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THANK YOU FOR ROLLING UP YOUR SLEEVES
Today is a big day. It is election day for several consequential races. In Wisconsin, an election to replace a retiring state Supreme Court judge will determine whether that court maintains its slim progressive majority or slides back into conservative control. This court will rule on critical matters, including voting rights and fair election maps (as well as reproductive and labor rights) with big implications for Wisconsin as well as the entire country. In Florida, two special elections for US House seats will determine whether the GOP's narrow majority in the House expands or gets even slimmer.
These races are tests of President Trump's claimed mandate to govern. Recent polls show that the public disapproves of his performance. But elections are a better test because they measure not just what people say but what people actually do in the form of their vote. Thousands of people from around the country have volunteered in various ways to ensure that Democratic candidates win -- and to send Trump a message of opposition. Thank you, everyone, who jumped into arena as volunteers to make our voices heard.
We must also thank the people who are fighting Trump's policies in the courts. Their lawsuits have been very effective in stopping, or at least freezing, many of Trump's egregious breaches of the law. We are winning in the courts, but the work won't be done until the Supreme Court weighs in. On a related front, talented and committed lawyers also continue litigating voting rights cases, which have proliferated across the country. Unfortunately, with the Department of Justice abandoning its role as a defender of voting rights, the work of ensuring fair, accessible, and secure elections has become harder. The lawyers fighting in the courts deserve our thanks and our financial support. Please give to organizations that are persevering in this fight.
Thank you for being a defender of democracy.
Your Faithful Editor
In This Issue
- Curtis Rand Is Running Again!
- CT Attorney General Tong Hosts Town Hall
- Upcoming Events
- Things You Can Do Now
- In Case You Missed It
- Did You Miss a Newsletter?
- Spread the Word
- Share Your News
| CURTIS RAND IS RUNNING AGAIN! | |
After months of suspense, Curtis Rand has officially announced his candidacy for another term as our First Selectman. This is great news for all who have benefited from his dedicated leadership in Salisbury. Curtis has consistently guided our town with a steady hand, meticulous attention to detail, openness to all residents' perspectives, and tireless energy. At a time when our community faces significant challenges—including affordable housing, solid waste management, and lake protection and environmental preservation—the continuity of experienced leadership is more important than ever. Thank you, Curtis, for your commitment to serving our community.
More news will be forthcoming about the rest of the Democratic slate of candidates for the November election.
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CT ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG HOSTS TOWN HALL ON IMMIGRATION AND CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong held a town hall on March 6 at Lime Rock Trinity Episcopal Church in Lakeville to discuss immigration, constitutional law, and state protections for immigrant communities. Joined by Assistant Attorney General Sandra Arena and Representative Maria Horn, Tong emphasized Connecticut’s commitment to safeguarding immigrant rights against federal overreach.
Tong provided updates on his legal battles against federal funding freezes, securing a preliminary injunction in one case and challenging NIH funding restrictions in another. He underscored the necessity of legal resistance, stating, “With no checks and balances, rights become optional.”
Reflecting on his personal experience as the son of an immigrant, Tong warned that attacks on undocumented individuals and birthright citizenship threaten America’s core values. He reminded attendees of Connecticut’s sovereignty, citing the state’s Trust Act, which limits local law enforcement’s role in federal immigration enforcement.
Tong advised business owners to have legal support in place for potential ICE actions in the workplace and urged communities to ensure healthcare access for undocumented individuals. He also warned of federal threats to housing and school funding linked to DEI policies.
Closing with a call to action, Tong stressed the importance of vigilance, advocacy, and defending judicial authority, cautioning that the nation faces a constitutional crisis. “We need to focus on what we can do now, not just the next election,” he urged.
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Saturday, April 5 - HANDS OFF! - Join Mass Protests Nationwide | |
People across the country will be hitting the streets to stop the Trump/Musk/MAGA assault on our Constitution. From coast to coast, we will be sending a clear message: Hands off our rights, hands off our communities!
Local protests will be happening in Salisbury on the green at the White Hart at 11am and elsewhere in our area (see below for locations and times). To join protests elsewhere across the US, use this link.
Bring your voice, your signs, and your energy. Bring your children so they can learn that engaging in civil protest is everyone's job. Don’t sit this one out. Be part of the movement. Show up and speak out.
Hands Off! Protests in Our Area:
9 am - Warren (Community Center, 7 Sackett Hill Rd.)
11 am - Salisbury (White Hart Inn, 15 Undermountain Rd.)
12 pm - Cornwall (triangle at intersection of Rts. 4 & 7 in Cornwall Bridge)
1 pm - Torrington (Social Security office, 147 Litchfield St.)
11 am - Great Barrington (Town Hall, Main St.)
11 am - Kingston (Academy Green Park, 238 Clinton Ave.)
11 am - Albany (West Capitol Park, State 85, S Swan St.)
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Saturday, April 5 at 4pm - Hope in Every Story: The Future of Ukraine's Children at The Moviehouse, 48 Main Street, Millerton. This is a special event to raise awareness of the humanitarian impact of the continuing war in Ukraine and to support its victims. For tickets and more detailed information visit https://bit.ly/TMH-hope-in-every-story-ukraine
Sunday, April 6 at 3-4:30pm - Vecinos Seguros Rapid Response Team Training. Vecinos Seguros II is a grassroots group supporting immigrants in CT’s Northwest Corner. The group has developed printed resource to helop immigrants know their rights and be prepared in the event of encounters with ICE agents. The group is forming a Rapid Response Team to document ICE arrests and will be holding a training session at Lime Rock Trinity Episcopal Church, 484 Line Rock Road, Lakeville. If you’d like to learn more about what the Rapid Response Team does, feel free to join in the training. If you cannot make it to the meeting in person, please click to register for the Zoom link. For more information, email vecinosseguros2@gmail.com.
Monday, April 7 at 5:30pm: The Sharon Democratic Town Committee holds its regular monthly meeting. You are welcome to join in person on the second floor of Sharon Town Hall, 63 Main Street in Sharon, or remotely on Zoom. Please email sharontowndemocrats@gmail.com for a link.
Thursday, April 10 at 6pm - Immigration Law Forum with Glenn Formica at Trinity Lime Rock Episcopal Church, 484 Lime Rock Road in Lakeville. Doors will open at 5:30. Learn what you can do to protect the rights of your neighbors and employees who may be undocumented immigrants. Glenn Formica has 25 years of experience as an immigration attorney and is the lead partner at the law firm Formica, PC in New Haven. He will answer questions after his talk. Light refreshments will be served at this free event. If you can't attend in person, click here to register to participate in a livestream on Zoom. For more information, email vecinosseguros2@gmail.com.
Tuesday, April 15 at 7pm: Salisbury Democratic Town Committee. This regular monthly SDTC meeting will be held at Town Hall and via Zoom. 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.
Sunday, April 20 from 4-5:30pm: Fundraiser for Congresswoman Sarah McBride. Last year, NW Connecticut helped Sarah McBride become the first openly transgender member of Congress. One year after her first visit, she’s returning as a Congresswoman. Sarah made history in 2024. Now she is fighting hard and providing hope for this country. Help Sarah to continue fighting for all of us in DC by supporting this event. The specific location in Warren will be announced 48 hours prior to the event. Click here to register and donate. For more information, email Howard Pulchin at howardpulchinramos@gmail.com.
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As the turmoil and recklessness of the Trump administration escalate, it’s more important than ever to take a stand. Channel your frustration into action. Our list of ways to get involved is expanding, and we are continuing to add new recommendations.
Make Calls to Your Elected Officials
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. Join your fellow citizens in making calls to elected officials through either of the two organizations below. Making a call takes just a minute using the short scripts on key issues and telephone numbers they provide. Even leaving a voicemail ensures your voice is heard. If you're hesitant about calling, remember—you're not debating, just registering your opinion. If you are really shy, try calling after hours, when you can leave your message on voicemail -- it will still be counted.
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5 Calls - 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 six-days-a-week email suggests a single, focused calling action 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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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Pennsylvania Democrats Win in Special Elections, Re-Take State House. PA Democrats achieved significant victories in both state Senate and House races in the recent special elections held on March 25. In the 35th State House District (Allegheny County), Democrat Dan Goughnour, a McKeesport school board member and police officer, bested Republican Chuck Davis and Libertarian Adam Kitta. Goughnour's victory restores the Democrats' slim majority in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Read more in WGAL8. Meanwhile, in the 36th State Senate District (Lancaster County), Democrat James Malone, the mayor of East Petersburg, secured a narrow victory over Republican County Commissioner Chairman Joshua Parsons by 482 votes. This win is particularly noteworthy as the 36th District had been a Republican stronghold since the 1980s and favored former President Donald Trump by a 15-point margin in the 2024 election. Read more in Spotlight PA.
Republican Town Halls Are Getting Heated—And Going Viral. Across the country, Republican lawmakers are facing tough questions from their constituents at town hall meetings—often leading to contentious exchanges that are quickly spreading online. Viral videos show voters pressing their representatives on issues like social services, environmental policies, and election integrity. Some lawmakers have been drowned out by boos, escorted away, or opted for virtual events to avoid direct confrontation. Read more about how these town halls are becoming a political battleground. Read the full article in The Verge.
Democrats Need to Face Why Trump Won. In the wake of the Democrats’ 2024 loss, the party is grappling with deep uncertainty. According to political analyst Ezra Klein, Democrats appear more confused than ever—not just about their strategy, but about their core identity beyond opposing Donald Trump. The party is losing support among working-class voters, seeing its margins among nonwhite voters shrink, and struggling to retain young voters. One of the most respected voices on this topic is David Shor, head of data science at Blue Rose Research, a leading Democratic consulting firm specializing in political surveying, data interpretation, and message testing. In this interview, Klein speaks with Shor to explore what the data reveals about the Democratic Party’s current challenges—and what steps may be necessary for rebuilding. Watch this video to see Shor’s slides with data that offers eye-opening insights into what has gone wrong with the party. This interview lasts approximately 90 minutes and is wonky at times but provides a strong dose of medicine for anyone concerned about the future of the party. Watch it here.
Trump’s Fight with Big Law: The Escalating Battle Over Legal Power. President Trump has launched an unprecedented offensive against major law firms, targeting those that have represented his opponents or been involved in litigation against him. His actions—ranging from public attacks to efforts to block firms from securing government contracts—have sent shockwaves through the legal industry. At stake is not only the independence of the legal profession but also the broader question of whether attorneys and firms can operate free from political retribution. Read The Guardian's article on the situation. Also worthwhile reading is Politico's "Trump's Crackdown on Top Law Firms Spreads to Congress."
Oops! Senior Officials Used Unsecured Messaging App to Plan Military Strike.
Senior Trump national security and intelligence officials used Signal—a unauthorized messaging app—to coordinate a military strike against Houthi rebels, sidestepping federal laws that require secure communications and record preservation. In a stunning error, journalist Jeffrey Goldberg was inadvertently invited to the conversation, exposing the administration’s reckless handling of national defense information. Goldberg’s report in The Atlantic details how top officials, including VP JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, bypassed secure government systems in what appears to be a deliberate effort to keep discussions “off the books.” This raises serious legal and national security concerns. Read the full story in The Atlantic. Also read Robert Hubbell’s excellent analysis of this incident.
How Trump’s "Conspiracy-Driven Policy Making" Could Throw Elections Into Chaos. President Trump’s recently-issued executive order on voting has caused alarm among voting rights advocates, who fear that the measure’s restrictions on mail voting and its attempt to impose proof of citizenship requirements could disenfranchise millions. Furthermore, a different part of the order could throw election administration and the vote counting process into chaos, experts say, and attempts to allow the President to commandeer an independent, bipartisan federal voting agency to serve his political goals. If Trump’s order stands, they said, future elections — including the 2026 midterms — would likely be not only more expensive and more prone to human error, but also more skewed in his party’s favor. Read the alarming analysis in Democracy Docket.
A Warning Sign Flares Trump White House Refuses to Moderate its Shock Politics. President Trump's sudden pulling of Elise Stefanik’s nomination as Ambassador to the UN marks a significant political shift for both her and President Trump. The decision highlights growing GOP concerns over maintaining their slim House majority, as a special election for her seat could be risky. While Stefanik has been a loyal Trump ally, this move underscores the administration’s political vulnerabilities and the challenges as the White House grapples with controversies and economic turbulence. Read the full analysis in CNN.
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DID YOU MISS A NEWSLETTER?
The entire archive of past newsletters is available at the Salisbury Democratic Town Committee website. Big thanks to Colin May for setting up the archive!
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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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