To explain it in American terms:
Pennsylvania has just voted in an election for US Congress on the federal level, and voted in the Republicans with huge gains. The Democratic Pennsylvania Governor then calls for an election for the state legislature of Pennsylvania (this can’t be done in the US, but let’s pretend it can) so that the people can elect a new state legislature that more closely aligns with their current position.
A lot actually do, that’s why progress is happening, although not nearly fast enough.
You don’t need to. A lot of people have much shorter commutes. But yes I agree with you, the US is way too suburbanised, and people need to push for more urbanization, 15 minute cities, etc.
There are hundreds of things that we need to change in the fight to be sustainable. This is one of them. Just because it’s not everything doesn’t make it not worthwhile.