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WHEN THEY TRIED TO BREAK US, WE GOT STRONGER
It's hard to believe the Trump II Administration is now one year old. It would be nice to be able to say we've survived. Unfortunately, we won't know for years whether that statement is true, given the immense damage Trump has inflicted on our democracy, rule of law, national security, and standing in the world. But there is good news. Contrary to the hopes of Trump and his collaborators, we have not given up in the face of their attempt to overwhelm us through their “flood the zone” strategy. In fact, we are organizing more effectively than ever—fighting back through the courts, grassroots mobilization, and bold action at the state level.
And our efforts are paying off. Read below about voter backlash against GOP candidates, red states refusing to kowtow to Trump’s demands to rig their election laws, Republican House members beginning to push back, and GOP senators deciding not to run again. To be clear, we Democrats still have plenty of work to do to demonstrate that we deserve voters’ trust. But the elections in November and December—across a cross-section of blue and red states—yielded a clean sweep for Democratic candidates, early signs of real momentum for the road ahead.
Last year, many people were in a daze, wondering what they could do. This year, we know what we must do: Focus intensively on the midterm elections that will decide control of the US House and Senate, as well as many statehouses. Read our New Year’s Resolutions below for a starter set of actions you can incorporate into your own plans as a concerned citizen.
Let’s embrace 2026 together as our collective project to take back control of our country.
With Resolve for the Work Ahead,
Your Faithful Editor
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In This Issue
- News Year's Resolutions for Defending Democracy in 2026
- Baby, Let's Caucus
- More Democratic Wins as Electoral Streak Continues
- The Republican Cracks Are Growing
- Support Maria Horn's Re-Election Campaign
- Calling All Young Democrats Across Greater Litchfield County
- Help Still Wanted
- Upcoming Events
- Get These Other Sources of Timely Information
- In Case You Missed It
- Support Our Work
- Did You Miss A Newsletter?
- Share Your News
- Tell Us What You Think
- Spread The Word
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NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS FOR DEFENDING DEMOCRACY IN 2026
Each one of us can help protect and strengthen our democracy — regardless of our age, skills, or where we live. Please consider adopting these resolutions to make your 2026 a fruitful and meaningful year for us all.
1. Become a voter-protection volunteer — locally and nationally. Sign up with nonpartisan or Democratic voter-protection teams that deploy volunteers to monitor polls, staff voter hotlines, and track and report suppression efforts. Many organizations have roles for local as well as remote volunteers in key states like Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona, and North Carolina where voting rules and access will determine control of Congress.
2. Support (or join) statewide ballot initiatives that safeguard fair elections. From independent redistricting commissions to automatic voter registration, many democracy reforms happen through ballot measures. You can phonebank, textbank, or donate to these drives even if you don’t live in those states.
3. Adopt a battleground state. Pick one target state and commit to ongoing engagement: making calls to voters, donating to frontline organizations, and volunteering for turnout efforts during primaries and the general election. And don’t forget that state-level races are important, too. This is great work for remote volunteers working from out of state.
4. Support independent news organizations. Pony up for news sources that hold power to account and keep citizens informed — especially in a climate where political leaders have increasingly attacked and undermined a free press. Funding trustworthy journalism is one of the most direct ways you can help protect democratic transparency in the year ahead.
5. Fight disinformation by becoming a trusted messenger. Use your voice — in conversations, community groups, social media, and letters to the editor — to counter false claims about elections, voting, and public institutions. Share accurate information from official or vetted sources, especially with those most vulnerable to misinformation.
6. Protect election workers and normalize civic respect. Election workers continue to face unprecedented harassment. You can support them by volunteering at your local election office, organizing thank-you efforts, or joining national coalitions that monitor threats and advocate for worker protections.
7. Support legal groups on the front lines of rule-of-law battles. Organizations like Democracy Docket, the Brennan Center, the ACLU, and state-level voting-rights groups file the lawsuits that block illegal purges, partisan gerrymandering, and efforts to undermine election certification. Small recurring donations go a long way.
8. Invest in youth and first-time voter turnout. Support high-impact groups that register and mobilize students and young adults — particularly in swing states where youth turnout can flip congressional seats. Many organizations offer remote volunteer options.
9. Make democracy part of your daily habits, not just your voting routine. Call your representatives regularly to thank them when they stand up and hold them to account when they fall short. Become knowledgeable on important issues. Encourage at least three eligible people to register and vote. Staying engaged year-round builds the civic muscle that authoritarianism hopes will wither.
10. Take time for yourself — joy fuels the long fight. Protecting democracy is demanding work, and none of us can carry the load if we’re running on empty. Make space for rest, for family, for friends, for laughter, for the parts of life that remind you what—and who—you’re fighting for. Renewal isn’t a distraction from civic engagement; it’s what sustains it. A healthy democracy needs healthy participants, so give yourself permission to recharge and come back stronger.
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BABY, LET'S CAUCUS
The Democratic Town Committee will hold its biennial caucus on January 13 at 7:00pm at Town Hall to select its 30 governing members for the next two-year term. A caucus is one of the oldest forms of democratic decision-making in the United States, dating back to colonial times—well before the birth of the Republic—when citizens gathered in their towns to discuss issues and choose their representatives and leaders.
The SDTC is committed to promoting good government and democratic principles at every level of civic life. One of our core responsibilities is recruiting qualified candidates for municipal elective offices and supporting their election. We also support Democratic candidates in state and national elections.
By attending our caucus, you take part in this long civic tradition and help shape the future of our local party through direct participation. Any registered Democrat in Salisbury is welcome to nominate themselves for consideration by the caucus. For more information, email SDTC chair Al Ginouves.
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MORE DEMOCRATIC WINS AS ELECTORAL STREAK CONTINUES
Democrats notched two significant victories in December, flipping the Miami mayoralty for the first time in 30 years and capturing a Georgia state House seat in a district Trump won by double digits in 2024. Miami’s new mayor, Eileen Higgins, defeated a Trump-backed Republican by a commanding margin despite low turnout, while Eric Gisler’s upset win in Georgia adds to a string of recent Democratic winning performances in November elections in Virginia, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. While a single election day cannot define a national trend, these victories — combined a Democratic clean sweep in several November elections — are early signals of a growing voter backlash to what critics call the administration’s lawlessness and GOP complicity that may reshape the political landscape ahead of the 2026 midterms.
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THE REPUBLICAN CRACKS ARE GROWING
While Democrats are showing renewed strength at the polls, Republicans are displaying growing signs of revolt and disunity — in Congress and across the states. The following developments, taken together, reveal a landscape in which Democratic momentum is rising and a once-unified GOP is fracturing under the weight of Trump’s excesses and demands.
Republican-led House votes to overturn Trump executive order on bargaining rights. In a rare bipartisan vote — and for the first time — the House has voted to overturn an executive order from President Donald Trump this term. Trump’s executive order ended collective bargaining for some federal agencies, but the House-approved measure reinstated collective bargaining rights to federal workers, a step toward restoring labor union protections for nearly 1 million federal employees. Twenty Republicans voted with Democrats in supporting the bill, which was introduced by Reps. Jared Golden of Maine, a Democrat, and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, a Republican. The bill now heads to the Senate.
Indiana Republicans Defy Trump, Rejecting His Demand to Redraw Congressional Map. Indiana Republicans stood up to intense pressure from President Trump — and even threats to their personal safety — to defeat his bid to redraw the state’s congressional map. The GOP-controlled state Senate in December voted down the proposal, which would have added two safely Republican seats and boosted the party’s chances of keeping control of Congress next year. The vote caps a four-month pressure campaign from the White House that featured private demands from Trump, repeated visits by Vice President JD Vance, calls from Speaker Mike Johnson, and warnings about losing federal funding. Lawmakers held firm despite facing pipe bomb threats, swatting incidents, and even harassing pizza deliveries to their homes.
Missourians Mount Major Revolt Against GOP-Drawn Congressional Map. Missourians are pushing back hard against a Republican-drawn congressional map that critics call one of the most aggressive gerrymanders in the country. After the GOP legislature — under pressure from Donald Trump — approved a new map that dismantles a Democratic-leaning Kansas City district, voters mobilized. The grassroots group People Not Politicians gathered more than 300,000 signatures, nearly triple the number required to force a statewide referendum on the map and suspend it until voters have their say. Republican officials have attempted to block the effort through legal challenges, but a federal judge recently dismissed the latest bid to stop it. Now the signatures move to verification; if enough are validated, the new map will be put on hold and Missouri voters will decide its fate on the 2026 ballot.
GOP Senators Are Running for the Exits. Ahead of the 2026 midterms a growing wave of Republican senators is choosing not to seek re-election, opening key seats and raising new questions about the party’s direction under President Trump’s second term. So far, at least four GOP senators have announced they will not run again: Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Joni Ernst of Iowa, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, and Kevin Cramer of North Dakota Though each senator cites personal timing or a desire to return to private life, their exits come amid escalating internal tensions within the Republican Party — including pressure from the White House, ideological litmus tests, and the increasingly bruising experience of legislating in a polarized Washington. Some, like Tillis, made their announcements shortly after clashing publicly with the administration, while others depart from deep-red states where re-election would have been assured, suggesting broader fatigue with the current political climate. These retirements are reshaping the battlefield for 2026, creating open contests in states both safely Republican and hotly competitive — and signaling that even within the GOP, stability is far from guaranteed.
Marjorie Taylor Green Quits. The Georgia Republican, once known as a staunch Trump ally, abruptly announced she will resign from Congress effective January 5 after a highly publicized falling out with Trump and rising tensions within the GOP. Greene’s abrupt decision is a surprising exit for one of the most prominent figures of the MAGA movement.
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SUPPORT MARIA HORN'S RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN
Maria Horn has announced her 2026 re-election campaign for State Representative for CT's 64th District. That’s great news because we need her to keep fighting for us in Hartford. In her seven years representing the Northwest Corner, Maria has emerged as a tireless legislative leader.
As part of her campaign’s kick-off, Maria is asking us to help her qualify for public financing under the Connecticut Citizens' Election Program. She needs to raise a total of $5,800 in contributions gathered from at least 150 donors in the district. Contributions can be between $5 and $320. If given in cash, contributions cannot exceed $100. Minor children older than 12 may contribute up to $30. State contractors cannot contribute.
Many of us are being deluged with requests for political donations, but here’s why you should give now to Maria’s campaign: Connecticut's campaign finance laws are unique and designed to limit big-money influence over elections. If a candidate can demonstrate legitimate support from people in their district by raising a limited amount of funds, they can stop fundraising and qualify for public campaign financing. That means once Maria’s campaign reaches the qualifying thresholds, she can stop focusing on donations and devote 100 percent of her time to addressing the needs of the people she represents.
To make a donation to Maria's campaign, please click here. You can stay in touch with the campaign by following Maria on social media or visiting the campaign website. You can always reach Maria at mariahornfor64@gmail.com with any questions or feedback related to the campaign.
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HELP STILL WANTED
Seeking Deputy Registrar of Voters/Elections Administrator (part-time)
Salisbury's Democratic Registrar of Voters is seeking a deputy to assist and eventually take over the Registrar's activities. (Under Salisbury's electoral system, there is also a counterpart Republican Registrar.)
For this position, applicants must be registered Democrats in the town of Salisbury (Unaffiliated voters may change their registration to Democrat.)
This is a paid, part-time administrative position for someone interested in doing important work for their community. Candidates should be able to multitask and work collaboratively with their Republican counterparts in a supportive, nonpartisan manner. Politics play no role in the job and are never discussed. A flexible schedule is essential. This position is ideal for someone seeking part-time work, including individuals with flexible work arrangements or stay-at-home parents who have support at home during election season.
The start date is flexible, but ideally the candidate should be able to learn the role as Deputy and transition into the position of Registrar beginning in January 2027.
To request more information or arrange a phone call about the position, please text Jenny Law at 860-491-6906.
Interested candidates should send a résumé and cover letter to: Jenny Law, Registrar, Salisbury Town Hall, P.O. Box 548, Salisbury, CT 06068.
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CALLING ALL YOUNG DEMOCRATS ACROSS GREATER LITCHFIELD COUNTY
The Greater Litchfield County Young Democrats is creating opportunities for young people to get involved, make an impact, and have their voices heard. By working alongside community leaders, organizations, and neighbors, the organization fosters meaningful civic engagement and encourages participation in the issues that shape our local communities and our country. Whether you’re new to involvement or ready to take the next step, there’s a place for you. Work with fellow young Democrats to learn, volunteer, advocate, and help move your community forward. Greater Litchfield County Young Dems meets the last Wednesday of every month at 8pm via Zoom. Please contact Daniela Larsson at nwctyd@gmail.com
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Saturday, January 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 at 11am-noon: Protest in Salisbury. Join your friends and neighbors every Saturday in standing up for democracy and against Trump's destructive policies and corruption. The event is at the Salisbury Town Green, 15 Undermountain Road, Salisbury. Bring your own signs or borrow one from the organizers. American flags are highly encouraged. We stand alongside the long-time activists of the Peace and Justice Rally, who have held vigil on the green for 40 years. Please remember: The organizers strongly encourage participants not to engage with the occasional heckler. Doing so could jeopardize everyone’s safety. Instead, simply ignore them.
Saturday, January 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 at 12pm: Protest in Cornwall. Come to the Triangle at the intersection of Routes 4 & 7 in Cornwall Bridge. Bring your American flag and join in every Saturday to stand tall in defense of our democracy! If you can, bring a sign as well as your family and friends.
Saturday, January 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 at 12pm: Protest in New Milford. Join Indivisible Act Local NWCT for their weekly peaceful rally to protect democracy. The event is at Old East Street School, 50 East Street, New Milford (next to CVS). A core principle behind all Indivisible events is a commitment to nonviolent action. All participants are expected to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values. Always welcome: flags, chants, outside voices, freedom songs, and signs.
Saturday, January 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 at 2pm: Protest in Kent. Join fellow patriots every Saturday afternoon in Kent at 50 Main Street (north of the Welcome Center) to stand up and speak out. Democracy is under attack now and you can do your part to defend it. Bring a sign or borrow one of ours. Dogs are welcome.
Thursday, January 8, 15, 22 & 29 at 3pm: What’s the Plan? Weekly Call with Indivisible’s Founders. The chaos coming out of the White House is a deliberate strategy to sow confusion and make us believe we are powerless to fight back. The antidote? Coming together as a community to cut through the noise and unite around strategies for resistance. Join Indivisible co-founders Leah Greenberg and Ezra Levin each week for an hour to discuss what’s happening—and, more importantly, what's the plan. These calls can be very uplifting! Click for details and registration.
Tuesday, January 13 at 7pm at Town Hall: Salisbury Democratic Town Committee - Caucus To Elect Members. The SDTC will hold a caucus to elect members to two-year terms starting in 2025. All registered Democrats are welcome to attend. Only those in attendance are allowed to vote.
The regular monthly SDTC meeting will be held at Town Hall and via Zoom immediately following the conclusion of the caucus, estimated for 7:15pm. The SDTC is committed to promoting good government and democratic principles at every level of our civic life. The SDTC recruits candidates for local elective and appointed offices and supports the most qualified Democrats to run in municipal, state, and national elections. Meetings are usually on the third Tuesday of every month. Please email Al Ginouves to receive a copy of the agenda and the link to the meeting. All are welcome.
Wednesday, January 28 at 8pm: Greater Litchfield County Young Democrats - Monthly Meeting. Join fellow Democrats for this meeting on Zoom. For more information please contact Daniela Larsson at nwctyd@gmail.com.
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Because we publish only once a month, there are many events that never make it into our pages. To keep informed about those events, we strongly suggest that you subscribe to some of the excellent, more frequent sources that are listed below.
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Robert Hubbell's Today's Edition provides daily analysis and commentary on the latest political happenings and practical suggestions for what citizens can do. He started the newsletter in 2017 to provide hope and perspective to his family after the unexpected results of the 2016 election. Over time, his family email was shared among friends and became of community of like-minded citizens devoted to preserving American democracy. Click to read his latest posts and subscribe.
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5 Calls - Elected officials really do care what their constituents think. That's why calls to officials' offices are impactful. Every day staffers compile and report on all the calls that their offices receive. Making a call takes just a minute using the short scripts on key issues and telephone numbers they provide. 5 Calls researches key issues, drafts scripts, and provides contact info for elected officials. Go to the 5 Calls website and choose an issue you care about. Enter your zip code and the system will provide you with the telephone numbers of your senators and representatives along with the relevant scripts. Subscribe to 5 Call’s weekly newsletter for emails with the latest updates.
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Jill Drew’s Today's Action Daily Blast – This twice-a-week email suggests a single, focused calling action to our public officials each day, most often providing carefully-researched sample scripts along with the contact information for calling US Senators and Representatives serving Northwestern Connecticut and the adjoining area of New York’s Hudson Valley. To sign up email jill@jilldrew.com.
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Saving Democracy email - Indefatigable activist Kathy Voldstad provides announcements of actions for people in and around Salisbury and elsewhere. Kathy's emails also provide inspiration that we all need in times like these. To sign up, email kathyvoldstad@gmail.com.
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Jessica Craven's Chop Wood, Carry Water – This is one of our perennial favorites. Activist Jessica Craven provides daily suggestions on easy actions that each of us can take. Read it here and subscribe free for her daily dose of actions.
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
How Gavin Newsom Became the Democrats’ 2028 Frontrunner -- Interview on The Ezra Klein Show. As the 2028 presidential race begins to take shape — it’s still very early but already humming with speculation — Gavin Newsom is testing the boundaries of what a prospective Democratic candidate might look like. In a conversation with Ezra Klein, the California governor leans into the controversial tactics that have made him both a rising Democratic star and a lightning rod: aggressive moves against red-state policies, headline-grabbing media sparring, and a willingness to blur the usual lines between governing and campaigning. It’s an early, revealing look at how Newsom is positioning himself — and how far he’s willing to push — long before anyone has formally entered the race. Listen to this interview for some early insights into the shape of the race to come.
The Party of Abundance Meets the Generation of Instability. As Democrats increasingly rally around the “abundance” agenda — an ambitious theory of state capacity now shaping everything from housing policy to 2028 strategy — new research from John Della Volpe, director of polling at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics and one of the country’s leading experts on Gen Z attitudes, points to a very different reality among the young voters the party most needs to reach. In Washington, abundance has become a governing framework for Democrats, focusing on building faster, modernizing systems, and restoring national dynamism. But for young Americans living with financial instability, institutional fragility, and unrelenting pressure, abundance doesn’t necessarily resonate. This generation is looking for something far more personal: stability, breathing room, and a future that feels possible. This article explores how the gap between elite theory and lived experience may be one of the most consequential — and least understood — divides in Democratic politics, and why closing it is crucial if the party hopes to make an influential idea resonate beyond Washington. To better understand this dilemma, read the complete article on Della Volpe’s Substack.
The Healthcare Fight Gets Personal. With the expected expiration of Obamacare’s enhanced subsidies on January 1, Democrats across the country have been shifting from policy talk to personal stories in an effort to spotlight the real-world impact of rising health insurance costs. With Republicans divided over how to handle the fallout from Trump’s new health care agenda, Democrats are mobilizing voters by amplifying the voices of people whose premiums are set to soar — retirees, families, small-business owners, and those with chronic health conditions. The party sees these human stories as its most powerful tool heading into the 2026 midterms, framing the subsidy lapse not as a political debate but as a tangible threat to Americans’ ability to afford basic care. Read more in this story from Politico.
We Dodged a Vaccine Disaster (for now). In the final days before the holidays, a quiet but alarming shift in federal vaccine policy nearly erupted into a full-blown crisis—one that revealed just how fragile America’s immunization infrastructure has become. In this edition of *My Local Epidemiologist*, a highly readable Substack, epidemiologist Katelyn Jetelina and public health analyst Hannah Totte unpack a last-minute push from RFK Jr. to replace the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule with Denmark’s—a move that, if enacted overnight, could have destabilized school requirements, insurance coverage, vaccine supply, and legal protections across the country. The proposal was shelved — at least for now — but the episode underscores a deeper truth: in a moment of rising uncertainty, protecting access to routine vaccinations depends not only on science, but on governance that can withstand political shocks. Read this full article to understand what happened, why it matters, and what families should watch for next.
MAHA Moms Are Angry at the EPA Lee Zeldin Is Trying to Win Them Back. Growing tensions inside Trump’s own political base are spilling into public view as MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) activists accuse EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin of siding with chemical industry insiders over the health of American families. What began as quiet frustration has erupted into petitions, protests, and pointed criticism from conservative mothers who once helped fuel Trump’s movement — and now feel betrayed. Their outrage over weakened chemical and pesticide protections is widening cracks within the Republican camp, with some activists openly warning that the EPA’s actions could cost the GOP critical support in next year’s midterms. Zeldin has launched a high-profile charm offensive to contain the backlash, but the revolt from within signals a rare and potentially consequential rift over public health in a coalition not known for breaking ranks. Read the full story in The New York Times. here:
Connecticut To Use Budget Reserve Funds to Protect Key Services. Our State Rep, Maria Horn, reports that during November's special session, the General Assembly passed a $500 million emergency response fund to support residents facing harmful federal cutbacks from the Trump administration. Now, Governor Ned Lamont is putting a plan in motion to put that fund to use. His proposal calls for tens of millions to offset cuts to Affordable Care Act subsidies, $24.5 million to support community food banks and pantries, nearly $7 million to combat homelessness, $4.7 million for 2-1-1 to support increased call volume and Community Action Agencies tthat support outreach and assistance for SNAP recipients. Click to see the entire proposal, which still needs approval from legislative leaders.
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SUPPORT OUR WORK - PLEASE DONATE
When democracy is under attack, local action becomes essential. That’s why the Salisbury Democratic Town Committee is stepping up and fighting back — and why your financial support is so critical right now. We’re mobilizing our community to protect democracy.
You can donate by credit card at salisburydemocrats.com/donate or use this QR code.
Please give generously — the stakes couldn’t be higher. The SDTC has no paid staff, so every dollar you contribute goes directly to supporting our critical work. If you have already given, thank you for your generosity.
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DID YOU MISS A NEWSLETTER?
The entire archive of past newsletters is available at the Salisbury Democratic Town Committee website.
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SHARE YOUR NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please send us any news or announcements that you would like us to share with our community. We publish on the first of each month, so please send us any submissions at least one week in advance. Please submit to the editor at salsdemsnews@gmail.com.
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TELL US WHAT YOU THINK
We love hearing from you, our readers. Every edition of our newsletter is created with you in mind — to inform, engage, and inspire. But your feedback helps us do our job better. Drop us a note — even a few lines can make a big difference. Reach us anytime at salsdemsnews@gmail.com.
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