Losing Teaches You the Importance of Winning: Jason Low, Guest Blogger
Call to Action: Join the “Contact the Governor Day“ on Monday, March 2, 2026
Open Letter to the Publishing Community
At the end of last year, I published articles respectively in September, November, and December, in Booklist, The Horn Book, and School Library Journal. Each article was essentially about the same thing: pressuring New York State (NYS) Governor Kathy Hochul to sign the Freedom to Read Bill sponsored by NYS Senator Rachel May. Senator May introduced the bill on April 17, 2023. The bill was amended and worked its way through the legislative process until it was approved by the state senate with bipartisan support, advancing to the governor’s desk by mid-2025.
**Despite being up for reelection, NYS Governor Hochul vetoed the bill on December 20, 2025.
In spite of this, I believe that the battles that can be won in our government are still the ones that are fought at the state level. As politicians try to gauge which way the political winds are blowing, they are going to back certain bills now while kicking others down the road. Perhaps Governor Hochul felt that she had used up her political capital on congestion pricing and banning mobile phones in schools. Maybe her rationale for not backing the Freedom to Read Bill was that people allegedly do not read anymore. Whatever the reason, the fact remains that we, the constituents, have the power to dictate what our leaders’ priorities should be. If Hochul hears from us in droves, and we tell her that Freedom to Read is crucial, she will pass the bill. If she does not hear from us, she will continue to ignore us. It’s that simple.
Knowing that the Freedom to Read Bill took a couple of years to reach the governor’s desk, it’s crucial that we work toward getting the bill reinstated right now. If you sit on your hands and do nothing to influence the governor’s pen, get used to losing. Those who simply complain about the state of the country but do nothing about it need to activate themselves and pitch in with those who are doing something about it. Only then will we be able to accomplish the signing of this bill.
If you are an employer, and you see this call to action, set aside thirty minutes for everyone in your employ to write letters en masse. What is more critical than safeguarding the industry that pays your bills? If you are a publisher or literary agency, email the creators of your books and let them know that the Freedom to Read Bill was vetoed. If you are a bookseller, do the same but with your customers. Tell them to write to the governor, voicing their displeasure and telling her how her decision has impacted their lives. Someone who worked in an elected official’s office once shared with me that as few as 2,000 letters can get an issue included on a candidate’s agenda. This is not a high bar to reach and even surpass by a wide margin in a state as populous as New York.
Here’s an idea: Let’s make Monday, March 2, 2026, “Contact the Governor Day.” Coincidentally, March 2 is also Read Across America Day, so let’s all do something tangible to protect reading for young readers.
Tell Governor Hochul how incensed you are that New York City, the home of book publishing, does not have a Freedom to Read Bill because of her decision. Ask her, “What is the point of having democratic governance in a deep blue state if you are unwilling to pass a bill that protects our children from censorship?” Tell her how her veto shows a grotesque lack of vision. Tell her how her leadership pales in comparison to that of our neighboring states, New Jersey and Connecticut, which have passed Freedom to Read Bills*. End your missive with a promise: if she fails to pass a Freedom to Read Bill before the election** or at the very least go on record that she will pass the bill soon after she is reelected, then you will vote for Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado, who is running to oppose her***. Top it off by cc’ing State Senator Rachel May and Mayor Zohran Mamdani so they are aware of where your priorities lie and can apply political pressure from within.
We who work in the service of books and children must strategically exercise our collective voice and make it heard. We are a community that values the power of words. If we act as a unified force, we can force Governor Hochul to earn our vote.
In solidarity,
Jason Low
Publisher/Co-owner, Lee & Low Books
*As of this writing, there are just nine states that have passed a Freedom to Read Bill: California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington.
**Governor Hochul is up for reelection on November 3, 2026.
***Obviously, it is inappropriate for me to tell you who to vote for, but Governor Hochul doesn’t know that you won’t vote for her unless you suggest it—doubt can be persuasive! She might think: “Did I underestimate this bill? Is it worth losing votes over this?”
Note: If this call to action works, this plan can be co-opted to lobby any governor, whose state does not have a Freedom to Read Bill. Join us on Monday, March 2, 2026, for “Contact the Governor Day”!
Matt Sutherland
