Poke Your Reps 100 Different Ways

In a democracy, “We the People” tell our elected representatives what we want them to do. So, give them a “poke,” regularly and often. Telephone calls have a great impact. Personal emails make a strong impression. Social media is the most public of venues. There’re a hundred ways (give or take) to send a message to elected officials. However you poke your reps, it’s an action that confirms what President Abraham Lincoln said:

Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth.

~ Abraham Lincoln

Short, Serious, Simple, Sweet

Government leaders are busy, under pressure. So are their staff members, who are most likely to be the ones who directly respond to your message. Help everyone better understand your message by following the four rules of clear communication:

1. Keep it Short – Get right to the point
2. Keep it Serious – Humor may be misunderstood
3. Keep it Simple – Focus on just one idea at a time
4. Keep it Sweet – Be respectful

Call, Write, or Email the White House

You may call or write the President, but the White House says an email is preferred. “This is the fastest way to get your message to President Trump.” White House phone numbers are listed below:

• Comments: 202-456-1111 (manned by volunteers)
• Switchboard: 202-456-1414  (manned by professional White House operators)

Contact Congress

Follow the links below to get to the website of any Congress Member. From there, you can find the Contact Page, which will provide all the contact information you need for writing, calling, or emailing the Member.

• Senate Member Websites
• House of Representatives Member Websites

Progressive Democrats of America provides downloadable letter templates that you may use to write Members of Congress. The selection of letters is constantly updated according to current issues. Go to Educate Congress to take advantage of this resource.

Messages Via Social Media

If you’re on Twitter or Facebook, it’s easy to put the “@” sign in front of a rep’s handle and shoot off a quick message. If you like, include a link to an online article that gives background on the topic of your concern and supports the action you want your rep to take.

You may also build consensus among sympathizers of your cause, multiplying the impact of your initial tweet or status update. But watch out — that strategy can boomerang with the exact opposite effect — resulting in a squad of social media trolls who harass your words, and you, for days and days. (Should the latter happen, don’t take it personal, don’t bother responding to jerks.)

Though social media is a pubic forum, you’re under no obligation to be witty or “go viral” while performing a civic duty. Your main goal is to clearly express your view (see the above section), so that your opinion is noted and counted by the representative or his staff.

President Twitter Handle

The Twitter Handle of Donald J. Trump is @realDonaldTrump.

Senator Twitter Handles

Sometimes, you might want to tweet to several, or all, U.S. Senators regarding a particular issue. The following alphabetical list of senator Twitter handles should help you.

@SenAlexander @SenatorBaldwin @SenJohnBarrasso @SenBennetCO @SenBlumenthal @RoyBlunt @CoryBooker @JohnBoozman @SenMikeBraun @SenSherrodBrown @SenatorBurr @SenatorCantwell @CapitoforWV @SenatorCardin @TomCarperforDE @SenBobCasey @SenBillCassidy @SenatorCollins @ChrisCoons @JohnCornyn @SenCortezMasto @SenTomCotton @SenKevinCramer @MikeCrapo @SenTedCruz @SteveDaines @SenDuckworth @SenatorDurbin @SenatorEnzi @SenJoniErnst @SenFeinstein @SenatorFischer @SenCoryGardner @SenGillibrand @LindseyGrahamSC @ChuckGrassley @SenKamalaHarris @SenatorHassan @SenHawleyPress @MartinHeinrich @maziehirono @SenJohnHoeven @SenHydeSmith @JimInhofe @SenatorIsakson @SenRonJohnson @SenDougJones @timkaine @SenJohnKennedy @SenAngusKing @SenAmyKlobuchar @SenatorLankford @SenatorLeahy @SenMikeLee @Sen_JoeManchin @SenMarkey @McConnellPress @SenMcSallyAZ @SenatorMenendez @SenJeffMerkley @JerryMoran @lisamurkowski @SenMurphyOffice @PattyMurray @RandPaul @sendavidperdue @SenGaryPeters @senrobportman @SenJackReed @SenatorRisch @SenPatRoberts @mittromney_sen @SenJackyRosen @SenatorRounds @SenRubioPress @SenSanders @SenSasse @SenBrianSchatz @SenSchumer @SenRickScott @SenatorTimScott @SenatorShaheen @SenShelby @SenatorSinema @SenTinaSmith @SenStabenow @SenDanSullivan @SenatorTester @SenJohnThune @SenThomTillis @SenToomey @SenatorTomUdall @ChrisVanHollen @MarkWarner @SenWarren @SenWhitehouse @SenatorWicker @RonWyden @SenToddYoung
— Undated May 22, 2019

Representative Twitter Handles

When your attention is on the U.S. House of Representatives, the following list of Twitter handles may be a help. House Representatives are listed according to state.

Alabama: @RepByrne @RepMarthaRoby @RepMikeRogers @Robert_Aderholt @RepMoBrooks @USRepGaryPalmer @RepTerriSewell
Alaska: @repdonyoung
Arizona: @RepOHalleran @Ann_Kirkpatrick @RepRaulGrijalva @RepGosar @RepAndyBiggsAZ @RepDavid @RepRubenGallego @RepDLesko @gregstantonaz
Arkansas: @RepRickCrawford @RepFrenchHill @rep_stevewomack @RepWesterman
California: @RepLaMalfa @RepHuffman @RepGaramendi @RepMcClintock @RepThompson @DorisMatsui @RepBera @RepPaulCook @RepMcNerney @joshua_harder @RepDeSaulnier @RepPelosi12 @RepBarbaraLee @RepSpeier @RepSwalwell @RepJimCosta @RepRoKhanna @RepAnnaEshoo @RepZoeLofgren @RepJimmyPanetta @TJCoxCongress @DevinNunes @GOPLeader (Rep. Kevin McCarthy) @RepCarbajal @RepKatieHill @RepBrownley @RepJudyChu @RepAdamSchiff @RepCardenas @BradSherman @RepPeteAguilar @gracenapolitano @RepTedLieu @RepJimmyGomez @NormaJTorres @CongressmanRuiz @RepKarenBass @RepLindaSanchez @RepGilCisneros @RepRoybalAllard @RepMarkTakano @KenCalvert @RepMaxineWaters @RepBarragan @RepKatiePorter @RepLouCorrea @RepLowenthal @RepHarley @RepMikeLevin @Rep_Hunter @RepJuanVargas @RepScottPeters @RepSusanDavis
Colorado: @RepDianaDeGette @RepJoeNeguse @RepTipton @RepKenBuck @RepDLamborn @RepJasonCrow @RepPerlmutter
Connecticut: @RepJohnLarson @RepJoeCourtney @rosadelauro @jahimes @RepJahanaHayes
District of Columbia: @EleanorNorton
Florida: @RepMattGaetz @DrNealDunnFL2 @RepTedYoho @RepRutherfordFL @RepAlLawsonJr @RepMichaelWaltz @RepStephMurphy @congbillposey @RepDarrenSoto @RepValDemings @RepWebster @RepGusBilirakis @RepCharlieCrist @USRepKCastor @RepRossSpano @VernBuchanan @RepGregSteube @RepBrianMast @RepRooney @RepHastingsFL @RepLoisFrankel @RepTedDeutch @RepDWStweets @RepWilson @MarioDB @RepDMP @RepShalala
Georgia: @RepBuddyCarter @SanfordBishop @RepDrewFerguson @RepHankJohnson @repjohnlewis @RepLucyMcBath @WoodallGA @AustinScottGA08 @RepDougCollins @CongressmanHice @RepLoudermilk @RepRickAllen @repdavidscott @RepTomGraves
Hawaii: @RepEdCase @TulsiPress
Idaho: @RepRussFulcher @CongMikeSimpson
Illinois: @RepBobbyRush @RepRobinKelly @RepLipinski @RepChuyGarcia @RepMikeQuigley @RepCasten @RepDannyDavis @CongressmanRaja @RepSchakowsky @RepSchneider @RepBillFoster @RepBost @RodneyDavis @RepUnderwood @RepShimkus @RepKinzinger @RepCheri @RepLaHood
Indiana: @RepVisclosky @RepWalorski @RepJimBanks @RepJimBaird @SusanWBrooks @RepGregPence @RepAndreCarson @RepLarryBucshon @RepTrey
Iowa: @RepFinkenauer @daveloebsack @RepCindyAxne @SteveKingIA
Kansas: @RepMarshall @Rep_Watkins @RepDavids @RepRonEstes
Kentucky: @KYComer @RepGuthrie @RepJohnYarmuth @RepThomasMassie @RepHalRogers @RepAndyBarr
Louisiana: @SteveScalise @RepRichmond @RepClayHiggins @RepMikeJohnson @RepAbraham @RepGarretGraves
Maine: @chelliepingree @RepGolden
Maryland: @RepAndyHarrisMD @Call_Me_Dutch @RepSarbanes @RepAnthonyBrown @StenyHoyer @RepDavidTrone @RepCummings @jamie_raskin
Massachusetts: @RepRichardNeal @RepMcGovern @RepLoriTrahan @RepJoeKennedy @RepKClark @sethmoulton @RepPressley @RepStephenLynch @USRepKeating
Michigan: @RepJackBergman @RepHuizenga @justinamash @RepMoolenaar @RepDanKildee @RepFredUpton @RepWalberg @RepSlotkin @RepAndyLevin @RepPaulMitchell @RepHaleyStevens @RepDebDingell @RepRashida @RepLawrence
Minnesota: @RepHagedorn @RepAngieCraig @RepDeanPhillips @BettyMcCollum04 @Ilhan @RepTomEmmer @collinpeterson @RepPeteStauber
Mississippi: @RepTrentKelly @BennieGThompson @RepMichaelGuest @CongPalazzo
Missouri: @LacyClayMO1 @RepAnnWagner @RepBlaine @RepHartzler @repcleaver @RepSamGraves @USRepLong @RepJasonSmith
Montana: @GregForMontana (no current twitter account)
Nebraska: @JeffFortenberry @RepDonBacon @RepAdrianSmith
Nevada: @repdinatitus @MarkAmodeiNV2 @RepSusieLee @RepHorsford
New Hampshire: @RepChrisPappas @RepAnnieKuster
New Jersey: @DonaldNorcross @CongressmanJVD @RepAndyKimNJ @RepChrisSmith @RepJoshG @FrankPallone @RepMalinowski @RepSires @BillPascrell @RepDonaldPayne @RepSherrill @RepBonnie
New Mexico: @RepDebHaaland @RepTorresSmall @repbenraylujan
New York: @RepLeeZeldin @RepPeteKing @RepTomSuozzi @RepKathleenRice @RepGregoryMeeks @RepGraceMeng @NydiaVelazquez @RepJeffries @RepYvetteClarke @RepJerryNadler @RepMaxRose @RepMaloney @RepEspaillat @RepAOC @RepJoseSerrano @RepEliotEngel @NitaLowey @RepSeanMaloney @DelgadoforNY19 @RepPaulTonko @RepStefanik @RepBrindisi @RepTomReed @RepJohnKatko @RepJoeMorelle @RepBrianHiggins @RepChrisCollins
North Carolina: @GKButterfield @RepHolding @RepWalterJones @RepDavidEPrice @virginiafoxx @RepMarkWalker @RepDavidRouzer @RepRichHudson @PatrickMcHenry @RepMarkMeadows @RepAdams @RepTedBudd
North Dakota: @RepArmstrongND
Ohio: @RepSteveChabot @RepBradWenstrup @RepBeatty @Jim_Jordan @boblatta @RepBillJohnson @RepBobGibbs @WarrenDavidson @RepMarcyKaptur @RepMikeTurner @RepMarciaFudge @RepBalderson @RepTimRyan @RepDaveJoyce @RepSteveStivers @RepAGonzalez
Oklahoma: @repkevinhern @RepMullin @RepFrankLucas @TomColeOK04 @RepKendraHorn
Oregon: @RepBonamici @repgregwalden @repblumenauer @RepPeterDeFazio @RepSchrader
Pennsylvania: @RepBrianFitz @RepBrendanBoyle @RepDwightEvans @RepDean @RepMGS @RepHoulahan @RepSusanWild @RepCartwright @RepMeuser @RepScottPerry @RepSmucker Fred Keller @RepJohnJoyce @GReschenthaler @CongressmanGT @MikeKellyPA @RepConorLamb @USRepMikeDoyle
Rhode Island: @RepCicilline @JimLangevin
South Carolina: @RepCunningham @RepJoeWilson @RepJeffDuncan @reptimmons @RepRalphNorman @WhipClyburn @RepTomRice
South Dakota: @RepDustyJohnson
Tennessee: @DrPhilRoe @RepTimBurchett @RepChuck @DesJarlaisTN04 @repjimcooper @RepJohnRose @DrMarkGreen4TN @RepDavidKustoff @RepCohen
Texas: @replouiegohmert @RepDanCrenshaw @RepVanTaylor @RepRatcliffe @RepLanceGooden @RepRonWright @RepFletcher @RepKevinBrady @RepAlGreen @RepMcCaul @ConawayTX11 @RepKayGranger @MacTXPress @TXRandy14 @RepGonzalez @RepEscobar @RepBillFlores @JacksonLeeTX18 @RepArrington @JoaquinCastrotx @RepChipRoy @RepPeteOlson @HurdOnTheHill @RepKenMarchant @RepRWilliams @michaelcburgess @RepCloudTX @RepCuellar @RepSylviaGarcia @RepEBJ @JudgeCarter @RepColinAllred @RepVeasey @RepFilemonVela @RepLloydDoggett @RepBrianBabin
Utah: @RepRobBishop @RepChrisStewart @RepJohnCurtis @RepBenMcAdams
Vermont: @PeterWelch
Virginia: @RobWittman @RepElaineLuria @BobbyScott @RepMcEachin @RepRiggleman @RepBenCline @RepSpanberger @RepDonBeyer @RepMGriffith @RepWexton @GerryConnolly
Washington: @RepDelBene @RepRickLarsen @HerreraBeutler @RepNewhouse @cathymcmorris @RepDerekKilmer @PramilaJayapal @RepKimSchrier @RepAdamSmith @RepDennyHeck
West Virginia: @RepMcKinley @RepAlexMooney @RepCarolMiller
Wisconsin: @RepBryanSteil @repmarkpocan @RepRonKind @RepGwenMoore @JimPressOffice @RepGrothman @RepSeanDuffy @RepGallagher
Wyoming: @Liz_Cheney
— Undated May 22, 2019

Add Your ‘Aye’ or ‘Nay’

Follow U.S. Senators and Representatives on the issues, and tell them “Aye” or “Nay” in the most ingenious, productive, streamlined way possible — with the Countable and Issue Voter applications. Suddenly, civic duty is nearly fun, almost addictive.

Both applications help you keep up with legislative bills, and how your representatives vote on them. Add your ‘Yea’ or ‘Nay’ to proposed legislation, before there’s a vote in Congress. Send a comment, if you like, directly to your rep. These applications are designed with excellent workflow.

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Countable is also available as a phone app.

Get Pushy with Petitions

When it’s time to be the voice of many, it’s time to push change with a petition. In case you ask, they’re known to be effective.

White House Petitions at ‘We the People’

You may petition the White House at We the People. If your petition gathers 100,000 signatures within 30 days, it’s guaranteed a response from the White House. Not ready to create you own petition? Sign petitions you agree with, which others have already created.

You’ll be amazed by the range and tone of petition topics sent to the White House. There’s everything from Net Neutrality, to the President’s resignation, to “Impeach Nancy Pelosi for crimes of Treason!” Generally, when Republican officials are targeted, the word “resignation” is used; when Democrats are targeted, the words “impeachment” or “expulsion” are used. I remember a more civil and sober tone at We the People under the Obama Administration.

MoveOn.org Petions

MoveOn is a serious people-powered political action committee (PAC) for progressive change. Anyone can start a petition. After email consultation with members, the organization will put its weight behind popular petitions, which includes delivery to the recipient. Why not become a member in order to get the petition queries and other MoveOn notices? Membership is free.

At MoveOn Petitions petitioners are allowed the flexibility to address:

• The White House or Congress
• A governor or state legislature
• Someone else (like a local official or corporate CEO)

The video below highlights important changes that have been achieved through MoveOn Petitions.

Change.org Petitions

Change.org is a well-know petition site that offers petitioners both sponsored and organic options. The sponsored, or paid, option will reach a huge number of targeted supporters in a short time frame. Petition creators are responsible for delivering their signed petitions to the recipient.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation wrote a piece about using Change.org most effectively. Many of the tips in the article may be applied at other petition sites.

READ: 9 Tips for Creating Successful Petitions on Change.org

The Simple Call

The simple telephone call has the most impact. 5Calls.org makes it easy. As they say…

5Calls is the easiest and most effective way for citizens to make an impact in national and local politics

~ 5 Calls

Yes, 5Calls helps citizens contact their elected officials about both national and local political issues.

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