Dear Representative Valadao,
Thank you for voting to impeach President Trump on January 13, 2021. It shows that you are a man of dignity and Integrity. You understand the responsibility your position gives you and take your job of representing the people of the 21st district of California seriously. After losing your reelection in 2018 you still desired to represent your district and the people of California. That persistence was rewarded, and you were reelected in a district that also ended up voting for President Biden over President Trump. This discrepancy in voting is because the people in your district trust you to do the right thing. They placed their wellbeing in your hands, and hope you legislate what is best for CA 21. Unfortunately, many of your Republican colleagues do not share the same fortitude that you possess. But you do not have to be saddled with the GOP and the legacy of Trump. To help persevere the legacy, function, and power of the Legislative Branch, you should leave the Republican Party and become an independent.
I understand that the two-party system is heavily entrenched, and breaking from it could doom your political career, but the people of CA 21 did not elect you to become a career politician. They elected you to help legislate change that will benefit their lives. Your district is unique. It is the breadbasket of America, producing over 200 different crops. Over 70% of the district is Hispanic, with a quarter of the population being born abroad. The people in your district care about issues that are not popular with the broader GOP coalition. Fair and open immigration policies, better access to healthcare, increased education standards, etc. Unfortunately, you are often forced into tough voting situations. You either must tow the GOP line, and vote for laws that would further disenfranchise your communities, or vote against the party, like you did with the Dream act, and face the ire of party leadership.
Luckily, you do not have to be stuck in this dilemma. The people of the Central Valley trust you. They know that first and foremost you are a dairy farmer that will try to help your agricultural community the best you can. Separating from the GOP would not hinder your legislative ability, but greatly increase it. Our house has become too divided over the last few decades, and strong independent leadership is the way forward. The two-party system has twisted the legislative branch into an unrecognizable mess from what the founders had envisioned. Washington specifically warned us from partisan infighting yet look at the spectacle our government has become. We need a return to thought out policy that is carried out by a functioning government. You could be the start of something great, a shift to representatives forming coalitions representing the needs of there communities, not the needs of part leadership.
On January 13, 2021 you showed the world that you were a man of integrity. You have the opportunity to start a powerful movement. Representatives on both sides are the black sheep of their parties. But as independent actors you could force real change in how our government functions. Help return the peoples faith in governance as your forge your own path free from the GOP.