Democratic View: A call to action from Tracy Mitrano

By Tracy Mitrano

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this column are those of author Tracy Mitrano and are not representative of the thoughts or opinions of Tompkins Weekly. 

Employed in academia as a cybersecurity expert in 2016, you can imagine my surprise when candidate Trump invited Russia to invade U.S. servers to “find Hillary’s emails.”  Appalled at the ignorance and concerned about national security, I decided to enter the 2018 race for congressional district NY-23. From the start I understood the probability of Democratic winning a ruby-red district was low, but I also knew that sometimes it is just as important to stand for what you believe is right.

Almost a decade later we are in a much more concerning place. President Trump, now in his second term, is creating a perilous political environment, expansive in scope and rapid in its pace. Rampant violations of federal privacy, labor, and immigration law occur daily. The First Amendment is a cudgel that Trump uses to beat up enemies. Due process is going by the wayside. Higher education, the jewel in the crown of American twentieth-century society, is under attack together with science, medicine, and public health. The embrace of autocracy and autocrats around the world, together with Musk and DOGE powered by the opaque use of Artificial Intelligence, takes over our federal government, materially threatens established foreign policy, and our own democratic republic.

Running for elected office is not an easy path. I spent six to eight hours a day fundraising by telephone. I encountered people who would yell vulgar names to me walking down Market Street in Corning. Some called me sick because I was in a relationship with a woman or would make other crass comments that had no bearing on policy or politics. Take note, Josh Riley is in a similar place. With money having corrupted politics, and the 2010 Citizens United decision still on the books, fundraising remains a critical element of a campaign. Under Trump, personal attacks have become par for the course, and the veracity of those attacks no longer matters with a substantial percentage of voters.  For those of us with children, those attacks take on a very personal resonance.

I gained valuable insights from that experience, nonetheless. I learned about people’s fears, angers and resentments: the de-industrialization of the Southern Tier of New York; bankrupt farmers hanging themselves in their barns; the influx of methamphetamine and later fentanyl addicting youth; the decline of rural public schools; children too hungry to learn, improperly nourished, and with painful, rotting teeth because they are unable to see a dentist.

What must be done now to address these complicated circumstances?

Engagement is first. Democracy of the people, by the people, and for the people requires active participation. Just because times are tough, or Democrats did not get our way in the presidential election of 2024, is no excuse to sit by the sidelines. In fact, those are precisely the reasons to step up efforts. Petition for a candidate. Write postcards. Host, speak, or attend a town hall. Give financial support to deserving candidates.

Learning is second. Read, listen to podcasts, watch talks, attend political events. Push the boundaries of your thoughts. Yes, that means listening to individuals or programs that feature ideas on the other side of the fence. I know that can be very frustrating. Our asymmetrical media has created a stark divide between center-left, which still relies on research, evidence, and facts, and center-right which revels in lies and conspiracy theories, demonization and hate. We must rise above it.

Empathy is third. Arid policy does not move people, feelings do. Only by listening and understanding the personal stories of the people on the other side can we make a meaningful connection. The more one chafes at the thought of sharing humanity with someone on the other side of the fence, the more important that effort becomes. Empathy infuses real meaning into our democratic republic.

Timing is fourth. Don’t wait until September of the next election to be involved. Do something now! Talk to Republicans, seek out independents. Cultivate thoughtful conversations and build relationships that last. Help to instill trust in our government. A couple of months work will not do the trick; the effort must be on-going and reaching people in every nook and cranny of the district.

Finally, let us remember, democracy is not a spectator sport. Citizenship confers rights, but it also necessitates obligations. Pace yourself and believe in the work. Never in our lifetimes has that work been more important. Exercise personal and political agency in the name of our democratic republic before it is too late.

Tracy Mitrano ran for election to the U.S. House to represent New York’s 23rd Congressional District in 2018 and 2020. She is currently a Distinguished Visiting Professor in Information Science at Cornell University.