On January 23rd, 150 Virginians, including some members of American Promise, gathered for the second annual Virginia Democracy Day. It was a smashing success, thanks to the leadership of Nancy Morgan and her partners. Concerned citizens from across the political spectrum gathered in Richmond to celebrate and engage in democratic principles, participating in events, discussions, and training. The main focus of the day was promoting transparency and accountability in government, with the hope of fostering both unity and empowerment among everyday Virginians.
The day began with breakfast and training, offering tips for conversing with legislators, followed by a press conference. Participants then visited over 30 legislative offices where they learned about and promoted current and upcoming legislative plans, as well as discussing their concerns about ethics and their desire to see meaningful actions to control corruption and excessive money flowing into Virginian campaigns. Following these meetings, they were introduced to senior legislators in both chambers, and testified in committee in continued support of the For Our Freedom Amendment.
Significantly, 21 Virginia State senators signed onto supporting the For Our Freedom Amendment in Congress. Like many elections across the United States, Virginia is seeing massive increases in spending in political races. It is leaving millions of Virginians feeling more and more disenfranchised, as their representatives and legislation are further distanced from their needs.
Like most states, Virginia has lax rules surrounding political donations, directly leading to an influx of dark money in politics. In fact, in just October of 2023, $46 million was raised for the upcoming election cycle. This mega-spending continuously narrows the political playing field, eliminating more and more potential candidates from running for office due financial limitations.
22 states have now joined American Promise in calling on Congress to pass the For Our Freedom Amendment. Passage will give Americans the right of self-determination by allowing them to regulate their election spending in a way that works for them, not just the ultra-wealthy. If you’d like to help move the needle of change towards a more fair and balanced system for all, sign the Citizen Pledge and join our mailing list.
