1. United States
2. Ind.
3. Letter

Dear Representative, The Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Institute at the University of Gothenburg — the largest research effort of its kind, with over 4,000 contributing scholars — released its 2026 Democracy Report in March. Its findings regarding the United States are stark. The report concludes that democracy in the United States is deteriorating at an unprecedented pace. For the first time in fifty years, the U.S. is slipping toward a democratic grey zone, having lost its classification as a liberal democracy. The researchers describe the current trajectory as a rapid and aggressive concentration of powers in the presidency, citing a steep decline in legislative constraints owing to a Republican-controlled Congress. Let me be clear about what that means: the researchers are measuring your performance. Congressional oversight is not optional. It is a constitutional obligation. The V-Dem Institute specifically identifies the weakening of checks and balances and the politicization of oversight bodies as driving factors in the U.S. decline. The United States is a constitutional republic. The separation of powers is not a suggestion — it is the architecture of this government. When Congress abdicates its role as a co-equal branch, it does not serve the president. It fails the people. The 2026 midterm elections are being called a critical test for the quality of elections and democracy in the United States. I intend to evaluate your record accordingly — not by party loyalty, but by whether you fulfilled your oath to uphold the Constitution and exercise the oversight authority entrusted to you. I expect a substantive response outlining the specific oversight actions you have taken or plan to take during this term. You may believe your seat is safe until 2028. Hoosiers have a long memory. We will remember who upheld their oath and who stood silent while a co-equal branch of government surrendered its authority. That record does not expire with the current session. Respectfully,