Folks, on this Independence Day weekend, we honor our nation’s founding ideals: Freedom, equality, and justice for all.

We celebrate the incredible achievements of our great nation and reflect on the work still in front of us to live up to our values — recommitting ourselves to creating a more perfect union.

American democracy has always been an experiment. The liberties and freedoms we all cherish require us to never take them for granted. As Benjamin Franklin once said, “A republic, if you can keep it.”

Today, the vision of American democracy that our founders adopted has never faced greater threats — and it is being put to the ultimate test this November.

Last week, the Supreme Court overturned a core tenet of American democracy — that no one is above the law. It ruled that Donald Trump, who pledged to be a dictator “on day one,” is absolutely immune from “official acts.”

And if he is elected this November, he has made it very clear what he will do: Ban abortion. Go after his political rivals. Sow doubt in our free and fair elections. Roll back voting rights.

It’s not just Donald Trump. MAGA Republicans in New York and across the country are in lock-step with his extremist agenda. They have made it abundantly clear who they stand with — and it’s with Trump, not the American people.

So folks, that’s why I’m personally asking today: Will you commit to voting for Democrats up and down the ticket this November?

From reelecting President Biden and Vice President Harris to supporting New York Democrats running in competitive House races — I’m going all-in to elect leaders who will fight to preserve our democracy for future generations.

This is a generational fight, and I can’t thank you enough for standing alongside me. With everything at stake in this election, we can’t afford anyone to sit on the sidelines.

— Kathy Hochul