It's times like these that I love living in Massachusetts. I always get a response, even it's a form letter, but more often I get some slanted but informed details. I have had none of the problems you mention. That said, keep up the fight. We are depending on you.
I'm also in Massachusetts, and I would add: even though our representativess and senators are all Democrats (not because of gerrymandering; because it is just such a blue state everywhere), I am quite certain that they are equally responsive and polite to Republicans who contact them or disagree with them. (And of course, even in the bluest of blue states, there ARE Republicans and they DO deserve to be able to express their opinion and be listened to (though when the opinion is fascism or Nazism, I think the amount of listening deservedly should go way down...)
I've written to Jake Auchincloss (my representative) several times to tell him how unhappy I've been with specific votes/statements [and how happy I've been with others], and he (his staff, or him personally) always replies with respect, information, and perspectives that make me think (even if I still disagree).
I'm sorry you get so little respect from your representative (sounds like a toxic mix of lack of caring, likely ignorance, polarized I-only-represent-people-who-vote-for-me politics, and downright misogyny). I am so grateful that you keep up the fight in your red state, because we all know you are NOT the only "blue person" in the state!
I agree that our MA Representatives are engaged with us, but it concerns me that many run uncontested (both by other Democrats and Republicans) year after year. I understand why Republicans wouldn't want to waste their money running, especially these days, but I think more options make for a stronger democracy. Similar to Missouri and other states with Republican supermajorities, lack of candidate variety leaves us all vulnerable to despots.
We had that in Boston this year, and I thought it worked well. I know there's a push to make the initiative statewide, and also to include national elections.
As a volunteer collecting signatures said to me recently, it’s not “I the people, it's WE the people”.
I don't know if it will greatly improve our democracy, but at the very least, we'll use less paper.
Exactly. You vote for the BETTER candidate. Not party. We don't do that here. But of course, MOST of the better candidates tend to have liberal policies and be democrats. Lets not forget however that The ACA is based Romneycare.
Well said. And I know Jake (though he is not my rep). A very good example of what a rep should be. My rep here is a Republican, But.... I've always gotten a response from him even though I disagree.
Thank you for what you do! Greg Steube’s office (Rep for Sarasota area in FL- home of Mike Flynn if that tells you anything) always answer the phone - I assume because not enough people are calling, they are nice but don’t seem to know or be able to share anything about his positions. His canned weekly emails are also filled with maddening rhetoric.
Here in NJ Congressional District 11, my U.S. representative Mikie Sherrill has always been responsive, and she also appears at all kinds of local public events, and is always willing to talk to her constituents (her neighbors). Accessibility and responsiveness were the issues she first ran on in 2018 when she flipped a seat that had been held by Republicans for literally generations. That's a big part of the reason she just won our election for Governor by 13 percentage points. So keep up your great work, and keep pushing people to run for office to truly listen to and represent the people who vot for them.
I love hearing that as well since I supported her recent campaign for governor of New Jersey! I think you're in good hands! Wish I could have voted for her, but I did get to vote for Abigail Spanberger!
That goes for Sam Graves, Eric Schmitt, and Josh Hawley. I get canned responses. Schmitt’s little surveys at the end of his emails are infuriating. Gotta answer “yes” or “no” to agree or not with no option to explain.
I finally told Schmitt to stop sending me his standard emails full of lies and in no way representing my interests or many of his constituents. I like to remind both senators that they are products of Jesuit education where the motto is “men for others”. Guess they’ve both forgotten that.
Schmitt's 'replies' are designed to limit the replies to whatever is supportive of Schmitt's current goals. As a senator from MO, he's not responsive, nor is Hawley, our 'good ol' boy, down-home jeans and plaid workshirt wearing native farmer' who doesn't have any land or property to speak of in MO. It's the GOP way.
I’m saving all of those canned responses and will start sharing them on the socials when they run again. Some of them are so infuriating and others totally miss the mark, but they are their words and can be quoted!
I live in CT and our Senators and Congressional representatives are all Democrats. When I contact them I do get a response. Sometimes a form email but it is a response.
I can’t believe that rep of yours responded to a MAN- what a misogynistic pr**k!
I moved to CT this year. I moved from Arkansas and continue to receive the (now more frequent) news letter from French Hill. He has attracted a viable opposition for 2026.
Here’s the intro from October 30, 2025, “I proudly joined my fellow House Republicans in voting to keep the federal government open. Senate Democrats continue blocking our funding bill that contains commonsense measures that ensures critical programs are funded, troops get paid, and the government can serve Americans.
In the name of providing healthcare to illegal immigrants and noncitizens, the left has chosen political theater over the American people. Hardworking Arkansas families are paying the price.” Huh? Maybe using AI to fact check would be useful.
For those of us who know the facts or have responsible elected officials, consider what it is like to be fed misinformation from people you thought you could trust- at least with facts. Or, perhaps you assume they are sharing the facts?
Maybe it’s time to publish fact checking on every constituent communications?
I think this "Senate Democrats continue blocking our funding bill that contains commonsense measures that ensures critical programs are funded, troops get paid, and the government can serve Americans." may be standard GOP boilerplate. Tommy (Mi-07) sent out something similar last week.
I’m in florida and the message from my representative was EXACTLY the same. Same sentences. So they didn’t even have time to write their own letters? Just copy from GOP marketing machine?
OMG! You have identified their marketing style and their messaging content. (It's not unlikely that there is a party 'formulaic' message available to current office holders. It's a perk of belonging to the old boys' club: don't have to think, don't have to reach out, don't have to participate, don't have to be open to one's voters. Doesn't sound democratic, does it?
It’s been clear for a while that there is a central messaging mechanism and likely some formal or informal policing mechanism. They represent the party primarily, the parties people next, and the general welfare last.
Wow. That’s an interesting insight. Perhaps that’s the “one size fits all” approach to communication in red states? Repeat the same words across the land until all align with the words.
I was born and raised in Missouri and now I live in East Texas. I have called my US representative repeatedly. I always get someone to talk with, usually a young person by the sound of their voice. However, my comments go into an empty space. My questions are not answered. My representative’s newsletter sounds just like the one you quoted, almost word for word. I won’t be stopped. I will continue calling. I will continue complaining, and even when a young woman hangs up on me.
Jason Smith (regrettable) is supposed to be our representative. I refuse to read his drivel in our weekly paper, due to the fact that he’s completely full of s*^t. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Lots of hands up in MO-2. Ann Wagner is convinced that she's unbeatable and acts that way. Her newsletters contain most of the same lies you cited along with pictures of her meeting with donors and organizations that support her. Heartland Wins is working to find and support a candidate to end her reign and get a real representative in the job.
Jess, I'm grateful I live in Delaware. I know my representative, personally. We only have one House member for the whole state (population about 1 million). How do I know her? I was her Sunday School and Youth Club teacher. I don't get personal calls, but I do get a text back assuring me that Sarah McBride will get my message. If Sarah sensed I needed a call, she has my number.
PS: She's still a member of our Church. She is everywhere in our community when she's not in Washington. I fully expect her to show up on any given Sunday, when she comes home to visit her parents.
This is how it should be. Every voter should expect to see/meet/talk to their House Member -- or that House Member shouldn't expect to get re-elected. End of sermon.
In Blue New Jersey we only get a response if our rep is a Democrat, though Republicans do take our calls. My little sister lives in Missouri so I understand the stakes. I'm so proud of you all for fighting. You inspire us all!
I live in the 8th Congressional District and have done so for over 30 years. Between the lack of state support for public school funding (and pretty much everything else) and the lack of a functional Congressional representative, this District is becoming full of ghost towns. We had a fair number of Federal jobs here but those are gradually going away. Smith doesn't provide any support to the Federal agencies who brought good jobs to some very small towns so people are resigning or retiring and most are leaving the area because there are no other comparable jobs. Rural schools lack support as you well know so those jobs will be in jeopardy if/when the inevitable consolidations come. Rural hospitals are few and far between and likely we will see more close in the near future because Smith and company can't figure out how to provide affordable healthcare (doesn't matter how many times he lies about it, we know it doesn't exist). Agriculture appears to also now be dependent on the Federal government since Trump seems more interested in Argentina than southern Missouri. We have beautiful natural resources here but I can't help but wonder how long those will last given the scaling back of environmental regulations. It would be great to have someone with a vision of what the 8th CD could be, but instead we have Smith who wants us to believe he cares because he sends out a newsletter every now and then that even his DC staff doesn't read.
The newsletters are a waste of time. Clearly the staffer you talked to thought so. Also I call and email Smith but the most I get in response is a canned email. He never holds public appearances either. Visits to the District appear to be carefully choreographed so he never has to answer any hard questions. The interests of the people of the District are actually not being represented at all. Maybe some day the people that auto-vote him into office will wake up. And We the People have to get a good alternative on the ballot.
I send emails to my reps in SC all the time. Considering the state I live in, I have no confidence or trust in any of them. Most of all Lindsey Graham. Send him many emails and same form response about how hard he is working for us. Never a response to a specific subject. I tried my house rep this week and William Timmons actually responded to the specific subject, even if it was to tell me what a great job they are doing. Until we elect people in these red states who work for us, I do not expect much from any of them.
Preaching to the choir Jess - but AMEN! You nailed it, I’m a dem in SC - my rep is Nancy Mace and my senators are Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham. I call, write snail mail and email them regularly. I never get a call back, occasionally I get someone at the other end of the line who reads from a list of talking points and catch phrases but is wholly ignorant on the topic I call about. Email responses are the exact same regardless of my inquiry. They couldn’t give a rat’s ass about my concerns
I remember reading an article once that they have someone that writes their newsletters for them and that’s why they’re the same all across the country or mostly the same.
It's times like these that I love living in Massachusetts. I always get a response, even it's a form letter, but more often I get some slanted but informed details. I have had none of the problems you mention. That said, keep up the fight. We are depending on you.
Thank you for your comment. I kind of assumed it would be that way in your state. Solidarity.
🙋♀️
I'm also in Massachusetts, and I would add: even though our representativess and senators are all Democrats (not because of gerrymandering; because it is just such a blue state everywhere), I am quite certain that they are equally responsive and polite to Republicans who contact them or disagree with them. (And of course, even in the bluest of blue states, there ARE Republicans and they DO deserve to be able to express their opinion and be listened to (though when the opinion is fascism or Nazism, I think the amount of listening deservedly should go way down...)
I've written to Jake Auchincloss (my representative) several times to tell him how unhappy I've been with specific votes/statements [and how happy I've been with others], and he (his staff, or him personally) always replies with respect, information, and perspectives that make me think (even if I still disagree).
I'm sorry you get so little respect from your representative (sounds like a toxic mix of lack of caring, likely ignorance, polarized I-only-represent-people-who-vote-for-me politics, and downright misogyny). I am so grateful that you keep up the fight in your red state, because we all know you are NOT the only "blue person" in the state!
I agree that our MA Representatives are engaged with us, but it concerns me that many run uncontested (both by other Democrats and Republicans) year after year. I understand why Republicans wouldn't want to waste their money running, especially these days, but I think more options make for a stronger democracy. Similar to Missouri and other states with Republican supermajorities, lack of candidate variety leaves us all vulnerable to despots.
Open primaries, ranked-choice voting, and runoff elections would go a long way towards solving some of these problems!
We had that in Boston this year, and I thought it worked well. I know there's a push to make the initiative statewide, and also to include national elections.
As a volunteer collecting signatures said to me recently, it’s not “I the people, it's WE the people”.
I don't know if it will greatly improve our democracy, but at the very least, we'll use less paper.
On the other hand, we love our Republican governors. Romney, Weld etc. We have a good one now that's a dem but I feel that we give everyone a chance.
I didn't love Romney, but I did vote for Weld and Baker because they were the better candidates.
As a teenager, I really admired Frank Sargent and Edward Brooke. Integrity is the key:)
Exactly. You vote for the BETTER candidate. Not party. We don't do that here. But of course, MOST of the better candidates tend to have liberal policies and be democrats. Lets not forget however that The ACA is based Romneycare.
Romney did sign health care reform into law, but there were a lot of other contributors. I never cared for him though.
Well said. And I know Jake (though he is not my rep). A very good example of what a rep should be. My rep here is a Republican, But.... I've always gotten a response from him even though I disagree.
Wow. Impressive. You’ve got our Oklahoma girl, Liz too. My very smart lawyer cousin debated her in high school and said she was too smart for him.
I love our Senator Warren. She is fearless
Kind of same here in south Puget Sound, Wa.
Thank you for what you do! Greg Steube’s office (Rep for Sarasota area in FL- home of Mike Flynn if that tells you anything) always answer the phone - I assume because not enough people are calling, they are nice but don’t seem to know or be able to share anything about his positions. His canned weekly emails are also filled with maddening rhetoric.
Here in NJ Congressional District 11, my U.S. representative Mikie Sherrill has always been responsive, and she also appears at all kinds of local public events, and is always willing to talk to her constituents (her neighbors). Accessibility and responsiveness were the issues she first ran on in 2018 when she flipped a seat that had been held by Republicans for literally generations. That's a big part of the reason she just won our election for Governor by 13 percentage points. So keep up your great work, and keep pushing people to run for office to truly listen to and represent the people who vot for them.
I love to hear this!
I love hearing that as well since I supported her recent campaign for governor of New Jersey! I think you're in good hands! Wish I could have voted for her, but I did get to vote for Abigail Spanberger!
I regularly read Jason Smith emails. I rarely find any truth whatsoever in them. Nothing but disinformation and propoganda. There should be a law.
That goes for Sam Graves, Eric Schmitt, and Josh Hawley. I get canned responses. Schmitt’s little surveys at the end of his emails are infuriating. Gotta answer “yes” or “no” to agree or not with no option to explain.
I finally told Schmitt to stop sending me his standard emails full of lies and in no way representing my interests or many of his constituents. I like to remind both senators that they are products of Jesuit education where the motto is “men for others”. Guess they’ve both forgotten that.
I’m a Jesuit Catholic and am appalled by these men you described who have lost what humanity was ingrained in them. God help us all.
And I bet they do mean, "men", period.
Schmitt's 'replies' are designed to limit the replies to whatever is supportive of Schmitt's current goals. As a senator from MO, he's not responsive, nor is Hawley, our 'good ol' boy, down-home jeans and plaid workshirt wearing native farmer' who doesn't have any land or property to speak of in MO. It's the GOP way.
I’m saving all of those canned responses and will start sharing them on the socials when they run again. Some of them are so infuriating and others totally miss the mark, but they are their words and can be quoted!
Those surveys of Schmidt’s are so bad. He is so infuriating too …just another Trump ass kisser disgusting racist!
I live in CT and our Senators and Congressional representatives are all Democrats. When I contact them I do get a response. Sometimes a form email but it is a response.
I can’t believe that rep of yours responded to a MAN- what a misogynistic pr**k!
Thanks for doing what you do!!
Thank you!
I moved to CT this year. I moved from Arkansas and continue to receive the (now more frequent) news letter from French Hill. He has attracted a viable opposition for 2026.
Here’s the intro from October 30, 2025, “I proudly joined my fellow House Republicans in voting to keep the federal government open. Senate Democrats continue blocking our funding bill that contains commonsense measures that ensures critical programs are funded, troops get paid, and the government can serve Americans.
In the name of providing healthcare to illegal immigrants and noncitizens, the left has chosen political theater over the American people. Hardworking Arkansas families are paying the price.” Huh? Maybe using AI to fact check would be useful.
For those of us who know the facts or have responsible elected officials, consider what it is like to be fed misinformation from people you thought you could trust- at least with facts. Or, perhaps you assume they are sharing the facts?
Maybe it’s time to publish fact checking on every constituent communications?
CT is an imperfect breath of fresh air.
Welcome to CT.
I think this "Senate Democrats continue blocking our funding bill that contains commonsense measures that ensures critical programs are funded, troops get paid, and the government can serve Americans." may be standard GOP boilerplate. Tommy (Mi-07) sent out something similar last week.
I’m in CT as well. My rep, Jahanna Hayes CT-05, like Senator Murphy, does not take PAC donations. I have been happy with both.
I’m in florida and the message from my representative was EXACTLY the same. Same sentences. So they didn’t even have time to write their own letters? Just copy from GOP marketing machine?
OMG! You have identified their marketing style and their messaging content. (It's not unlikely that there is a party 'formulaic' message available to current office holders. It's a perk of belonging to the old boys' club: don't have to think, don't have to reach out, don't have to participate, don't have to be open to one's voters. Doesn't sound democratic, does it?
It’s been clear for a while that there is a central messaging mechanism and likely some formal or informal policing mechanism. They represent the party primarily, the parties people next, and the general welfare last.
Wow. That’s an interesting insight. Perhaps that’s the “one size fits all” approach to communication in red states? Repeat the same words across the land until all align with the words.
My letter from Julie Fedorchak-R (ND), was pretty similiar — same phrases and wording
I was born and raised in Missouri and now I live in East Texas. I have called my US representative repeatedly. I always get someone to talk with, usually a young person by the sound of their voice. However, my comments go into an empty space. My questions are not answered. My representative’s newsletter sounds just like the one you quoted, almost word for word. I won’t be stopped. I will continue calling. I will continue complaining, and even when a young woman hangs up on me.
I had a staffer hang up on me too. 🙃
The staffers know me now! 😂
Jason Smith (regrettable) is supposed to be our representative. I refuse to read his drivel in our weekly paper, due to the fact that he’s completely full of s*^t. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Lots of hands up in MO-2. Ann Wagner is convinced that she's unbeatable and acts that way. Her newsletters contain most of the same lies you cited along with pictures of her meeting with donors and organizations that support her. Heartland Wins is working to find and support a candidate to end her reign and get a real representative in the job.
Ugh…she is so bad!
And you are a mistress of polite understatement.
Jess, I'm grateful I live in Delaware. I know my representative, personally. We only have one House member for the whole state (population about 1 million). How do I know her? I was her Sunday School and Youth Club teacher. I don't get personal calls, but I do get a text back assuring me that Sarah McBride will get my message. If Sarah sensed I needed a call, she has my number.
PS: She's still a member of our Church. She is everywhere in our community when she's not in Washington. I fully expect her to show up on any given Sunday, when she comes home to visit her parents.
This is how it should be. Every voter should expect to see/meet/talk to their House Member -- or that House Member shouldn't expect to get re-elected. End of sermon.
In Blue New Jersey we only get a response if our rep is a Democrat, though Republicans do take our calls. My little sister lives in Missouri so I understand the stakes. I'm so proud of you all for fighting. You inspire us all!
Thank you!!!
I live in the 8th Congressional District and have done so for over 30 years. Between the lack of state support for public school funding (and pretty much everything else) and the lack of a functional Congressional representative, this District is becoming full of ghost towns. We had a fair number of Federal jobs here but those are gradually going away. Smith doesn't provide any support to the Federal agencies who brought good jobs to some very small towns so people are resigning or retiring and most are leaving the area because there are no other comparable jobs. Rural schools lack support as you well know so those jobs will be in jeopardy if/when the inevitable consolidations come. Rural hospitals are few and far between and likely we will see more close in the near future because Smith and company can't figure out how to provide affordable healthcare (doesn't matter how many times he lies about it, we know it doesn't exist). Agriculture appears to also now be dependent on the Federal government since Trump seems more interested in Argentina than southern Missouri. We have beautiful natural resources here but I can't help but wonder how long those will last given the scaling back of environmental regulations. It would be great to have someone with a vision of what the 8th CD could be, but instead we have Smith who wants us to believe he cares because he sends out a newsletter every now and then that even his DC staff doesn't read.
I feel your pain. My congressman acts in the same way, but he’s not quite as boot licking as Smith. Jason’s newsletters are infuriating.
The newsletters are a waste of time. Clearly the staffer you talked to thought so. Also I call and email Smith but the most I get in response is a canned email. He never holds public appearances either. Visits to the District appear to be carefully choreographed so he never has to answer any hard questions. The interests of the people of the District are actually not being represented at all. Maybe some day the people that auto-vote him into office will wake up. And We the People have to get a good alternative on the ballot.
If Republicans proudly voted for&celebrated the passage of a bill that was essentially the Heritage 2025 bill, why lie about it?
Do they not understand their job title? Representative?
Did they read the bill before voting?
What about the word “subsidies”? If we stopped paying farm subsidies, or oil subsidies? They would understand.
Don’t get me started on how women are treated. Not responding to phone calls, or deeming a woman’s life&healthcare unimportant.
I send emails to my reps in SC all the time. Considering the state I live in, I have no confidence or trust in any of them. Most of all Lindsey Graham. Send him many emails and same form response about how hard he is working for us. Never a response to a specific subject. I tried my house rep this week and William Timmons actually responded to the specific subject, even if it was to tell me what a great job they are doing. Until we elect people in these red states who work for us, I do not expect much from any of them.
Preaching to the choir Jess - but AMEN! You nailed it, I’m a dem in SC - my rep is Nancy Mace and my senators are Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham. I call, write snail mail and email them regularly. I never get a call back, occasionally I get someone at the other end of the line who reads from a list of talking points and catch phrases but is wholly ignorant on the topic I call about. Email responses are the exact same regardless of my inquiry. They couldn’t give a rat’s ass about my concerns
Oh, god…Mace and Scott?!?!
😞yup
I received the same email, verbatim, from my senator in Indiana. It's as if they don't possess 2 brain cells to even draft their own emails.
Wow…coordinated I guess.
I remember reading an article once that they have someone that writes their newsletters for them and that’s why they’re the same all across the country or mostly the same.