Contacting your elected representatives personally is one of the most important things you can do to effect change on an issue. In these days of rapid, damaging actions by Trump and Republicans, it’s essential that elected officials hear about what matters to you. Put their numbers on speed dial -- it only takes a few minutes after hearing news to then take action! To find all of your elected representatives, click here.

Tips on Calling:  

Call your own representatives. Regardless of party affiliation, it is most effective to call the elected officials that represent where you live. Elected officials track the residency of the people who contact their offices, and usually only track the opinions of those who live in their district.
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Call first, don’t email. You have a higher chance of talking with the right person to hear your concerns, and calling can jam the phone lines, which requires staff members’ time and will often prompt the office to respond to the issue. (Check out this New York Times article on the merits of calling versus email.) If you call and get voicemail, then follow up with an email.

Take notes on the call, and follow up:  Take detailed notes so you can call back later as an issue evolves. Compare notes with friends calling on the same issue, and see if anything conflicts. Local Republican members of Congress often do not even hold regular in-person town halls to listen and respond to the concerns of their constituents! If you live in one of their districts, check here. 

For information on ways to be the most effective at lobbying members of Congress, check out the Indivisible Guide.

Call Your Members of Congress

Congress includes the Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives. The Senate confirms the President’s nominees for his Cabinet and the Supreme Court. Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla represent the whole state of California in the Senate.

Adam Schiff,  Democrat, DC Office: (202) 224-3841
Alex Padilla, Democrat, DC Office: (202) 224-3553, San Diego Office: (619) 239-3884

There are five members of the U.S. House of Representatives whose districts fall within San Diego County. Look up your member here.

Darrell Issa, Republican, District 48:  DC Office: (202) 225-5672, San Marcos: (760) 304-7575
Mike Levin, Democrat, District 49:  DC Office: (202) 225-3906, Oceanside: (760) 599-5000
Scott Peters, Democrat, District 50:  DC Office: (202) 225-0508, San Diego: (858) 455-5550
Sara Jacobs, Democrat, District 51:  DC Office: (202) 225-2040, San Diego: (619) 280-5353
Juan Vargas, Democrat, District 52:  DC Office: (202) 225-8045, Chula Vista: (619) 422-5963


Call Your State Legislator

The California State Legislature includes the California State Senate and the California State Assembly. 
There are four members of the California State Senate whose districts fall within San Diego County.l Look up your member here.

Steve Padilla, Democrat, District 18: Sacramento Office: (916) 651-4039, Chula Vista: (619) 409-7690
Akilah Weber Pierson,  Democrat, District 39: Sacramento Office: (916) 651-4039, San Diego: (619) 688-6700
Catherine Blakespear, Democrat, District 38: Sacramento Office: (916) 651-4038, Encinitas: (760) 642-0809
Brian Jones, Republican, District 40: Sacramento Office: (916) 651-4038, Escondido, (760) 796-4655, San Diego,  (858) 547-3818

There are seven members of the California State Assembly whose districts fall within San Diego County. Look up your member here.

Laurie Davies, Republican, District 74:  Sacramento Office: (916) 319-2074, Oceanside: (760) 433-7400
Carl DeMaio, Republican, District 75: Sacramento Office: (916) 319-2075, San Diego: (858) 566-7538
Darshana Patel, Democrat, District 76: Sacramento Office: (916) 319-2076, San Diego: (858) 675-0760
Tasha Boerner, Democrat, District 77: Sacramento Office: (916) 319-2077 , Carlsbad: (760) 434-7605 
Christopher Ward, Democrat, District 78: Sacramento Office: (916) 319-2078 , San Diego: (619) 280-7801
LaShae Collins, Democrat, District 79: Sacramento Office: (916) 319-2079, La Mesa: (619) 465-7903
David Alvarez, Democrat, District 80: Sacramento Office: (916) 319-2080 , Chula Vista: (619) 498-8580


Contact Your Local Officials

Contacting your city, county, and school board representatives is also important. For one thing, local officials have fewer calls, so you are more likely to speak to someone other than an intern – and perhaps have the chance of talking directly with your representative. In addition, calling local officials can prompt them to take action in your community that plays into national issues.