To the editor:

Elise Stefanik started out her congressional career as a moderate Republican who seemed to care about her constituents. That didn’t last.

Once Trump came on the scene, she trended more and more to the right.

She scolded witnesses before the Judiciary Committee, her raised voice often interrupting them and twisting the truth.

She voted against the certification of the 2020 election and supported many of the Republican lies about election irregularities.

All this work to support Trump and his allies didn’t leave her time to work on legislation that would improve our lives. On almost every issue she marched in lockstep with the most extreme members of the Republican Party, the party of NO.

The sad reality is that Stefanik seems to have a real lust for political power and will do anything to advance her career, trying to rise higher and higher. She had hoped to be the vice-presidential nominee. That didn’t work out. (She’s not his type.) Despite missing out as a running mate, Stefanik continued to support and electioneer for Trump.

The final straw for me was her appearance at the Nazi-esque rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. The hate-filled, vulgar and facist event should be a warning to all of us that she, and the ticket she supports, DO NOT CARE about us and, indeed, want an autocracy, not a democracy as our form of government. An autocracy that will enrich the rich, NOT the other 90% of U.S. citizens.

Stefanik has deserted her constituents, her oath, the Constitution and her country. She does not deserve your vote. She will do nothing to make your life better. If the autocrats win, this may be your last vote for president.

Vote for Collins.

Parmelee Tolkan

Lake Placid