Social Security and Medicare

Social Security benefit levels

149 public statements from 2026 candidates · 4 related bills

§1The range of views

Why this matters: Changes to benefits affect the monthly income of retirees, people with disabilities and survivors, and how much the program costs.

Drafted by AI, then checked for neutral wording in a separate AI review. It describes the question and the main positions, not any candidate's view. Facts link to their sources.

How much Social Security pays retirees, people with disabilities and survivors each month, and whether the benefit formula should change.

  1. Increase benefits, for example with larger yearly cost-of-living raises
  2. Keep the current benefit formula
  3. Slow benefit growth for higher earners or future retirees

These options describe policies, not people. The order is not a ranking.

§2What candidates have said

Why this matters: Statements candidates made publicly, summarized in plain words with a link to where they said it. Candidates who haven't spoken publicly on this issue aren't listed.

Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.

Increase benefits, for example with larger yearly cost-of-living raises (23)

  • Terri Sewell AL-7
    Her campaign website says she co-chairs the Expand Social Security Caucus, whose members are committed to protecting and expanding Social Security benefits.1
  • Ro Khanna CA-17
    His campaign website says he supports raising Social Security benefits and improving cost-of-living adjustments, including through the Social Security 2100 Act, which he cosponsors.2
  • Salud Carbajal CA-24
    His campaign website says Social Security benefits should be increased and that he opposes privatizing Social Security.3
  • Brittany Pettersen CO-7
    Her campaign website says she will defend Social Security and work to increase benefits to keep up with rising costs.4
  • Angie Nixon FL Senate special
    Her campaign website says she supports protecting Social Security and expanding its benefits rather than cutting them.5
  • Eric Yonce FL-6
    His campaign website says the benefits working people earn must stay strong for today's seniors and for future generations, and calls for stronger cost-of-living adjustments, modernized systems and a crackdown on fraud.6
  • Tony D'Arrigo FL-13
    His campaign website says he will fight to increase Social Security and other entitlement benefits.7
  • Maura Keller GA-3
    Her campaign website says she will demand stronger Social Security payments that keep pace with inflation.8
  • Patty Garcia IL-4
    Her campaign website says she opposes reducing funds for Medicare and Social Security or privatizing them, and supports improving Social Security benefits to help seniors cope with rising expenses.9
  • Daniel Biss IL-9
    His campaign website says he will champion a bill that would increase Social Security benefits by $200 a month.10
  • Nikki Budzinski IL-13
    Her campaign website says the current 2.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment is not enough and that she will continue fighting to pass the Boosting Benefits and COLAs for Seniors Act, and that she will oppose any changes that undercut Social Security and Medicare.11
  • Eric Sorensen IL-17
    His campaign website says he opposes any legislation that privatizes or cuts Social Security and Medicare, and supports efforts to increase Social Security benefits for seniors and make the program solvent for future generations.12
  • André Carson IN-7
    His campaign website says he supports expanding Social Security benefits for all current and future retirees, and has cosponsored legislation for a more accurate cost-of-living formula that keeps benefits in step with inflation.13
  • Lauren Reinhold KS-1
    Her campaign website says her Social Security plan would raise the revenue to increase monthly benefits by $200 for all current and new retirees and to pay full benefits for at least the next 75 years.14
  • Richard E. Neal MA-1
    His campaign website says he has worked to protect and improve Social Security, including by cosponsoring legislation and holding hearings on increasing benefit amounts.15
  • Nadia Donya Milleron MA-1
    Her campaign website says she will fight to bring Social Security benefits up to today's standard of living and cost of living.16,17
  • Stephen F. Lynch MA-8
    His campaign website's Supporting Our Seniors page says he will keep opposing any budget that would cut Social Security or Medicare, that he has fought chained CPI, which it says would shrink seniors' cost-of-living increases over time, and that he co-sponsored the Social Security 2100 Act, which it says would raise benefits.18
  • Debbie Dingell MI-6
    Her campaign website says she cosponsors the Social Security 2100 Act, which it says increases Social Security benefits while making the system financially strong.19
  • Sam Forstag MT-1
    His campaign website says he would support legislation such as the Social Security Expansion Act, which it says would raise seniors' benefits by an average of $2,400 a year while leaving the program solvent.20
  • Michael Dublin NC Senate
    His platform opposes any cuts to Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid and supports substantially increasing their benefits.21
  • Adam Hamawy NJ-12
    His campaign website says he supports protecting and expanding Medicare and Social Security benefits.22
  • Winston Jordan NJ-12
    His policy platform website lists doubling Social Security payments to guarantee a livable retirement income.23
  • Teresa Leger Fernandez NM-3
    Her campaign website says Social Security and Medicare benefits should be protected and expanded, and that she is a cosponsor of legislation to increase Social Security benefits and the cost-of-living adjustment and to improve the program’s solvency.24

Slow benefit growth for higher earners or future retirees (4)

  • Robert People FL-15
    His Social Security plan proposes that monthly income above the 70th percentile add to a higher earner's benefit at a lower rate, phased in for new enrollees, while lower-income recipients keep the same benefits.25
  • Michael Bridgford IA-1
    His campaign website says he will support a compromise that slows the growth of future benefit formulas only for the top 5% of future retirees, whom it describes as ultra-wealthy, while fully protecting benefits for everyone else.26
  • Sarah Zabel ID-1
    Her Social Security plan says she supports a Congressional Budget Office option, either a new bend point in the benefit formula for earners above the 70th percentile or a more progressive formula, that reduces benefit growth for higher earners.27
  • Christina Bertrand Hines MI-10
    Her Social Security topic page says she will reject cuts to Social Security, disability or survivor benefits for working and middle-class Americans and supports capping cost-of-living increases for the top 25% of beneficiaries while keeping full inflation protection for the rest.28

Statements that don't match one option (122)

  • Amanda N. Pusczek AL-4
    Her campaign website says future cost-of-living raises for Social Security, SSI and veterans' disability benefits should be based on an inflation index for older Americans that gives more weight to health care and utility costs.29
  • Steve G. Parsons AR-1
    His campaign website calls Social Security a failed program but says Congress has an ethical duty to work harder to avoid cutting retirement benefits, and favors options such as investing the trust fund in index funds, expanding personal retirement accounts and letting people voluntarily leave the system, rather than raising taxes.30,31
  • Bobby Wilson AR-3
    His campaign website says he would protect current retirees who depend on Social Security and make Congress vote in public on options for younger workers before benefit cuts take effect in 2032 under current law.32,33
  • Eric Jones CA-4
    His campaign website says he will not vote to cut earned Social Security benefits or change the retirement age for people at or near retirement, and would base yearly cost-of-living raises on a measure weighted to what seniors buy.34,35
  • Kevin Kiley CA-6
    His campaign website lists the Social Security Fairness Act, which repeals rules that reduced Social Security benefits for some people with pensions from jobs not covered by Social Security, among the bills he has sponsored or cosponsored.36
  • Jeff Frese CA-10
    His campaign website says Social Security and Medicare benefits should not be cut, and that part of the Social Security trust fund should be invested in the S&P 500.37
  • Melissa Hernandez CA-14
    Her campaign website says she would protect Social Security and Medicare from cuts.38
  • Aisha Wahab CA-14
    Her campaign website says she would protect Social Security from privatization and cuts and strengthen benefits for seniors, people with disabilities, veterans and children.39,40
  • Randy Villegas CA-22
    His campaign website says Social Security must be protected because inflation is putting seniors on fixed incomes at risk of poverty.41
  • Raul Ruiz CA-25
    His campaign website says he will keep working to protect and expand Medicare and Social Security and opposes any cuts to them.42,43
  • Angélica María Dueñas CA-29
    Her campaign website opposes cuts to Social Security benefits.44,45
  • Gil Cisneros CA-31
    His campaign website says he will oppose any attempt to cut or privatize Social Security or Medicare.46
  • Mike Cargile CA-35
    His campaign website says a surviving spouse should keep receiving Social Security benefits for 24 months after a spouse dies.47
  • Samantha Mota CA-37
    Her campaign website says she would support the Social Security Expansion bill to protect the benefits workers have earned.48
  • Brian Burley CA-42
    A platform document on his campaign website proposes laws barring Congress from spending Social Security savings on other expenses and says promises to people who paid into the system must be kept.49
  • Cristian Morales CA-43
    His campaign website's platform says he would protect Social Security and Medicare for current and future retirees and protect the benefits Americans have earned.50
  • Nanette Diaz Barragan CA-44
    Her campaign website says she is fighting to protect Social Security and Medicare from cuts, and its 2016 Issues page says the programs should be strengthened and expanded, with everyone paying their fair share.51,52
  • Derek Tran CA-45
    His campaign website says he will fight efforts to cut Social Security and Medicare.53
  • Chuong V. Vo CA-45
    His campaign website says he would protect Social Security and Medicare for today's seniors and protect earned benefits while cracking down on fraud and abuse to keep the programs solvent.54
  • David Pan CA-46
    His campaign website says his plan would guarantee existing Social Security and Medicare benefits for everyone 37 and older, while younger people would instead receive $16,000 a year right away under a new system.55
  • Marni von Wilpert CA-48
    Her campaign website says she would protect Social Security, oppose any cuts or privatization, and make sure the program is strengthened for current and future retirees.56
  • Armen Kurdian CA-49
    His campaign website says he would protect Medicare and Social Security.57
  • Steve Cohen CA-50
    His campaign website says he will defend Social Security and Medicare from cuts.58
  • Manny Rutinel CO-8
    His campaign website says he would protect and strengthen Social Security, make the wealthy pay their fair share, and oppose any cut to benefits for current or future recipients.59
  • Luke Bronin CT-1
    His campaign website says he will work to make sure Social Security is there for people receiving it now and for those paying into it now.60
  • Rosa L. DeLauro CT-3
    Her campaign website calls Social Security and Medicare earned benefits and says she will protect them.61,62
  • Jim Himes CT-4
    His campaign website says he opposes any effort to privatize Social Security and will keep working to put it on a path to long-term stability.63
  • Gay Valimont FL-1
    Her campaign website says she opposes any cuts to Social Security and Medicare and opposes privatizing them.64
  • Tyler L. Davis FL-1
    Davis's campaign website supports protecting Social Security benefits for current retirees and people nearing retirement, and exploring ways to improve the long-term investment returns of the Social Security trust fund.65
  • LaShonda "L.J." Holloway FL-4
    Her campaign website says Social Security must be protected and strengthened so seniors and people with disabilities can retire with dignity and financial security.66
  • Mike Sell FL-4
    His campaign's platform calls for funding Social Security for 75 years with no cuts and no privatization.67
  • Rachel Grage FL-5
    Her campaign website says she would protect the benefits seniors have earned from Medicare and Social Security and ensure the programs stay solvent for future generations.68
  • Randy Fine FL-6
    His campaign website lists protecting Social Security and Medicare among his priorities.69
  • Bale Dalton FL-7
    His campaign website says Social Security and Medicare should be protected for generations to come.70
  • Darren Soto FL-9
    His campaign website says he is fighting to protect Social Security for today's seniors and future generations and is ready to act to stop the roughly 25% cut in payments it says will come in 2032 if Congress does nothing.71
  • Joe Strada FL-11
    His campaign website says Social Security and Medicare should be protected, keeping the promises made to seniors and their earned benefits.72
  • James Pericola FL-11
    His campaign website says he opposes any cuts to or privatization of Social Security and Medicare.73
  • Ralph Groves FL-11
    His campaign website says he will uphold Social Security and Medicare.74
  • Kimberly Overman FL-12
    Her campaign platform says she opposes cutting earned Social Security benefits and privatizing Social Security.75
  • Leela Gray FL-13
    Her campaign website says she will always work to protect and strengthen Social Security and Medicare.76,77
  • Matthew Montavon FL-17
    His campaign website says Social Security should use a Consumer Price Index for the Elderly so that benefits keep up with the true cost of living.78
  • Michael J. Quirk FL-17
    His campaign website says Social Security benefits should not be cut for people who are retired or close to retiring.79
  • Brian Mast FL-21
    His campaign website says he does not support cutting benefits for current retirees or anyone nearing retirement and wants to address the solvency of Social Security and Medicare in a bipartisan way.80
  • James T. Martin FL-21
    His campaign website says he would never vote for cuts to Social Security, Medicare or veterans' benefits.81
  • Nicole Locklin FL-26
    Her campaign website says she will fight for a more accurate cost-of-living adjustment for seniors and for improved benefits for low-income seniors and widows.82
  • Jon Ossoff GA Senate
    His campaign website says he has fought to protect Social Security and Medicare and to strengthen Social Security benefits for public servants.83
  • Matt Day GA-2
    His campaign website’s American Elder Bill would direct half of the revenue from removing the payroll tax cap toward benefit increases for low-income seniors.84
  • Tony Kozycki GA-7
    His campaign website says he will oppose attempts to cut Social Security benefits or means-test them.85
  • Shawn Harris GA-14
    His campaign website says he would update the Social Security cost-of-living formula to reflect modern-day costs and index it to keep up with inflation.86
  • Ashley Hinson IA Senate
    Her campaign website says she would defend Social Security and Medicare benefits while rooting out waste, fraud and abuse in those programs.87
  • Zach Nunn IA-3
    His campaign website's page on seniors says he is committed to protecting Social Security and Medicare, and that he introduced bipartisan legislation to keep Medicare, Social Security and veterans benefits from being used as bargaining chips in negotiations.88
  • Sarah Trone Garriott IA-3
    Her campaign website says she will never support cuts to or privatization of Social Security and Medicare, and will fight to strengthen both programs.89
  • Dave Dawson IA-4
    His campaign website says he opposes any cut, privatization scheme or benefit reduction to Social Security or Medicare, and will fight to ensure annual cost-of-living adjustments keep up with the prices Iowa seniors pay.90
  • Kaylee Peterson ID-1
    Her campaign website says Social Security must be guaranteed for future generations with automatic cost-of-living increases that let seniors retire comfortably.91
  • Delia Ramirez IL-3
    Her campaign website says programs including Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare must be protected and expanded.92
  • Angel Oakley IL-3
    Her policy page says she will uphold Social Security and Medicare obligations while developing sustainable reforms for both.93
  • Chris Getty IL-4
    His campaign website says he will protect earned benefits for current retirees and those approaching retirement, protect annual cost-of-living adjustments, and keep Social Security guaranteed rather than replaced with private investment accounts.94
  • Sean Casten IL-6
    His campaign website lists cosponsoring the Social Security 2100 Act to strengthen benefits for current and future generations.95
  • La Shawn K. Ford IL-7
    His campaign website says he will protect and strengthen Social Security against cuts or privatization.96
  • Jeff Walter IL-11
    His campaign website says he will never cut Social Security or Medicare and that seniors' benefits must be protected.97
  • Jamee Decio IN-2
    Her campaign website says she will fight to protect Social Security for the seniors who depend on it.98,99
  • Marlin A. Stutzman IN-3
    His campaign website says Social Security and Medicare can be preserved for the next generation while thoughtful reforms to the entitlement structure reduce the national debt.100
  • Brad A. Meyer IN-9
    His campaign website says Social Security must be protected and that retirees' income should keep up with the real cost of living.101
  • Mikel Wein KY-5
    His campaign website lists the Social Security Expansion Act, which it says increases annual benefits by $2,400 and switches to a more accurate inflation measure for cost-of-living adjustments, among the pending legislation on its Wealth page.102
  • Gerardo Serrano KY-5
    His campaign website says Social Security is a promise that Congress made and must keep, and that he will oppose benefit cuts.103
  • Jay J Bowman KY-6
    His campaign website says its spending cuts would not touch Social Security checks or Medicare coverage, and that existing payroll tax structures would stay intact.104
  • Lauren Jewett LA-1
    Her campaign website says she will protect Social Security from cuts, reject privatization proposals and push for action now so that a fix can be phased in gradually.105
  • Lisa Ballay LA-2
    Her campaign website says she supports maintaining a meaningful safety net and keeping the promises made to people who spent a lifetime paying into Social Security.106
  • John Day LA-3
    His campaign website says he will defend Social Security and Medicare benefits with no cuts to earned benefits, and strengthen the programs for long-term stability.107
  • Tia LeBrun LA-3
    Her campaign website's Key Issues page says Social Security and Medicare are necessary components of seniors' care, that some improvements should be made, and that she is against any cuts to funding that hard-working Americans have invested.108
  • "Matt" Gromlich LA-4
    His campaign website says Social Security is a promise that must be protected and that cuts to the benefits seniors and people with disabilities depend on must be prevented.109
  • Adrian Boafo MD-5
    His campaign website says he would protect Social Security and the benefits seniors have earned and depend on.110
  • April McClain Delaney MD-6
    Her campaign website says she opposes cuts to Social Security and efforts to privatize it.111
  • Moshe Y. Landman MD-6
    His campaign website calls for stopping cuts to Social Security, tying benefits to actual increases in living costs as measured by consumer committees, and opposes privatizing the program.112
  • Susan M. Collins ME Senate
    Her campaign website says she wrote the Social Security Fairness Act, signed into law in 2025, which it says raised benefits for 2.8 million Americans.113
  • LaVeta Davenport MI-1
    The Green Party of Michigan 2026 platform text on her campaign website, which says she fully aligns with it, calls for funding Social Security without benefit cuts.114
  • John Moolenaar MI-2
    His campaign website says he will ensure Social Security and Medicare are preserved.115
  • Richard Sills MI-2
    His campaign website says Social Security has to be fixed within six years.116
  • Hillary Scholten MI-3
    Her campaign website says, in its Social Security and Medicare section, that she opposes efforts to cut or privatize the social safety net.117
  • Tim Walberg MI-5
    His campaign website says he is committed to preserving and strengthening Social Security and Medicare and that he introduced a lockbox bill to keep the money people paid into those programs from being used for other purposes.118,119
  • Kristen McDonald Rivet MI-8
    Her campaign website says she protects Social Security from people seeking to reduce benefits.120
  • Ilhan Omar MN-5
    Its disability page says she wants to strengthen and protect Social Security benefits.121
  • DeVelle L. Jackson MN-5
    It says he opposes cuts to Social Security benefits and supports a long-term solvency plan that protects retirement, survivor and disability benefits.122
  • Erik Osberg MN-7
    It says he will oppose cuts to Social Security benefits.123
  • Tom Schmitz MO-1
    His campaign website says people should be able to opt out of Social Security, that the program should be phased out, and that retirement should move toward full privatization.124,125
  • Fred Wellman MO-2
    His campaign website says he will protect Social Security and Medicare, defend pensions and strengthen retirement benefits.126
  • Trent Kelly MS-1
    His official House website’s Social Security / Medicare page says safeguarding Social Security and Medicare, both for people who receive them now and for future generations, is one of his most important responsibilities, and that changes must be made to keep the programs solvent.127
  • Jeffrey Hulum III MS-4
    His campaign website’s FAQ page describes Social Security and Medicare as benefits people paid into and earned, and says he opposes cutting or privatizing them.128
  • Alani Bankhead MT Senate
    Her campaign website says she would protect Social Security from an automatic cut it says is coming in late 2032, with no benefit cuts and no privatization.129
  • Brian J Miller MT-2
    His campaign website says reversing the One Big Beautiful Bill's negative effects and taking up immigration reform would help Social Security's finances, that a serious conversation is needed about bringing in more funding and possibly reducing some benefits, and that he would make the program's solvency a top priority.130
  • Michael D Eisenhauer MT-2
    His Voter Contract page says he will oppose efforts to balance federal finances by cutting Social Security benefits that seniors have earned.131
  • Don Davis NC-1
    His campaign website's About page says that in Congress he has worked with both parties on efforts to protect Social Security, along with support for veterans and wider access to schools, jobs, infrastructure and health care.132
  • Deborah K. Ross NC-2
    Her campaign retirement page says she is working to strengthen Social Security and will oppose any effort to roll back the benefits seniors need to retire with dignity.133
  • Valerie P. Foushee NC-4
    Her campaign website says Social Security and Medicare are promises made to seniors, and that she will not let cuts to seniors' benefits happen.134
  • Virginia Foxx NC-5
    Her campaign website lists protecting programs such as Social Security and Medicare among the federal priorities that limited funds should go to.135
  • Chuck Hubbard NC-5
    His campaign website says he will vote to safeguard Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security benefits and will fight attacks on those programs.136
  • Jack Codiga NC-12
    His platform page says all welfare programs, including Social Security, should be reformed and phased out.137
  • Alma S. Adams NC-12
    Her campaign website says she will oppose efforts to privatize Social Security or cut off funding for Medicare, and that she will advocate for protecting and funding both programs.138
  • Trygve Hammer ND-AL
    His campaign website lists defending Social Security among his priorities and says he would put North Dakota seniors first and protect their benefits.139,140
  • Helene Neville ND-AL
    Her campaign website says Social Security should be defended and enhanced, and that she backs changes that keep current retirees' benefits safe, shore up the program's long-term funding and have the wealthiest Americans pay a fair share.141
  • Mike Marvin NE Senate
    His campaign website's platform page says Social Security and Medicare should be protected and expanded.142
  • Chuck Conboy NE Senate
    His campaign website says Social Security should be protected for current and future retirees with no cuts to benefits, and that Congress must act before what it calls the 2032 insolvency deadline.143
  • Dan Osborn NE Senate
    His campaign website says he will never vote to cut Social Security or Medicare benefits.144
  • Brinker Harding NE-2
    His campaign website lists protecting Social Security, along with Medicaid and Medicare, for single mothers, veterans, older adults and people with disabilities among his affordability goals.145
  • Denise Powell NE-2
    Her campaign website says she would protect Social Security to secure a dignified retirement for Nebraskans.146
  • Becky Kelly Stille NE-3
    Her campaign website says she wants to protect Social Security and Medicare for seniors who depend on them.147,148
  • Mark Cohen NE-3
    His campaign website says he would vote against any bill that reduces Social Security or Medicare benefits.149
  • Chris Pappas NH Senate
    His campaign website says he will never vote to cut Social Security benefits and opposes privatizing the system.150
  • Donald Norcross NJ-1
    His campaign website, in a section on protecting Social Security and Medicare, says he supports reforms that would make cost-of-living adjustments reflect the rising costs seniors face.151
  • Jeff Van Drew NJ-2
    His campaign website's Wins for South Jersey page says he will not back legislation that reduces Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid benefits for people who qualify and are in the country legally, and it includes a statement from him opposing cuts to those programs unless they are specifically meant to reduce waste, fraud or abuse. It also lists his sponsorship of the Social Security Fairness Act among his accomplishments and says the law ended a policy that had reduced the benefits of certain public employees, including retired police officers and firefighters.152
  • Zack Mullock NJ-2
    The page says he opposes any cuts to Social Security or efforts to privatize it, and that he will work to strengthen the program.153
  • Rachel Peace NJ-4
    Her campaign website says she wants to find solutions to Social Security's projected insolvency and would add her name to the Social Security Expansion Act, which it describes as consolidating existing funds and making benefits more accessible.154
  • Josh Gottheimer NJ-5
    His campaign website's About page says he has fought to protect Social Security and Medicare against attempts to privatize or cut them.155
  • Nelida Pou NJ-9
    Her campaign biography page says that in Congress she is standing up for seniors and for Social Security and Medicare.156
  • Joe Hathaway NJ-11
    His campaign platform says he would preserve Social Security and Medicare so that people already retired or close to retiring receive the benefits they earned, and would strengthen both programs for future retirees, including through reforms aimed at keeping them solvent.157
  • Alan B. Bond NJ-11
    His campaign story on Social Security says current retirees should be protected and the program's long-term finances strengthened through bipartisan work that does not unsettle today's seniors or shift an unfair load onto future generations, and that Americans should find it easier to save for retirement on their own.158
  • Afzal "Bobby" Khan NV-1
    His campaign website says Social Security benefits should reflect real-world costs rather than formulas that understate inflation.159
  • Steven "Chap" St John NV-1
    His campaign website says he would oppose Social Security benefit cuts and work toward a bipartisan plan to strengthen the program's long-term finances without shifting the cost to the seniors who rely on it.160,161
  • Sherrod Brown OH Senate special
    His campaign website says that because of his work, more than 2 million former teachers, bus drivers, police officers, firefighters and other workers now receive full Social Security payments that had been withheld.162
  • N'Kiyla Jasmine Thomas OK Senate
    Her campaign website says she would protect Social Security and disability benefits and end Social Security Administration clawbacks.163
  • Mike Rounds SD Senate
    His campaign website says he supports reforms to keep Social Security and Medicare solvent without cutting benefits.164
  • Rachel Fetty Anderson WV Senate
    Her campaign website says Social Security should be preserved at current levels and kept off-limits to Congress and the president.165

§3Related bills

Why this matters: Bills from 2023–2026 that bear on this issue, with how Congress handled them.