Why You Should Call Your State And Federal Senators and Representatives

A How-To Guide for Everyone

People sometimes ask: Why should I call my State and Congressional representatives, especially the Democratic ones, since the Democrats will vote the right way? The reality is Democrats don’t always vote the way we might expect them to. They need to hear from us, their constituents, especially when we are disappointed in their positions on issues, so they know we are paying attention.

Remember that both Senators Peters and Slotkin voted to confirm Kristi Noem. Slotkin said she voted for Noem to be cooperative and she hoped Noem would be responsive to Slotkin’s concerns about Michigan’s borders and immigration issues. Slotkins’s expectations about Noem were unrealistic and naive.

Similarly, we also need to let them know when we are pleased with the position they are taking on an issue, such as thanking Representative Scholten for voting against the continuing resolution in the House and Senators Peters and Slotkin for opposing the continuing resolution about the budget without tax breaks for the Affordable Care Act.

Why are Phone Calls Impactful?

This is what happens when you make a call:

• Detailed Logs: Staffers log every call by topic, location, and zip code.

• Daily Reports: Senior staff compile reports on the top issues being called about each day.

• Direct Impact: These reports are sent directly to elected officials, clearly showing which issues voters care about and where the pressure is coming from.

When representatives see a consistent surge in calls—especially from their own constituents—they pay attention. They know these calls represent votes, and that their jobs depend on responding to this pressure.

Calls Work Better Than Emails

Should you call or email or send a letter? Calling is considered the best way to have an impact because staff must record the position being expressed. A followup email can be a way to flesh out what has been said in a call. If the caller is particularly nervous about what they want to convey to the Senator or Representative, an email provides a way to state a detailed position. In addition, calls have:

• Immediate Impact: Calls create real-time pressure. If a vote is imminent, a flood of calls can tip the balance.

• Higher Visibility: Emails often get filtered or ignored, and letters are too slow to effect immediate change.

Should you make individual calls about each issue or make a concise list of the legislation and issues you are concerned about?

• Representative Scholten’s staff have indicated they prefer one call listing all the issues a person is concerned about.

• Since Senators Peters and Slotkin do not have people answering the phone, it is unclear what their preference is. It will be easier and less time consuming for you to list the multiple positions you want to bring to their attention. The Senators’ voicemails give you about 90 seconds to list your concerns. You might need to make more than one call to the Senators to address all your issues. Or spread the calls out over several days.

How to make the calls

Step One: Find your representatives’ phone numbers:

• US Senators

  • Gary Peters: 202.224.6221. You can reach Gary Peters’ branch offices here: Grand Rapids: 616.233.9150; Detroit: 313.608.8040; Flint: 989.754.0112; Traverse City: 231.947.7773; Lansing: 517.377.1508; Marquette: 906.226.4554; Pontiac: 248.608.8040.

  • Elissa Slotkin: 202.224.4822. You can reach Elissa Slotkin’s branch offices here: Grand Rapids: 616.975.0052; Detroit: 313.961.4330; Flint: 810.720.4172; Lansing: 517.203.1760; Traverse City: 231.929.1031

• US Representatives

  • Representative Hillary Scholten, D-3, 202.225.3831

  • Representative John Moolenaar, R-2, 202.225.3561

  • Find your representative here if not listed above

• State Senators

  • Winnie Brinks, D-29, 517.373.1801

  • Mark Huizenga, R-30, 517.373.0797

• State Representatives

  • Phil Skaggs, D-80, 517.373.0836

  • Steven Wooden, D-81, 517.373.1790

  • Kristian Grant, D-82, 517.373.1800

  • John Fitzgerald, D-83, 517.373.0835

  • Carol Glanville, D-84, 517.373.0476

  • Angela Rigas, R-79, 517.373.1403

  • Bradley Slagh, R-85, 517.373.0841

  • Bryan Posthumus, R-90, 517.373.0830

  • Luke Meerman, R-89, 517.373.0838

• If not listed above, find your state legislators here.

• Governor Gretchen Whitmer: 517.373.3400 (Call during traditional business hours.)

• State Attorney General Dana Nessel: 517.335.7622. (Call during traditional business hours.)

• IGGR lists the phone numbers in the Resources for You section of our Substack page.

• The 5 Calls App. The latter is a non profit organization that makes calling federal senators and representatives very easy. Download the application onto your phone. The application will list pertinent issues and includes a brief description of it. Click on your senator or representative’s name and a paragraph with a proposed script comes up. Another click and the app actually dials the senator or representative for you. Watch how it’s done here. 5Calls also has tips about making the calls.

Step 2: Once you make a call, save the number in your contacts with a clear label, for example:

• Sen [First Name] [Last Name] → Senator

• Rep [First Name] [Last Name] → House Representative

• Gov [First Name] [Last Name] → Governor

This will make it so much easier for you to make repeat calls.

💡Tip: Even if you reach voicemail, leave a message. Staffers log every call.

💡Bonus Tip: If you feel anxious about talking on the phone, try calling after 5 pm when you’re more likely to reach an answering machine.

Step 3: Prepare for your call

Preparation is key. Before you dial, take a few moments to decide what you’re going to say—even if you’re using a script from 5 Calls. Here’s a simple template:

1. Introduce Yourself:

   • Example: “Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I’m a constituent from [Your City/Zip Code].” (Always give your city & zip code when either speaking to a person or leaving a message. They only care about what their constituents have to say.)

2. State Your Purpose:

   • Example: “I’m calling to express my concern/support regarding [specific bill, issue, or policy].”

3. Make It Personal:

   • Example: “As a teacher, I see firsthand how this bill will impact our schools.”

   • OR: “As someone who lost a family member to gun violence, I’m asking you to vote for stricter background checks.”

4. Be Clear About What You Want:

   • Example: “I urge the Senator to vote YES on [Bill Number].”

   • OR: “I want the Representative to publicly oppose the proposed cuts to Medicare.”

5. Thank the person who answers the phone for their hard work. (They really appreciate the acknowledgement.)

Leave a Voicemail if necessary: If you can’t reach a live person, leave a concise voicemail following the same script, including the Thank You at the end.

💡Tip: Practice your script out loud once or twice before calling. It helps you sound confident and clear.

What to expect when calling the Federal Senators and Representatives

Senators Peters and Slotkin do not have people answering their phones. You will always get a voice mail function. Representative Scholten usually has a human answering the phone, unless the call is being made after hours or during a recess.

How long will it take to make calls?

The length of the call depends to some degree on whether you have to leave a voicemail. There is usually a 90 second time limit to leave a message on the Senators’ voicemails, so being concise and practicing what you want to say within that time limit will be the most impactful. Listing 1 - 3 issues in a single call will be quicker than an individual call for each issue. Or spread your calls out over the course of several days.

If you reach an actual person, such as when calling Rep. Scholten, you can speak longer, but, again, be concise and make your points clearly.

💡Tips for making calls

• Speak clearly and succinctly.

• Be polite in both tone and language.

• Don’t be afraid: You’re on the phone. They can’t see you. And the staffers who actually answer the phone are generally polite and attentive.

Good government is a participatory function. We need to let our representatives know what we think.

Good luck calling. And let us know what happened! Share your experience in the comments - you may help someone else make a call by doing so!