The Case for Saranac Lake

Every morning, we wake up to another gut punch. Political chaos. Cultural backsliding. Existential crises. The exhaustion is real. Again and again, the same question echoes in progressive circles: Should we stay?

I get the emails. I hear the conversations. People researching Nova Scotia, Ireland, Portugal—scouring maps for an escape hatch. A way out. A lifeboat.

But what if I told you the solution isn’t escape—it’s reinforcement? Not running, but choosing where to stand your ground? Stay put in places within this country that reflect our values, our vision, and our determination for something better.

For years, Vermont has been the shining example of progressive rural America. In 2024, Kamala Harris secured 63.83% of Vermont’s vote, obliterating Trump’s 32.32%. Bernie Sanders was re-elected to the U.S. Senate in a landslide. This tiny, independent-minded state stood unwavering in the face of national uncertainty.

Vermont has long been a progressive refuge. But it’s not the only one. Across the country, there are pockets of hope, strongholds of justice—places where progressive values don’t just survive, they thrive. Places like Saranac Lake.

Saranac Lake isn’t just a picturesque village nestled in the Adirondacks—it’s a beacon of progress in a sea of conservatism. In 2024, while Franklin and Essex Counties both voted for Trump, Saranac Lake overwhelmingly rejected him:

  • Harrietstown #1: 71.03% for Harris (+44.55% margin)

  • Harrietstown #2: 67.99% for Harris (+38.72% margin)

  • Harrietstown #3: 60.71% for Harris (+22.58% margin)

  • North Elba: 67.63% for Harris (+36.76% margin)

  • St. Armand: 55.97% for Harris (+13.84% margin)

These aren’t just numbers. They’re a statement.

Saranac Lake didn’t waver. It dug in. It stood up. And it said—loudly—that progressive values are alive and well in the North Country.

People think of small towns as conservative strongholds. They assume rural America belongs to the right. That progress lives in cities and nowhere else. Saranac Lake burns that myth to the ground.

This village has long been a place of healing and reinvention. A century ago, people came here seeking a cure for tuberculosis. Today, we are here finding a cure for despair—a place to engage, to make a difference.

Saranac Lake is leading the charge on:

  • Environmental sustainability, with aggressive climate initiatives

  • Community-driven governance, where local elections truly matter

  • A more inclusive and representative future

  • A thriving arts and culture scene, making it a magnet for creatives and visionaries

This is what rural progressivism looks like. This is what’s possible when people stop retreating and start reinforcing.

Stop Running. Start Building.

The dream of progress in America doesn’t have to be elsewhere. It doesn’t require visas or dual citizenship or saying goodbye to the country we’ve fought hard for, and loved hard for.

It requires choosing the right battlefield.

The question isn’t ‘Should I leave?’ The question is: Where will I stand? Where will I fight? Where will I plant my roots and make an impact?

Saranac Lake is the answer. Stay. Fight. Thrive!