Are you watching the unfolding events contributing to untold suffering and chaos here and abroad? Are you wondering what you can possibly do to begin to stem the tide of harm and misrule? Let us assure you, as the saying goes, “your search is over.”

If you have been strong enough to pay attention to what has happened these past six weeks, you’ve seen a president, a would-be autocrat, issuing an onslaught of unconstitutional executive orders. This is enabling the world’s richest person to rule with him, which is disastrous for our country, the world, and the planet. If you need the details, head here: reuters.com/world/us/what-trump-has-done-remake-us-government-so-far-2025-01-30/.

Oh, and on Feb. 26, the House of Representatives voted for a budget that entails drastic cuts to Medicaid, affecting millions of poor and low-income people.

Action is essential to resist the dismantling of our democracy and our Constitution. We can turn the House blue if we take a stand in the three special elections for congressional seats, two in Florida (April 1) and one in New York (probably in June), which is what we are urging you to do today. We can prevent more damage to our society by taking control of the House of Representatives.

In addition, it is our hope that winning these seats will motivate more people to become activists for democracy.

These victories will send a message to the rest of the country that what is being done by Donald Trump and Elon Musk is unacceptable and that resistance in the form of making contributions, going door to door, phone banking, and postcard and letter writing can make a significant difference to demonstrate we are not powerless.

This achievement will be reinforced by activism that leads to taking back the Senate and keeping the House in 2026 to greatly diminish the violations of the Constitution and the anguish and pain so many of our fellow countrymen and women are facing. If we can win in Florida on April 1 and then in New York, where the third seat will be decided, some voters will see that even in red regions people are saying enough is enough!

Why support these three candidates? In Congressional District 1 in Florida, Gay Valimont is running for Matt Gaetz’s seat against Jimmy Patronis, about whom Trump has said: “Jimmy has my Complete and Total Endorsement. Run, Jimmy, Run.”

People in her district haven’t had any representation for 10 years as Gaetz was promoting himself, not those who elected him. The federal government is the third largest employer in the district and people are angry about the thousands of folks losing their jobs and having their lives turned upside down. Also, Gay is a strong gun violence prevention advocate.

In Congressional District 6 in Florida, Josh Weil is a single father of two boys and a public school teacher who will restore balance to Washington and work for common-sense solutions to health care, affordable housing, and education. Twenty-five percent of the people in his district are over 65 and they fear potential cuts to Social Security and Medicare, while thousands of others are terrified by the House’s decision to drastically slash Medicaid benefits.

Farmers have government contracts that are being frozen or terminated and might have spent money that won’t get reimbursed. Josh faces Randy Fine, who is supported by Trump. Fine is an ardent opponent of LGBTQ rights and is known for his anti-Palestinian and Islamophobic views.

In Congressional District 21 in New York, Blake Gendebien is running to replace Elise Stefanik. She has been nominated to be ambassador to the United Nations, and because she hasn’t resigned there is no Republican candidate yet.

Blake is a second-generation dairy farmer, community leader, and the founder of a nonprofit supporting children with pediatric cancer and their parents. In the past six years alone, his region has lost more than 700 dairy farms and he wants to be an honest voice to uplift farmers, veterans, families and small businesses.

To ensure that Gay, Josh and Blake get elected, you can go to these links and make a contribution, write postcards, and make phone calls: https://gayforcongress.com/get-involved;https://joshweil.us;https://blakegendebienforcongress.com/

Larry Diamond, a Stanford professor and expert on why democracies die, urges us to “Stop the Putinization of America” now. This is the moment to say “no” to Trump and Musk. Support Gay Valimont, Josh Weil and Blake Gendebien and turn the U.S. House of Representatives blue, thereby protecting all those being harmed by this administration.

Tom Weiner is a Northampton resident who retired after teaching third through sixth grade at the Campus School of Smith College for 40 years. He is a longtime activist and co-author of “In Defiance: 20 Abolitionists You Were Never Taught in School.” Allen J. Davis, Ed.D., is an educator, political activist, and co-chair of the board of the Karuna Center for Peacebuilding, based in Greenfield.