Why Calling Your Elected Officials STILL Matters

We hear you

Calling Congress seems about as effective as yelling into a hurricane. I’ve gotten so many calls and emails lately asking me the same two questions:

• I am represented by Republicans in Congress. Isn’t there something else I can do besides call them?
• I am represented by Democrat members of Congress. There’s no point in calling to bother them. Isn’t there something else I can do?

Do you notice a theme? Here’s the deal: Even though we’re in upside-down land, calling STILL matters. A lot.

Why Calling Matters

While one call might not change everything, collective pressure does. Your representatives keep track of what their constituents care about because it impacts their reelection, their policy priorities, and their political leverage. Red or blue, your call:

• It creates a record. Every call is logged, and when enough people reach out on the same issue, it signals urgency.
• It influences decisions. Lawmakers often prioritize issues that generate significant constituent engagement—sometimes even when they personally disagree.
• It holds them accountable. Politicians rely on voter support. Frequent calls remind them they answer to you, not just their donors.
• It fuels momentum. Your call might be the one that tips an issue into broader awareness, making officials take notice.

Should I call my Democrat member of Congress?

Yes. If you’re a liberal represented by Democrats, you might erroneously believe that they’re the “good guys” and will do the right thing. Here’s the problem: while you may have elected them, so did deep-pocketed donors they spent hours wheedling to donate. Contacting them reminds them who they really work for: you. 

Help your Democrat members of Congress. Call them with:

• Praise: Tell them something specific they did that you approve of. Compliments often go on the top of the daily pile.
• Stories: In order to convince colleagues about the importance of new legislation, your elected official needs examples of the lived experiences of their constituents. Calling with personal stories (for example, trying to access reproductive care or having difficulty buying a home) can give them leverage.
• Your views: When you’re among many calling for or against an issue, staffers communicate those daily tallies. A critical mass can influence your elected officials’ priorities.
• Requests: Congress has been gridlocked for years and is holding fewer subcommittee hearings. Insist that they use their influence to move the needle on issues of democracy and equality by introducing or co-sponsoring legislation or making public statements for or against specific issues.
• Updates: If there’s no action, call again. Say, “I’ve called about this issue before. Could you give me an update on the progress [Sen Rep NAME] has made on this?”

Not to be jaded, but do you believe your Democrat elected officials are doing everything they can to make our country better and our planet greener? Your tax dollars fund congressional salaries for life. Communicate with your members of Congress to insist that they work for you.

Should I call my Republican member of Congress?

Yes. If you’re not a Republican yourself, I can give you a 100% guarantee that nothing will change without communication. Even when the odds seem nil, calling can make a difference. For example, right now, two awful versions of FY25 budgets have passed in both houses. With both bills, one Republican split with their party and voted against passing it. Especially with the president overstepping his role, calling can change how conservative members of Congress vote and legislate.

If you want to support democracy, contact your Republican members of Congress with:

• Your views: Every time you call, your opinion is recorded by a staffer. There is power in numbers, especially in election years with close races and when democratic norms are on the line.
• Persuasive stories: Share your personal experiences with issues they oppose (for example, having difficulty voting due to a closed polling place or accessing emergency reproductive care). Don’t give up the potential to convince conscientious elected officials to reconsider their stance.
• Requests: Even if they disagree with you on most issues, it doesn’t mean they oppose everything. Insist that they work collaboratively with their peers, ask them to co-sponsor bipartisan legislation, or make public statements for or against specific issues.

Especially as the conservative branch of American politics continues to fracture, some members will choose a path of democracy and equality over extremism. It requires optimism and work on your part, but your voice might be the proverbial straw that gets them there.

5 Tips for Making Stress-Free Calls

1. Relax. Staffers who answer the phones are busy. They only want to log your name and your stance, not grill you about it.
2. Give your name and zip code. Your call may not be counted if they think you’re not a constituent. Providing your address and phone number is even better.
3. If you’re shy, leave a message. Calling on weekends or evenings means you’ll likely get voicemail—still effective and less stressful.
4. Be friendly. A lot of callers yell these underpaid workers. Be the difference, showing kindness and saying thank you.
5. Get to know their names. If you call regularly, learn staffers’ names to build rapport and credibility for future calls.

Silence = approval

Calling your elected officials in Congress is your chance to hold them accountable—plain and simple. They work for you, so make a habit of picking up the phone to make your voice heard, and remind them who’s really in charge. Silence means you approve of what they’re doing. So yes—call.