1. United States
2. Pa.
3. Letter

The American people have given Democrats a majority in both houses of Congress. Do not mistake this opportunity for a mandate to return to business as usual. I want to make one thing abundantly clear: We are done with Democrats taking the high road while Republicans burn down the guardrails of our democracy. For years, we have watched Republicans weaponize government, undermine democratic institutions, attack civil rights, normalize corruption, and treat political opponents as enemies. And we have watched Democrats respond with sternly worded statements, appeals to bipartisanship, procedural restraint, and endless expressions of concern. Enough. I don’t want another speech about healing, finding common ground, or being the adults in the room. I don’t want Democrats wasting this majority trying to win the approval of people who have demonstrated no interest in playing by the same rules. I want consequences. I want accountability. I want action. Use the power voters have entrusted to you: Investigate corruption and abuses of power. Subpoena aggressively and follow the evidence. Protect voting rights and strengthen the institutions safeguarding our elections. Hold those who have abused public office accountable. Do not confuse accountability with political vengeance or inaction with statesmanship. Defend reproductive freedom, LGBTQ+ rights, civil rights, and vulnerable communities. Protect Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and the programs millions of Americans depend on. Confront political corruption and the influence of money in government. Use every legitimate legislative and oversight tool available to stop abuses of power. When Republicans obstruct, expose it. When they lie, confront it. When they break the law, pursue accountability. Stop treating political norms as sacred when the other side has spent years demonstrating that those norms are only as strong as our willingness to enforce them. I understand that governing requires compromise. But compromise is not capitulation, and restraint is not a virtue when it enables further harm. I am tired of watching Democrats worry about appearing too partisan, too aggressive, or too angry. I am far more concerned about what happens if you do nothing. This majority is a responsibility, not a victory lap. You have an opportunity to demonstrate that democracy can defend itself and that abusing public office has consequences. Do not squander it. Do not spend the next two years trying to prove you are better than the people who have done this damage. Prove you are capable of stopping them. We did not send you to Washington to be gracious, to preserve a broken status quo, or to make the other side comfortable. We sent you there to fight for us. So fight. I will be watching what you do with this majority, not what you say about it.