Since the attempted coup of 2020, American elections and our democracy itself have been under assault in a way we have not seen in over a century—if ever.
State Democracy Defenders Action brings together an all-star team of experts with a proven record of success against this new autocratic threat to our elections and our democracy itself. We help fill three key gaps in the pro-democracy, anti-election sabotage ecosystem.
State Democracy Defenders Action goes on offense against democracy deniers who break the law, including through our intensive support for public understanding of criminal prosecutions.
State Democracy Defenders Action works with national, state and local allies across the country to respond to the new threat of election sabotage, helping safeguard the foundation of our democracy–free and fair elections–in real-time.
State Democracy Defenders Action helps shape the long-term strategy to defeat election denial and its logical outgrowth: American autocracy, starting with preparing for a vigorous response to whatever 2025–and beyond–may bring.
State Democracy Defenders Action brings together a bipartisan all-star team of experts in safeguarding democracy. We fill three key gaps in the fight against election sabotage and autocracy:
➢ We go on offense against democracy deniers who break the law, including through our innovative program of outside public support for criminal prosecutions.
➢ We work with national, state and local allies across the country to defend the foundation of our democracy–free and fair elections.
➢ We help shape the long-term strategy to defeat autocracy in 2025–and beyond.
President-elect Donald Trump has said he will be a “dictator on day one.” Our American Autocracy Threat Tracker comprehensively catalogs all of Trump’s and his allies’ Project 2025 and other specific plans and promises. We also catalog potential bipartisan solutions to address the threat both now and should it come to pass in 2025. The full Threat Tracker is updated regularly.
We convened political and thought leaders from across the ideological spectrum and hundreds of Americans for a summit: Autocracy in America – A Warning and Response. This was a unifying call to action and a moment for hope. Watch the panel discussions.
Coming out of the conference, co-hosts, partners and others have signed on to 10 principles that guide our shared cross-partisan alternative vision of where we want to take our country in 2025 and beyond. View the Freedom 2025 – 10 Principles.
Latest News
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Bipartisan Coalition Backs Complaint Against Musk’s PAC for Violating WI Campaign Finance Laws
State Democracy Defenders Action and Principles First Support Complaint by Wisconsin Citizen Against Elon Musk’s “Building America’s Future” for Violating Wisconsin Campaign Finance Law. More
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Ethics Experts Sound the Alarm on Patel’s Qatar Connection
State Democracy Defenders Action sent a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding FBI nominee Kash Patel’s recently revealed financial relationship with the government of Qatar. More
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Two Watchdogs Were Rebuffed From Joining Trump’s Cost-Cutting Effort
Norman Eisen and Virginia Canter’s bid to join DOGE is rebuffed by incoming administration. More
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State Democracy Defenders Action Urges Congress To Reject Extreme Cabinet Nominees
SDDA joins coalition of pro-democracy organizations urging Congress and members of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to reject the nomination of Russell Vought for Director of the Office of Management and Budget. More
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Statement from Norm Eisen on Release of Special Counsel Report on January 6th Case
Norm Eisen releases a statement on the Special Counsel’s final report by the Department of Justice on Trump’s Jan. 6 case. More
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State Democracy Defenders Action Denounces Reintroduction of “SAVE ACT”
State Democracy Defenders Action Policy Director Gabe Lezra released a statement denouncing a policy aimed at restricting voting access. More
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People
State Democracy Defenders Action’s (SDDA) unique value-add is our people and our proven strategic approach to solving the threat of election sabotage and democratic backsliding. SDDA is led by:
Ambassador Norm Eisen (ret.)
Co-founder and Board Member
Co-founder of States United and CREW, Ambassador Norman Eisen (ret.) also served as special counsel to the… More
Susan Corke
Executive Director
Susan is the Managing Director of SDDA and SDDF. For two decades she has served in senior pro-democracy leadership roles at the… More
Bill Kristol
Board Member
Bill Kristol is the founding director of Defending Democracy Together, an advocacy organization dedicated to defending America’s democratic…
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Brian Frosh
Board Member
Brian Frosh served as Maryland’s 46th Attorney General from 2015 to 2023. During his two terms as Attorney General… More
Esosa Osa
Board Member
Esosa Osa is the Founder and CEO of Onyx Impact, an organization created to combat disinformation targeting Black communities… More
Rahna Epting
Board Member
Rahna Epting is the Executive Director of MoveOn, a member-led grassroots progressive organization working to make this country a place where everyone can thrive… More