Smart Girl Dumb Questions Calling Congress … Does It Work? with Rep. Melanie Stansbury
Jan 29, 2026
Melanie Stansbury, U.S. Representative from New Mexico's 1st District and member of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, discusses how contacting lawmakers is tracked and can shift priorities. Short, punchy takes cover oversight tools, how calls influence votes, constituent strategy, Capitol Hill theatrics, and even astrology as a bipartisan icebreaker.
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Call Your Lawmaker Directly
- Call or email your member of Congress to register your view because offices track and batch constituent contacts into campaigns.
- If you lack a personal relationship, call the general line or have a friend in the district call instead.
Use Multiple Channels Strategically
- Offices read handwritten mail and deliver noteworthy items to the member, but postal mail is inspected and can take months.
- Use email, social media, and phone for speed; send physical letters for impact.
Your Vote Weight Depends On District
- If you want influence, prioritize contacting your own representative since votes reflect local constituent pressure most.
- If you can't, ask friends or family in the district to call instead.