HANGING PAPER

Project 2026 is the simple goal of winning the House and Senate in 2026. Every House seat is up for election in November of next year. You have that long to do whatever you can to Level Up.

What is Level Up? Simple.

If you are doing nothing but worrying, grab a pen, paper and an envelope and write a letter to an elected official about your concern. AND. DON'T. STOP.

Been writing letters? Let's get you to a school board, town board, village board, city council meeting. These are where the very bad ideas are born. Very bad ideas are weakened by opposition. If you want, speak in support of the good and against the bad. If speaking isn't for you, go back to step one and start stuffing your elected officials' mailbox.

Been attending meetings? Got a lay of the land? Well, if you feel bold enough, run. Especially if you are female or have a minority background, elected office needs you the most. Don't feel comfortable running? Support someone who does. Work on a campaign. Even if you are a complete introvert, there are jobs for you on a campaign.

Whatever you are doing, do more. And be loud about it.

But let's get back to step one, which is where almost everyone is right now, and it makes a huge difference: Write PAPER LETTERS to your elected officials.

Note: I am not against emails and phone calls. But emails get deleted and phone calls go to voicemail. How many emails do you look at a day? Uh huh, be honest. And you pick up on the first ring no matter who, right?

I feel that a paper letter, delivered by a USPS carrier, to your elected official is a grander statement of seriousness. It's not just elegant, it's sort of a surprise. Who doesn't like mail? Now, in my little 1920s fantasy here I see the mail carrier dumping sacks and sacks of letters on my representative's desk to his shocked chagrin. And you know what? I am assuming that is actually happening. And even if it's not happening, even if my lonely little envelope gets laughed at and thrown in the trash with the Congressional aide calling me a "libtard," I know that office is going to get another one next week, and another. Until other people start to pay attention and listen to me when I say this is the way.

So, anyway, come along. Here are some quick tips:

#1: It's fine to encourage your Democratic elected officials, especially if they've been too quiet. However, you need to turn the fire up on your Republican reps. They are the ones who know the bullshit that is happening, and need some understanding that their office is in danger of being flipped.

#2: Typed, printed out, longhand -- whatever you want. Great way to use up old cards. Great reason to buy new cards.

#3. Be kind. No one likes being yelled at, especially if they know they've done wrong. Let's be civil.

#4. Be brief. Let your inner Joe Friday do the talking. That said, if you are passionate, go for it. Just...

#5. ...Be focused. Don't use the same shit-hose Trusk has been using. Pick a topic, address the topic. After all, you'll have plenty of opportunities to get to everything. Because you're doing this at least weekly, right?

That's it. Those are the rules.

Here is a letter I just wrote to my representative. It is not brief, but it is, hopefully, impactful.

Representative Nick Langworthy

422 Cannon House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

February 20, 2025

Dear Representative Langworthy,

Again, I thank you for your continued outreach to the community you serve. It is appreciated by all of your constituents.

I am writing to ask for your voice in denouncing Donald Trump’s recent disgusting mischaracterization of Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy as a "dictator" and the outrageous lies that Russia was blameless in their invasion of Ukraine, our ally.

In a letter to your constituents in April 2024, you wrote:

“Make no mistake: Putin is a thug and a butcher, and Ukraine is right to defend itself from Russian aggression”

Yet here I sit, 36 hours after Trump made that false statement, and you have said nothing to push back against the President’s statement. My honest question to you, because I know you to be a sensible, considerate man, is will you denounce these false claims and stand up for Ukraine?

If not, I can only assume you have now decided that being “a butcher” is no longer enough to block the spell Trump and Putin have over you. I will remind you that you have 88 weeks until your seat is up for grabs again, in a district full of Ukrainian-Americans. I am not asking you for legislation you don’t agree with, I am not asking you to work with Democrats, I am not even asking you to deviate from your party. Sir, I am asking you to merely stand by your own words: “Make no mistake: Putin is a thug and a butcher, and Ukraine is right to defend itself from Russian aggression.”

I hope you will do the honorable thing. You’re tenacious, and you’re focused on the goals of your party, and I respect. I don’t want to think of you as a liar.

Thank you for your time, and I wish you, your family and your staff the best – and a quick end to this long winter.

Sincerely,

See that? Friendly start, informative intro, a little spice in the meatball, and a reminder that he's looking bad.

Okay, so how do you get started? Well, it all depends on where you live. Google "find my elected officials" to find several resources. If you live in NY or CT, go to Find Your Elected Representatives in New York - Katal Center for Equity, Health, and Justice. Put in your address, and they all come up:

Donald TrumpPresident (R)

1600 Pennsylvania Ave NWWashington, DC, DC 20500

(202) 456-1111

Kirsten GillibrandSenator (D)NY

2 Constitution Avenue, NERussell Senate Office Building, Room 478Washington, DC 20510

(202) 224-4451

Chuck SchumerSenator (D)NY

120 Constitution Avenue, NEHart Senate Office Building, Room 322Washington, DC 20510

(202) 224-6542

Nick LangworthyRepresentative (R)NY-23

25 Independence Avenue, SECannon House Office Building, Room 422Washington, DC 20515

(202) 225-3161