In the 2026 US midterms, I voted not only from my bank account but from my heart. I voted for the people and values that shaped who I am, the women, the immigrants, Ukraine, and children. Here I explain why and point out what’s next.
Women
I believe a woman’s body is her own. A woman should have the right to decide whether to continue a pregnancy, in consultation with her doctor and her own conscience, not a legislature.
I feel this strongly because I know what it’s like to live in a body other people feel entitled to judge and control. I grew up in a world that taught me that one of the greatest accomplishments a woman could achieve was being thin. Overweight women were (and still are) seen as weak and lazy. No law dictates my weight. But the attitude behind that judgment, that a woman’s body is everyone’s business, is the same one behind laws that take medical decisions out of women’s hands. I believe a woman has the right to decide what happens to her own body.
Immigrants
I voted for immigrants because they built this country and keep contributing to it every day. When immigration sweeps filled the news, I was afraid for people I care about. Friends of mine came to this country and have followed the rules to be here. I still worry that one of them could be taken. Losing a friend like that is a fear no one should have to carry. I also thought about the millions of immigrants who pick our vegetables, cook our food, make scientific discoveries, develop our software, and build our houses.
Ukraine
I want our country to stand with people who are standing up for their freedom. Friends in Ukraine describe the missiles and drones that strike Kyiv and other cities. Every night when the sirens go off, they take shelter, afraid for their lives. They lose electricity and water, and they can’t walk down the street without fear. Some of them even move to areas of the country that are less of a Russian target. Still they refuse to give up. They are fighting fiercely and bravely for their land, and I am continually in awe of them.
I voted for Ukraine because I want our country to stand with them in a timely manner. This fall, the US approved the sale of 500 Patriot missiles, but they haven’t been built yet. Ukraine’s president says deliveries might be years away. People are sheltering from missiles tonight. Aid that arrives years late isn’t help. It’s a promise. I want Congress to push for getting Patriots there now, including from existing stock.
Children
Helping young people achieve their dreams and live healthy lives isn’t charity. It’s an investment in all of us. I don’t have children, but I care about them. I want hungry kids to get free meals at school. I want them to have the healthcare they need to grow up healthy. And I want them to be able to dream about their future and have plans they can actually achieve. A child who has enough to eat, a doctor to see, and room to imagine has a real chance.
What’s Next?
Voting is the beginning. Now it’s time to make sure your representatives take action on the issues you care about.
- Find your representatives and senators at house.gov and senate.gov, or call the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for your representative’s or senator’s office.
- Call or write about a specific bill, not a general feeling. Staff tally constituent calls and emails by issue; a specific one is seen as more important than a general feeling. For instance, call your senators about speeding up Patriot deliveries to Ukraine, not just that you’re angry about Russia’s invastion of Ukraine.
- Track their votes, then tell them you noticed. For Congress, IssueVoter is a nonpartisan tool that alerts you before votes and shows how often your lawmakers vote your way. For Oklahoma’s state legislature, see the House floor votes page.
- Show up to town halls when they happen.
Your voice reaches farther than a ballot. Keep using it. This country belongs to all of us.
