15 Comments

It would be great to connect. I would appreciate your insights.

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Matt, I strongly supported you, made lots of calls, and was sure you would have been a superb replacement for our current Congresswoman. I was very disappointed in the outcome and that you chose to not run again - but I certainly respect your reasons to step back.

I hope you continue and that you will seek office again one day. In the meantime I would love to see you get behind Paula Collins who has valiantly put herself on the line. It would be a huge boost to have you come to Tannery Pond again on September 18th at 7:00 pm. where Paula will present herself to us Adirondack Democrats. I’m sure you would get a rousing welcome from Paula and all of us. Feel free to call me if you would like to be there.

Pete Hoskins

((267) 752-2610

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Hi Matt,

It is great to hear from you again. I volunteered for your campaign when you ran for congress in 2022 through phone banking, delivering lawn signs and sharing your campaign with everyone I know. I was heartbroken when you didn't win and was discouraged when you decided not to run again.

With that said, I'm lucky to have met Paula Collins. She is traveling throughout the North Country the same way you had. She shows up for every event she possibly can and is trying to meet as many constituents as possible.

You spoke of uniting and working together and using your voice. I hope this means you will help support Paula. She literally has hundreds of volunteers willing to help her do whatever they can to defeat Stefanik. Woman have united like I've never seen before. They are volunteering, taking a stand and coming out from the shadows to stand up against Stefanik and Trump. Many people were hesitant about putting up lawn signs but they're being brave and not letting their fears of retaliation get to them anymore.

Please help us silence the noise you mentioned. You're right when you say the future belongs to the problem solvers and unifiers. Please join us in uniting District 21. We would love your support.

Colleen

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Matt, good to see you back in public. Now, PLEASE reach out to our candidate Paula Collins! We (who worked on your campaign) have done what we can, but you have the most info and insight to offer her. Paula has committed to running again in 2026.

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Thanks for your thoughts. I think it would be much more meaningful if you were to use your platform to pledge support for the Harris/Walz ticket. We need to UNITE around the Democrats for the now! - there will be time for cross-party outreach in the future.

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Matt - I think you are exactly right and glad your voice is back "in the arena."

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Great message! Good to hear from you my friend!

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It will be great to see you back in action. If you get up to Lake George, let me know. I'm running for Town Council this fall. Hope all is well!

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So impressed with your terrific fight up here last election time. This area is a tough area to be in at times. It’s old in its thinking, that can be good and bad… I thought you did great!!!! I’ll be following you in substance…. Keep up the good work, the important communication. Loved your run! Massena, NY/ Adirondacks…

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Yes! So good to hear your voice. I would look forward to wearing my Matt Castelli t-shirt and helping in any way. Count me in.

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Good to hear from you and that you're in a good place and doing well. Keep up the postings and sharing your insights into things both domestic and global.

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Hi Matt

I am sooooooo happy to read this uplifting message. I have greatly missed your voice. Welcome back

Regina

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It's good to hear from you

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Beautifully written. Love your insight, inspiration, confidence, and positive outlook.

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Matt — it’s less about signal to noise and more about how much of our country has taken up residence in our comfortable and warm information silos. We hear the things we want to hear from the outlets, personalities, and places we know and like; we confirm our own biases every time we like/share/comment on something we agree with; and we grow more rigid each day we wash, rinse, and repeat this cycle.

Instead of treating others with different ideas as, well, PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT IDEAS — we’ve become conditioned to an “us or them” paradigm, where everything that runs counter to our belief system is somehow an existential threat to everything we hold dear.

We’ve embraced hyperbole as everyday language. We’ve lost the talent of understanding nuance, or seeing the shades of gray between black and white.

What’s the fix? Well, get out and engage those who don’t align with your political sensibilities — you just might learn something in the process and understand where someone else is coming from. Do this, not in an effort to embrace a “both-sides” mentality, but to humanize people who feel different from you. We gain nothing as a nation by labeling our neighbors as fascists, communists, or extremists (unless they legitimately are 😂).

Looking forward to seeing you/hearing from you more in the public square.

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