After the successes for democracy reforms in the midterm elections, we’re ramping up for major action nationwide in 2019. As we roll out our plans to this community—and welcome your feedback—we wanted to pause and take stock of our wins so far.
Here’s a look at some key numbers American Promise is tracking from 2018—as we prepare for progress in the coming year.
10-year roadmap to win the 28th Amendment: American Promise has a three-pronged strategy to set reasonable spending limits in elections: amplifying actions across the county, building cross-partisan consensus and holding elected officials accountable. Through these efforts, American Promise will build support across the United States and in Congress to pass and ratify the 28th Amendment by 2026.
200,000+ American Promise supporters in 50 states: We’re building broad-based support for the 28th Amendment so that We the People—rather than corporations, special interests or other big-money donors—govern America. You can help us grow our community. Simply encourage your friends to sign up for this newsletter or join one of the growing number of American Promise Associations (more than a dozen have launched this year!).
2019: With 27 new supporters of the American Promise Pledge elected in the recent midterms at all levels of government, we’ll continue this push for accountability and action. At the federal level, next year American Promise will work to build the number of co-sponsors in Congress for the Constitutional amendment from the current 151 to 200 in the House and from 45 to 50 in the Senate. This multi-year plan positions us to achieve the needed two-thirds of votes in Congress to approve an amendment: 290 votes in the House and 67 in the Senate.
2020: To gain ratification of the 28th Amendment in the required 38 states, American Promise looks to build from the current support in 19 states to at least 24 before the next federal elections. We plan to grow with an expanded pledge campaign and state-based volunteer efforts through a growing and robust network of American Promise Associations.
Six states: During last week’s midterm elections, voters in Massachusetts, Missouri, Arizona, North Dakota, Florida and New Mexico approved democracy reform measures that aim to reduce political spending or tighten ethics regulations. These state votes reflect growing frustration with big money in politics—and mobilization of citizen-led, grassroots reform efforts.
71 percent of Massachusetts voters: Nearly three-quarters of Massachusetts voters approved Ballot Question 2, which will create the first state-based, nonpartisan citizen commission to advance a Constitutional amendment that will secure government of the people.
Zero: The number of towns in Massachusetts that voted against Ballot Question 2.
