At a student forum at a Rutgers, a graduating senior asked why he should care about politics when politicians were failing his generation; “Our future has been stolen from us; we can’t find a job, can’t afford rent, are loaded with student debt and the planet is burning. I am pissed.”  

At a recent political event in CD-7 the host during his speech shared a similar sentiment; at this moment in our country’s history, he only backs candidates for office who are pissed off at what’s happening to our country. He shared that before choosing who to support in CD-7 in the race against Tom Kean Jr, he asked all candidates to send him a list of ten things they are pissed off about and fuels their desire to run for office. He was surprised only Brian Varela responded to his challenge with a complete list, even offering a few extra and some solutions for extra credit.

This Democratic donor, just like for the student at Rutgers, are tired of political candidates with the standard political speak curated by Washington establishment consultants who call for moderation and fail to understand voters are pissed with the abuse of power coming from Washington DC.

These two exchanges reminded me of the movie, Network, when Howard Beale, a newsman, expressed his frustration with inflation, with people out of work, with folks scared of losing their jobs, and violence like it’s a normal thing. In the movie he screams; “We are mad as hell, and we are not going to take it anymore.”

With the 2026 elections fast approaching, we find ourselves in very similar circumstances as in this movie from 50 years ago; the war in Iran is driving inflation up, gas and food prices are rising, young people cannot find a job, homes and rent are unaffordable, meanwhile Donald Trump is telling the IRS to drop its audit of his taxes, while unleashing his private militia ICE on our immigrant neighbors and gerrymandering the south to claw back voting rights from Black voters in an effort to secure his re-election.

This is not normal. And voters are pissed about it.

But this moment is not just about being pissed at Republicans or at Donald Trump; people are pissed off at politicians owned by corporate interest and its corporate dark money PACs. Voters know America got here under the watch of both political party elites.

So, what are we do too about it? Get mad as hell and elect politicians who will reject dark money from their campaigns. Candidates who will join Bernie Sanders efforts to end Citizens United’s claw in our elections, and demand policies that truly change our healthcare system like Medicare for All.

Voter are tired of candidates whose only qualifications are that they worked in government or held a corporate job and want to give us the same moderate old policies of the past, the same ones that got us into this mess. Voters want candidates whose life experiences connects them to the reality on the ground; to the anxiety of regular people trying to keep their small business afloat or being one paycheck away from not being able to afford their mortgage.

Voters in CD-11 already said no to these Washington establishment candidates and boldly chose a non-Washington insider to fight for them, Rep. Analilia Mejia. With her “unbought and unbossed” working family’s message, she ignited the energy of a new generation of voters who want to see politicians be unapologetic about their intentions to fight the billionaires class grip in our economy.

In neighboring CD-7, I support Brian Varela for Congress because he is the only candidate to refuse corporate and PAC monies, and because he will fight to overturn Citizens United. He stands for peace and will push to end the wars in the middle east that are crushing our economy. He is an entrepreneur and businessman who knows that in our current economy, the American Dream is no longer possible for many in his own district. He knows middle class Americans need a government that works for them; and he is ready to fight for opportunity for the next generation and dismantle ICE to protect our fundamental freedoms.

On that day at Rutgers, I remember I said to that student that, yes, he should be pissed off that his generation has an uncertain economic future. But like in the movie Network, I encouraged him to use his anger to fight back, to organize, to protest, to join the movement for economic justice, support workers organizing their unions and to vote for progressive candidates who want to change the status quo.

Sitting out this election is not an option; organizing to change our country and who controls government is the only solution.

We need to organize working people to vote and to say, “We’re mad as hell and we’re not going to take it anymore.”

Let’s take back our country; let’s keep organizing and sending Progressive Democrats to Congress.

Patricia Campos-Medina is a labor champion, former Co-Chair for Mikie Sherrill for Governor and NJ co-Chair of Bernie Sanders for President. She is a Progressive Democrat who ran for US Senate in the 2024 Democratic Primary.