UNRIG Washington: Fight corruption
It's Time to Unrig Washington
After our Coffee with Carleigh event in Durham Saturday, a man emailed me asking about my positions on guns and healthcare. After I replied, he wrote, “Thanks Carleigh! You're an intriguing candidate. I'm honestly not looking forward to these midterms because I don't think I'll find candidates that represent me nor really help America/Americans all too much so I really appreciate you taking the time to read and respond.”
He’s not wrong to feel that way. And he’s not alone.
Everywhere I go — from Seabrook to Somersworth — I hear some version of the same thing. People are exhausted by bad policy and the feeling that the system is rigged. That no matter who you vote for, the same donors win, the same insiders profit, and nothing really changes for working families and regular people.
That feeling isn't cynicism. It's a rational response to what's been happening.
Members of Congress trade stocks in companies whose fates they directly influence through legislation. Corporate PACs funnel millions of dollars to candidates before they've cast a single vote. Billionaires pour secret money into elections through networks of dark money groups that don't have to disclose a single donor's name. And politicians seem baffled that people are cynical when nothing seems to work for regular people.
This is why I joined the End Citizens United "Unrig Washington" pledge — a public commitment to campaign and govern differently.
Here's what it means in practice.
I will support legislation to ban Congressional stock trading. Serving in Congress means serving the helping the people you represent, not yourself. The fact that we even have to debate this (and that it hasn’t passed yet despite overwhelming public support) tells you something about how far we've drifted.
I'm running this entire campaign without a single dollar from corporate PACs. Because I believe you can't fight for working families if you're beholden to the corporations making their lives harder. Every dollar this campaign raises comes from people — from teachers in Dover, nurses in Manchester, small business owners in Laconia — who want a fair shot.
And I will fight to end dark money. Voters deserve to know who is influencing our elections, leaders, and legislation. Undisclosed political spending is a scourge, and fixing the Federal Election Commission so there's actually someone who can do something about it isn't about partisanship — it's about accountability.
I know some people hear this kind of talk and think: sure, that's what they all say. I get it. Trust has to be earned.
So let me point to what I'm actually doing. No corporate PACs. No social media that puts money in the pockets of Zuckerberg or Musk. Every dollar going to real organizing in real communities. That's not a talking point — it's a choice we make every day.
Learn more at: https://www.endcitizensunited.org/unrig-washington.
What Else Am I Doing?
Read about my Term Limits Pledge here and know that if there is ever a federal shutdown while I’m in office, I won’t take any pay until our federal workers are paid.
What Can You Do?
Sign up to volunteer or chip in what you can. No corporate PAC money. No dark money. This campaign is powered by regular people.
Ask your candidates and representatives if they’ll commit to Unrig Washington and what they’re doing now to demonstrate that commitment.
