Jan 6th, ECA Reform and a Hopeful Start to 2023
Today, on the second anniversary of the January 6th insurrection, I want to share a few brief reflections on what this moment tells us about the state of American democracy.?
In short: As we start 2023, I am hopeful about the direction of America’s politics. The most hopeful I’ve been since 2016. The midterm elections proved that election denial is a losing proposition (as deniers lost high-profile races to pro-democracy candidates), critical referendums strengthened voting protections, election and campaign finance reforms continued to win over voters, and independent voters broke for the middle and political normalcy.?
And on December 23rd, Congress took another critical step — passing reforms to the Electoral Count Act. This puts in place key provisions to prevent another insurrection. It clarifies that the vice president’s role in counting electoral votes is purely ceremonial, raises the objection threshold from just one member in each chamber to 20 percent of Congress, and requires that Congress accept the lawful slates of electors for each state. Read more here .
The Leadership Now Project is proud to have joined the year-long effort to enact the legislation. In that time, Leadership Now members made the business case for protecting elections, engaged with numerous senators, made our support known in the press and in many on- and off-the-record convenings, and encouraged other business associations to sign on .
As we look to the year ahead, I am hopeful we can take steps to reinvigorate our system while remaining vigilant in responding to potential threats. January 6th reminds us that the risk of political violence persists . And my own memories of that day, when I lived only six blocks from the Capitol, are still surreal. Keeping my daughters playing in the basement while outside sirens blared. How, in the weeks that followed, a green zone was established that ended at my corner. Military vehicles patrolling the streets. They were the sort of scenes I’d observed working in emerging economies, not ones I had ever imagined seeing in my own country.?
Preventing another Jan 6th, and making our system more dynamic for the future, is why the Leadership Now Project exists. We hope you will join us in the year ahead in being hopeful, vigilant, and committed to building a stronger American democracy.?
Daniella Ballou-Aares, CEO, Leadership Now Project
Find below more perspectives from Leadership Now and others on the state of American democracy and how to protect and change it.?
Leadership Now In the News
Podcast: Politics in Question
Daniella Ballou-Aares, Leadership Now CEO and co-founder, discusses the state of democracy in the United States and how the business community can change the status quo.
Time | By Marc Solomon
Political Advisor Marc Solomon writes about the lessons learned from the passage of The Respect for Marriage Act and how, by acknowledging conflicts and sharing stories, reformers can bring about victories and reconciliation in times of deep division.
The Atlantic | By Eitan Hersh
Academic member Eitan Hersh shares his research, supported by Leadership Now, on how business leaders and their companies shape American politics.?
Fortune | By Amanda Edelman & Andrea Hagelgans?
Member Amanda Edelman examines the high level of engagement from young voters in the midterm elections, with exit polls highlighting social issues as key to candidate selections.
NPR’s All Things Considered | Michel Martin?
领英推荐
Academic Advisor Larry Diamond discusses how global political movements may be connected and tell us something larger about the current state of power in authoritarian regimes.
Daily Press | By Josh Janney
Member Phillip Jones made history by becoming the youngest African-American mayor in Newport News.?
Stanford News | By Chelcey Adami
Academic Advisor Larry Diamond quoted about the potential impact of the Supreme Court’s upcoming affirmative action decision. “It’s a stain on our nation’s character” that “we’ve made so little progress in getting to the point which we’d all like to get to, where [affirmative action] didn’t need to be relied on.”?
What We're Reading, Watching, and Listening To
New York Times | By Steven Rattner
Charting ten of the biggest stories from 2022, from midterm elections to inflation.?
Washington Post | By Fareed Zakaria
Fareed Zakaria reminds us that despite all the problems facing democracy, it's still the best form of government (and autocracies aren't doing too well recently).?
Vice | By Todd Zwillich
The case, which centers on the “independent state legislature” theory, could weaken the power of voters’ ballots more than gerrymandering ever could.
Atlantic | By Lee Drutman
In a partisan system, claiming to be independent will not improve America's politics. Instead, Lee Drutman recommends fusion voting and multi-member House Districts. Lee Drutman also elaborates on why the far-right chaos agents have so much power in his latest newsletter .?
New York Times | By Nicholas Kristof
The state of our planet may not be as bad as it appears in the media. Where 2022 excelled particularly was in technological strides.
Manager ?? Microsoft
1 年??
Deputy Executive Director, Brennan Center for Justice | Board Director | Civic Impact Leader | Strategist | Relationship and Capacity Builder *Views are unaffiliated and mine alone*
1 年Appreciate this call for hope and redoubled effort. More to do, and more reason to do it — because we’ve seen broad collaboration to strengthen democracy succeed.
Entrepreneur, Social Business Architect, Connector, Convener, Facilitator - Innovation, Global Development, Sustainability
1 年Happy new year to you in turn, Daniella, on this day of Epiphany! Hopefully you and Leadership Now Project members are collaborating with The Lincoln Project to build an even bigger pro-democracy tent as we head into another election cycle (one down, three more to go in order to defeat the authoritarian threat durably). Michelle K. Joe Trippi Tara Setmayer Lisa Senecal Trygve Olson Reed G. Jeff Timmer Jacqueline Westman