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 in real-time the foundation of our democracy–free and fair elections.
- We help shape the long-term strategy to defeat autocracy in 2025–and beyond.
Join us at our July 2024 conference Autocracy in America – A Warning and Response.
Events, News and Resources
Event
Autocracy in America – A Warning and Response
To be held in Manhattan at New York University on July 23, this bipartisan conference will sound the alarm on this rising threat in the United States—and advance both short- and long-term responses. More
In the News
June 13, 2024
Amb. Norm Eisen Testifies Before the House Judiciary Committee Hearing on the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office
Ambassador Eisen explains why Trump’s New York conviction for 2016 election interference and cover up matters as he limbers up to do the same thing in 2024 and, if he wins, beyond. More
Resource
Autocracy Threat Tracker
Published in our 501c(4) capacity and housed at NYU Law School’s online forum for analyzing democracy and security, Just Security, this tracker leads the effort to identify concrete threats to American democracy by tracking specific public promises, plans and pronouncements to erode our democratic principles. More
Publication
Trying Trump: A Guide to His First Election Interference Criminal Trial Edited by Norman Eisen
The ultimate insider’s guide to the first criminal trial of an American president: the New York election interference prosecution of Donald Trump, edited by Norm Eisen. More
Op-Ed
June 2, 2024
Should Trump Be Sentenced to Prison? Two Opposing Views
Two legal experts, Norm Eisen and Nancy Gertner, weigh in on the critical question of whether Donald Trump ought to receive a prison sentence. More
Op-Ed
May 22, 2024
Supreme Court Delay on Trump’s Immunity Claim Gets More Outrageous by the Day
Norm Eisen and Michael Podhorzer discuss the Supreme Court’s undue delay of justice in delivering a decision on Trump’s presidential immunity claim. More
Sign Up for Email Updates
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
Managing 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
George Conway
Board Member
George Conway is currently board president of the Society for the Rule of Law and hosts a podcast, George Conway Explains it All… More
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 better understand and combat disinformation targeting… More
Matt Traldi
Co-founder and Board Member
Matt Traldi is the founder and CEO of Greenlight America, which accelerates the clean energy transition across… More