November 10, 2026To the Community:
Last Tuesday, voters called for a new direction. Democratic leaders should listen—not simply adjust their messaging and carry on as before.
When voters demand change, the response cannot be another round of excuses from the same people making the same decisions.
Recent polling showing Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries trailing other political leaders and parties in public approval should be a wake-up call. Approval ratings are not the only measure of leadership, but they cannot be dismissed when the party needs to rebuild public confidence.
Democrats need leaders who can explain what they stand for, challenge policies that hurt ordinary people, and offer a credible vision for the future. Working families need more than declarations of concern. They need forceful advocacy on housing, health care, wages, and the cost of living—and leaders who can turn those priorities into an agenda voters understand and trust.
This is not about demanding ideological purity or finding scapegoats. It is about accountability. Leadership positions should not be lifetime appointments, and experience should not become an excuse to resist necessary change. A party that asks voters to embrace change must demonstrate that it can embrace change itself.
Vermonters can help deliver that message. Call the congressional switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for Congresswoman Becca Balint’s office. Then contact Sens. Bernie Sanders and Peter Welch. Urge each to advocate for new Democratic leadership in their respective chambers.
Our delegation should hear clearly: We want leadership that earns public confidence, confronts challenges directly, and delivers results.
Scott Garren
Cuttingsville, Vt.