The House has a speaker after a long, drawn-out battle among Republicans.  

We hope that the new leadership can work proactively to address some of the challenges facing the country — from the recent heart-wrenching mass shooting in Lewiston, Me., to the conflicts in Israel and Ukraine and the continuing challenges of high prices here at home. 

Whether it's the issues on our doorsteps or those reverberating across the globe, our problems seem ever-growing. Now is not the time to retreat into partisan bunkers, refusing to rise to the moment. 

There is an urgent need for fresh thinking and forging ahead with tangible progress. This brings us to spotlight one of our most steadfast problem solvers – Rep. Jared Golden of Maine. 

The horrific shooting in Lewiston has shocked the nation and gripped the state in high alert. In its wake, Rep. Golden exhibited the kind of courage we want to see in our leaders. With a heartfelt message to his constituents, he announced why this tragedy spurred him to reverse his earlier position on a nationwide assault weapons ban. He now supports it. 

As No Labels notes in our Commonsense booklet, “Americans have a constitutional right to own guns, but society also has a responsibility to keep dangerous weapons away from dangerous people.” 

In today's polarized political landscape, it takes a profound measure of political courage to shift your position when events demand that we look at old problems anew. Yet, this is the type of transformation we need to bridge our partisan divides and tackle challenges with common sense. As he made his announcement, Rep. Golden said: "Humility is called for as accountability is sought by victims of a tragedy such as this one." 

This week, please express your support to Rep. Golden for his courageous step. A simple visit to Rep. Golden’s Facebook page to express your support will go a long way. 

You can show your thanks to Rep. Golden by clicking here to visit his Facebook page. 

Thank you for lending your support to leaders who are rising to meet the moment. 

Warm regards, 

Margaret White

Co-Executive Director