To the editor:

Dear Representative Riley, 

We are residents of the 19th Congressional District in Sullivan County. We have political differences, but we share fundamental ideals of protecting our democracy and our civil and human rights. Many of us knocked on doors for you in 2022 and again in 2024. Many of us were monthly donors to and volunteers in your campaigns. We represent a large chunk of your base in Sullivan County. 

The GOP is a threat to democracy and the rights of the people of Sullivan County. We understand that yours is a critical swing seat for Democrats to regain the majority in the House and hold Trump and the GOP to account. It is in that spirit that we write to you today. 

We are not simply uninspired by your actions. We are dismayed. Some of us want to find someone to primary you. Others will no longer donate to your campaign. Many will not knock on doors or make calls for your next campaign. Some have vowed never to vote for you again. 

We understand that this is a swing district and that not all your votes can align with our positions. Indeed, we don’t align on all positions among ourselves. 

But we know this: your vote for the Laken-Riley Act will not garner you votes from MAGAs who will never vote for you, but it does align you with their anti-immigrant policies. Voting for the Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act and the Special Interest Alien Act gains you no votes from the GOP base, but it does amplify their xenophobic rhetoric. Voting in favor of the MAGA-sponsored Court Counteraction Act undermines the International Criminal Court, the only international body that holds individuals legally accountable for atrocities and war crimes. Your vote for HR 488, expressing “gratitude to law enforcement officers, including [ICE] personnel” aligns you with an out-of-control, often lawless, national security force that terrorizes neighborhoods all over our country. Your vote for the Genius Act was a capitulation to the crypto-lobby that puts your stamp of approval on Trump’s use of public policy for personal profit.

Independent and non-affiliated voters, if they come out in 2026, won’t be swayed by these votes, as they likely will vote primarily on the economy. Meanwhile, these terrible votes will keep your erstwhile base, people like us, unengaged, uninvolved, not donating, not knocking on doors, and even staying home on Election Day.

Do you want us with you? You must show up in person in Sullivan County at town halls instead of traipsing off to Israel on an AIPAC-funded propaganda tour, giving tacit support to Israeli atrocities in the West Bank, genocide in Gaza, and the de facto nullification of future Palestinian sovereignty. What were you thinking? If you’re cynically chasing the ‘Jewish’ vote, you’re heading in the wrong direction. Many of us are Jewish, and we are appalled.

You need to demonstrate that you care more about what is happening to our rural hospitals, our services, our homeless population, our immigrant family members and neighbors, our energy costs and emissions, our mental health, and our employment and less about placating a GOP base or chimerical swing voters that will NEVER support you. You look weak and feckless chasing voters who will not back you, while losing those who might have.

No voter wants to support someone who is chasing votes rather than authentically fighting for constituents. No one.

Kathie Aberman-Liberty, 

Robyn Almquist-

Livingston Manor, 

Mary Bakalis-Jeffersonville, 

Judy Balaban-Bethel, 

Leanna Ballester-

Lake Huntington, 

Hoss Banaja-Walton, 

Mathew Baquerizo-Narrowsburg, Therese Brosnan-

Livingston Manor, 

Liz Bucar-Callicoon, 

Martin Colavito-Liberty, 

Rebekah Creshkoff-Callicoon, 

Bill Duncan-Fallsburg,

Melissa Easton-Callicoon, 

Marc Edelman-Callicoon, 

Ahmad-Sameh Fakhouri-

Narrowsburg,

 Eric Feinblatt-Hankins, 

Mallory Fithian-Roscoe, 

Joan Glickman-Narrowsburg, Kelli Palinkas Greer-

Walker Valley,

 Sonja Hedlund-Callicoon Center, Sarah Hegarty-Callicoon, 

JoAnne Kriskowski-Callicoon Center, Tracey Magie-Liberty, 

Christopher Mannigan-Callicoon, Myrna Marcarian-Smallwood, 

Elaine Matthews-Smallwood, Patrick McCarthy-Smallwood,

Carol-Ann Mullin-Narrowsburg, 

Isabel Mulvihill-Youngsville, 

JoAnne Omar-Liberty, 

Hussein Omar-Liberty, 

Chris Peacock-Callicoon, 

Christopher Renaud-Cochecton, 

Jean Schmidlein-Bloomingburg, Lauren Seikaly-Jeffersonville, 

Jonthan Spencer-

White Sulphur Springs, 

Sanzia Sumi-Narrowsburg, 

Karen Zelermyer-Cochecton