of DNA and was alive at the same time as Joseph Stalin. He predates Brown v. Board of Education and the polio vaccine. Now he wants to revive his old role as Majority Leader in the Senate. THIS CANNOT HAPPEN. On top of being ancient, Chuck Schumer has openly stated that one of his top priorities as leader is fighting to increase U.S. taxpayer-funded military aid to Israel. While he did play a not-insignicant role in delivering for Democrats in the midterms, he is an entrenched establishment Dem who is not prepared to meet the moment we’re in.

Write to him here: https://www.schumer.senate.gov/contact/message-chuck

Senator Schumer,

I want to start by saying that I recognize that Tuesday's election results are in no small part due to your leadership as Minority Leader. However, I write to convey deep concern that should you become the next Majority Leader, you and your fellow Democrats will lose all the momentum and good will that led to the remarkable election results on Tuesday. Respectfully, you are too old, too entrenched in Washington, and not sufficiently prepared (or willing) to fight for voters and hold the Trump Administration accountable during this unprecedented time in our history.

The success of the next two years is going to hinge, in large part, on communication from party leaders. Respectfully, you are not cut out for that. We need a Majority Leader who can energize and maintain the trust of the voters. You have already lost that trust. Our ability to elect a Democrat as President in 2028 will be defined by our party's actions over the next two years. The midterms made abundantly clear that the voters need change. We need another senator as Majority Leader.

I say this, again, with immense appreciation, and with deep fear that Democrats in the Senate will squander the trust the American people just handed them. You must step aside and allow someone else - preferably, Elizabeth Warren or Chris Van Hollen - to lead the Democrats in the Senate.

This is a moment of immense importance for the country. I strongly urge you to place the will of the people above yourself, and to not pursue a leadership position in the Senate.

Sincerely,

[FULL NAME], constituent

***

SENATOR KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND (D-NY)

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is New York’s other senator. Write to her to demand that she NOT support Chuck Schumer as Majority Leader:  https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/contact/email-me/

Senator Gillibrand,

I write to convey my deep concern that, should Senator Schumer become the next Majority Leader, you and your fellow Democrats will lose all the momentum and good will that led to the remarkable election results on Tuesday. I recognize and appreciate that the midterm results are in large part due to his leadership and vision as Minority Leader. However, he is too old, too entrenched, and too tethered to the old guard that voters resoundingly rejected to lead Democrats in the next Senate. Supporting him as Majority Leader would be a mistake. 

The success of the next two years is going to hinge, in large part, on communication and messaging from party leaders. Future bold actions will mean nothing if party leaders are unable to convey them to voters, or if voters have already decided - as they have with Senator Schumer - that he is ineffective and not worth listening to. We need a Majority Leader who can energize the base and maintain the trust of the voters, and Senator Schumer has already lost that trust. Our ability to elect a democrat as President in 2028 will be defined by our party's actions over the next two years. The voters demand change - they made that abundantly clear on Tuesday. Senator Schumer cannot be our next Majority Leader.

I say this with immense appreciation for both you and Senator Schumer, and with deep fear that Democrats in the Senate will lose the trust the American people just handed them. You must talk to Senator Schumer and other Democrats and agree to support another senator - preferably, Elizabeth Warren or Chris Van Hollen - to be Majority Leader. 

This is a moment of immense importance for the country. Please do the right thing, trust the voters, and do NOT support Senator Schumer as Majority Leader in the Senate. 

Sincerely,

[FULL NAME], constituent