January 6, 2022

Dear Friend,

On this day, one year ago, I was on the House floor – ready to certify the results of our free and fair election – when the Capitol fell siege to a violent mob intent on overturning the election. I can vividly remember the sound of the rioters banging on the doors to the House floor and how I felt in that moment. I wasn’t sure what was going to happen, so I texted my pregnant wife who was home with our son, “whatever happens, I love you.”

I invite you to read a full recap of my experience that day in my Op-Ed for CNN.

What happened on January 6, 2021, showed the world just how fragile democracy is. In the year since, I’ve traveled the world as a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and met with world leaders who genuinely wondered whether American democracy would survive and what that would mean for democracy across the globe. I remind them that later that night both Republicans and Democrats came together to certify the results of the election, carrying out the will of the people and reaffirming our commitment to the democratic process.

In the aftermath of the Capitol attack, I’m proud to have helped pass the For the People Act, and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which together would end partisan gerrymandering, secure our elections and protect voting rights. As a former voting rights attorney, this has been one of my top priorities. The Senate is now considering similar legislation called the Freedom to Vote Act, which includes proposals that I have introduced to protect election officials and election integrity. I urge the Senate to work to preserve our democracy above all else and pass these foundational pieces of legislation.

January 6 was a harrowing day for our country, fueled by extremism and misinformation. Although we’ve made incredible progress, those dark forces are still at work, and we must continue to actively work against them. We cannot take our democracy for granted. 2022 is the year that the pro-democracy forces that believe in this country – regardless of party affiliation – must come together to act.

If you’re interested in hearing more on this, please read my full opinion piece on CNN.

Sincerely,

Colin Allred
Member of Congress