Welcome to another quarterly update for you, our American Promise leadership community of investors, super-volunteers, and partners. This one is packed.
We just celebrated Hope in an Age of Polarization, our sixth National Citizens Leadership Conference. The theme of our first one in 2016 was Together We Win. Thanks to you, both of these are true. The For Our Freedom Amendment is coming faster than many people realize, as execution of our tipping point strategy accelerates.
Spread the word. I encourage you to read through the updates below, and share the news with your family, friends, and networks. The For Our Freedom movement is for every American, and just about everyone is glad to find out what we’re doing and to join the effort when they do.
Thank you again. I hope to see you this summer.Best wishes, Jeff
This quarter, we welcomed Anastasia Khoo to the American Promise leadership team. Anastasia has joined American Promise as President, reporting directly to Jeff Clements, American Promise co-founder and CEO. Anastasia is responsible for overall day-to-day execution through a phase of rapid expansion of the successful “ready to ratify strategy.” This strategy has generated support from three out of four Americans, Ready to Ratify wins in 22 states, and hundreds of supporters in Congress. More than 141,000,000 Americans live in states that have formally called on Congress to pass our Constitutional Amendment now.
As our big constitutional solution takes off, the rapid growth of our organization continues, and the opportunity for powerful national and state-based communications has arrived, we are thrilled to have Anastasia join our leadership team. She is a leader who gets things done, as she has proved in two decades advancing solutions to some of the world’s most challenging and cross-partisan issues.
Previously, Anastasia served as Chief of Staff, Senior Advisor and Chief Marketing Officer for Conservation International. During her tenure, the organization doubled in size and scale to a $300M, 1700-employee global NGO. Before that, Anastasia led the winning communications strategies for the Human Rights Campaign that included the record-breaking “red equal sign” campaign on Meta, and effective marketing strategies behind three U.S. Supreme Court cases, federal legislation ranging from the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” to the introduction of the Equality Act, five election cycles and many other media moments that have helped change the course of American history.
Anastasia lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband and son.
Connecting Americans across states, and across political and other differences, so we can learn, celebrate, and lead together, is a key part of the American Promise plan. So is the way we leverage wins and action in the states to earn votes in Congress. We do that in many ways, including our core program of the National Citizen Leadership Conference & Citizen Lobby Day in Washington, D.C. We’re just back from our sixth annual NCLC, Hope in an Age of Polarization.
Supporters, volunteers, American Promise Board and Advisory Council members, reform leaders, partner organizations, and elected officials from all across the country and the political spectrum gathered to strengthen our cross-partisan movement for the For Our Freedom Amendment. The sold out conference welcomed 175 attendees from 31 states across the country.
Programs focused on bridging divides, cutting edge communications, lobbying with the pros, and connecting, inspiring and empowering a new generation of young Americans to lead.
We recognized leadership in Congress with awards to Senator Josh Hawley (Missouri), Congressmen Dean Phillips (Minnesota) and Jared Golden (Maine). And we recognized Citizen Leadership among our fantastic volunteers: Ann Drumm (Texas), Dr. Marie Henselder-Kimmel (New Jersey), John Stroup and Alan Jennings (Pennsylvania), Vicki Barnes (Minnesota), Hank Mayers (Michigan) and Nancy Morgan (Virginia).
We thank all of our Speakers:
The American Promise Young Americans Network was well represented. 20 high school and college students attended the conference and participated in lobby day meetings thanks to a robust scholarship program made possible by American Promise supporters. These exceptional young people seized the opportunity to connect with other students from across the country, become strong advocates for the For Our Freedom Amendment, and make their voices heard in meetings with their elected officials. They return to their homes and schools as new leaders in our growing movement.
American Promise staff and volunteers had our most successful cross-partisan Citizen Lobby Day yet, meeting with over 100 congressional offices on Capitol Hill. Successful conversations were had across the political spectrum, as we presented the For Our Freedom Amendment and why it is important for members of Congress. With the expertise of our Director of Congressional Affairs, Jim Dornan, we ensured that each meeting was well-coordinated and tailored to the specific Member of Congress.
On the eve of the conference, we hosted a dinner with members of our leadership community—American Promise Board Members, National Advisory Council Members, funding partners, volunteer leaders, and reform allies. The dinner is always a special event for this group, as we come together to amplify our momentum toward ratifying the For Our Freedom Amendment. We heard from: Leo Sprecher, President, Budd Foods; Sen. Rick Bennett, Maine State Senator; Rep. Ken Chestek, Wyoming State Representative; and American Promise Board Members Christian Nolen and Debra Winger. It was so great to see so many of you who attended, as we kicked off the week with great conversation and inspiring speakers.
Our May installment of The Leadership Series featured a riveting conversation about how political spending impacts businesses. We were joined by Maureen Kline, Pirelli Tire VP of Public Affairs and Sustainability North America, Michael Donnelly, IBM Chief Economist, and moderator Jeff Clements. The panel did a fantastic job drawing connections between political spending, our declining global educational competitiveness, and offered potential solutions to some of the pressing issues we face today.
If you missed it, you can watch it using the link below.
Please join us for our next Leadership Series conversation with Hilary Braseth, CEO of OpenSecrets. If you’ve ever wondered who’s really behind the donations to your elected officials, OpenSecrets has the answer. Their award-winning website is dedicated to providing comprehensive data on campaign contributions and lobbying activities and is a major resource for American Promise researchers. Join American Promise CEO Jeff Clements in conversation with Hilary Braseth to discuss the organization’s mission, operations, and the critical role of transparency in political funding.
Jeff and Hilary will delve into the importance of OpenSecrets’ work in an era where the influence of money in politics is more significant than ever. They’ll discuss how the organization collects and presents data, the challenges they face, and the impact of their groundbreaking reporting on public awareness and policy-making.
Sign Up for The Leadership Series.
The story of American Promise fundraising mimics its mission: audacious, bold and built on a carefully constructed strategy. As we pile up wins in the states and generate momentum at the federal level, we see similar success with our development efforts as Americans choose to invest in the shared vision of a renewed democracy and a legacy of a representative Republic.
After raising an initial $7M for our proof of concept phase, we launched an ambitious $20M campaign. We are nearing the finish line having raised 88% of our goal and are on target to complete this raise in September. In June alone we have raised almost $1.4M dollars.
We are so grateful for the support of our longstanding group of donors who have remained confident in our focus, execution and outcomes. At the same time funders new to American Promise are banding together to support American Promise including those providing matching funds to help us cross the finish line. Stay tuned for a summer announcement about that exciting challenge opportunity.
Among these fundraising leaders are our Ambassadors, a group of funders and allies dedicated to expanding our network and introducing others to the American Promise movement. Efforts include hosting and inviting guests to small gatherings. These events are the ‘secret sauce’ to our network development and allow us to create a bigger national footprint for American Promise, bringing in more dedicated funders to help us reach our ambitious goals.
This summer/early fall, American Promise Ambassadors are planning to host events in:
We welcome conversations about investments and introductions.
Special thanks to the chair of the Ambassador Program, American Promise Board Member Leila Blodgett, and all ambassadors for opening your homes and providing introductions as we expand to meet the urgent need of limiting the influence of money in politics.
Every winning constitutional strategy works through the States with winning campaigns, and leverages those wins for the necessary ⅔ vote in Congress. So does ours.
Thanks to your commitment to American Promise, we’re expanding and winning in our key states and Congressional districts.
On June 13, 2024, our resolution calling on Congress to pass the For Our Freedom Amendment to allow states and Congress to set reasonable limits on campaign spending, passed in the Pennsylvania House with broad bipartisan support, 113-88.
The resolution, backed by both Democrats and Republicans, puts Pennsylvania in support of the For Our Freedom Amendment and calls on Congress to vote it out and return it to the States for ratification. This cross-partisan victory came after American Promise volunteers, led by our Director of State Campaigns, Julia Brown, and Pennsylvania State Manager, Matt Powell, organized support in the Keystone State for many months, carefully building communications and effective cross-partisan advocacy, culminating with a press conference & lobby day in Harrisburg to secure key State Representatives and Senators.
In the Pennsylvania Senate, we also have cross-partisan support for the resolution, and we are pushing for a vote later this year. Pennsylvania is making its bid to be the 23rd state to pass a resolution in support of the For Our Freedom Amendment.
“81% [of Pennsylvania voters] support a constitutional amendment to change this state of affairs. Legislators in Harrisburg should join their constituents and the 22 other states that support the For Our Freedom Amendment by passing the resolution in favor.” – Hon. Jim Gerlach, former U.S. Representative (RealClear Pennsylvania)
The cross-partisan support for the amendment was highlighted by TJ Rooney, former chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, and Alan Novak, former chair of the Pennsylvania GOP. The two explain in an op-ed in PoliticsPA that this is a necessary solution to money in politics for everyone, regardless of political affiliation.
“Without the distraction of campaign cash, we can disagree, compromise, and work together on the issues that matter most to Pennsylvanians. Everyone will benefit from this change.”
Volunteer John Stroup is a driving force of our progress in Pennsylvania; John has set up a number of meetings with Pennsylvania lawmakers in Western PA, and has been writing numerous Letters to the Editor that have been published in support of and spreading awareness of the For Our Freedom Amendment.
“This Amendment is important to give the voters the biggest voice in our elections.” – John Stroup
American Promise made a strong impact at the Maine Republican Convention where we spoke with hundreds of Maine voters about the issue of dark money in American politics. We heard from dozens of Mainers about their concern with out-of-control election spending in Maine and around the country. People are tired of out-of-state elites dominating our political process for their own benefit while silencing the voices of Maine citizens.
Fortunately, American Promise has a solution – the For Our Freedom Amendment. Attendees were eager to learn more and sign on in support. Over the course of two days:
Volunteer Phil Steele continues to be a key contributor to our efforts in Maine. He helped lead the Protect Maine Elections campaign to a resounding 86% victory in November, and this summer Phil is volunteering his home for those who need somewhere to stay as we attend nearby events and conferences and work to garner support among Mainers.
The Mountain West has been in the lead for supporting the For Our Freedom Amendment, with Montana and Colorado both among the 22 states already in favor. Hundreds of volunteers and tens of thousands of Wyoming citizens have been pushing for a Wyoming amendment resolution for several years. Thanks to you, we can help them succeed, and recently won a majority of the Wyoming House of Representatives! Thanks to the investments of our dedicated leadership community, we added an experienced government affairs team to lead our hardworking group of volunteers in Wyoming, and capitalize on the growing momentum. Special thanks to early American Promise volunteer and now Wyoming Representative Ken Chestek for his leadership in the Equality state.
“So, we’re hopeful that the senators and representatives of Wyoming and the United States can recognize this critical oversight in policy, and remedy dark money and anonymous speech once and for all. The survival of democracy depends on updated laws to meet our shared needs for the future.” Jackson Hole News & Guide Editorial Board
State Representatives in Wyoming and Wisconsin are calling on their fellow legislators to pledge support for the For Our Freedom Amendment. Rep. Andrew Byron of Wyoming and Rep. Donna M. Rozar of Wisconsin detailed in a recent op-ed in RealClearPolitics the responsibility they have to combat the influence of money in politics.
“The stakes are high, and our constituents are counting on us.”
Earlier this year, we put our team on the ground in Arizona, and launched the state effort with one of our Freedom is Brewing events in Phoenix. Now, our volunteer base in Arizona is growing, with super volunteers like Selina Cardenas stepping up to help spread the word about American Promise and the For Our Freedom Amendment to Arizonans who want their voices heard. Selina is a staunch defender of American freedoms and has dedicated herself to mobilization for candidates and causes she believes in, such as this one.
We look forward to expanding our base in Arizona this summer, as Arizona State Manager Tim Castro and Arizona Field Organizer Coral Castro continue building connections with volunteers, organizations, and elected officials in the state.
Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes joined us at the National Citizen Leadership Conference:
“There is no other solution to enacting meaningful and lasting reform without a constitutional amendment… That is why I support constitutional reform through the For Our Freedom Amendment… Simply stated: It will put ‘we the people’ first. ” – Secretary of State Adrian Fontes
American Promise Wisconsin State Manager Alan LaPolice and Board Member Alex Renard continue to secure meetings with legislators in Wisconsin, as we work to strengthen support of the For Our Freedom Amendment in the state.
Volunteers like Judy Nagel are leading the way for the continued growth of our business network. Our network strategy is key to our growth and allows us to work with different communities, such as business and civic networks, to make sure all voices are heard. She has been assisting in rotary presentations in Wisconsin and is a national leader in training others to gain access and present to civic clubs across the country, to expand our business network and broaden our footprint.
Led by American Promise Political Manager, Matt Howerton, and super volunteer Ann Drumm, we are growing support in the Lone Star State! Matt led a prominent American Promise presence at the 2024 Republican Party of Texas State Convention, connecting with Texan Republicans and building For Our Freedom Amendment support. We secured over a dozen new volunteers at the convention and had conversations with over a hundred citizens, organization leaders, and elected officials.
Just one week after our record-breaking Lobby Day, American Promise staff were back in Washington, D.C., to attend a conference sponsored by the Federalist Society. During the conference, multiple conservative scholars and practitioners raised serious questions about whether the Supreme Court’s campaign finance and corporate rights decisions (such as Citizens United) were consistent with the Founders’ original intent. John Ehrett, Chief Counsel to U.S. Senator Josh Hawley, articulated the view that the Founders likely would have viewed campaign finance regulations as consistent with an originalist understanding of the First Amendment. Other speakers noted that the Founders were deeply concerned about systemic corruption and would have been alarmed by crony capitalism and other forms of concentrated private power interfering with representative self-government. As the American Promise legal network grows, we expect growing support on the right and left among constitutional and other lawyers for the For Our Freedom Amendment.
The American Promise Candidate Pledge is a volunteer-led effort to get candidates and elected officials at all levels of government to pledge on the record that they will use their office to advance the For Our Freedom Amendment.
As our dedicated state managers and volunteers continue their hard work in the states, we can create more connections and build a bigger network of candidates committed to the For Our Freedom Amendment
We have more than tripled the number of candidate pledges compared to this point last year, and more candidates have signed the pledge already in 2024 than in the previous three years combined.
American Promise Research Associate Connor Flotten compiles biweekly reports on real stories of how money in politics is affecting people and campaigns across the country, at the local, state, and federal levels. Here are some highlights from this quarter’s Campaign Finance Roundups:
New ‘dark money’ group spent big on Phil Lyman’s campaign for Utah governor
A dark money group has spent $300k on Republican Phil Lyman’s campaign, appearing to be funneling money from Lyman’s family while hiding the true source. Lyman commented that donors “try to have a little anonymity,” hence the undisclosed source.
Ohio’s Senate race ranks among top most expensive contests of 2024
Ohio’s Senate race is the third most expensive congressional race this cycle, attracting more outside spending than any other congressional race. This includes $9 million of outside spending on ads opposing Republican Bernie Moreno.
Soros nonprofit drops massive 8-figure donation to super PAC bankrolling left-wing groups
A nonprofit founded by George Soros gave $21 million to Democracy PAC; the money was then sent to top Democratic committees and groups.
Democrats Are Meddling in Republican Primaries
Democratic groups are spending on ads promoting conservatives they believe to be easier to beat out in the general election. For example, a Democratic group recently spent $2.7 million on ads for a conservative Senate candidate in Ohio.
Chinese billionaire pleads guilty to straw donor scheme in New York and Rhode Island
A Chinese billionaire pleaded guilty to illegally funneling money to a New York City official, a U.S. House member, and a congressional candidate, using straw donors. As part of this scheme, he had people make campaign donations, which he reimbursed them for, circumventing campaign finance laws.
Subscribe to the biweekly Campaign Finance Roundup to stay in the know on stories like these, that show why an urgent constitutional solution to unchecked money in politics is necessary.
SUBSCRIBE HERE https://americanpromise.net/campaign-finance-roundup/
Want to get you or someone you know more involved in the important work of American Promise?
I want to help in advocacy work
Volunteer opportunities include everything from talking with neighbors and colleagues to writing letters to the editor and gathering pledges from elected officials.
I want to invest in the solution
Thanks to everyone who has made a recent contribution and multi-year investment commitment so we can ensure we have the growth capital we need to win. If you haven’t made that decision yet, and would like to talk with us about doing so, please reach out to Liz Harvey, Chief Development Officer, at LizH@americanpromise.net.
I want to be an American Promise Ambassador
Join our campaign leadership as we build a network of champions volunteering to support American Promise and engage a broader community of philanthropists in our efforts to pass the For Our Freedom Amendment. American Promise welcomes the assistance of business and community leaders in markets across the United States to serve as Ambassadors and help attract the funding necessary to capitalize the $20M campaign to pass the For Our Freedom Amendment.
Email lizh@americanpromise.net for more information on how you can get your networks involved in American Promise.
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