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Our Democracy is worth defending. Force Multiplier’s Defending Democracy Fund Good people are doing good work to help defend Democracy, the Constitution and the Rule of Law. The courts are on the frontlines in the battle to defend democracy. Force Multiplier has done the research to bring you the preeminent groups in this battle where your support can have the most impact. The three litigation groups in the Defending Democracy Fund are leading the charge, working together + separately, to bring lawsuits that challenge the administration’s unconstitutional actions, defend the rule of law, the separation of powers, the free press and free, fair elections. These are non-profit groups whose limited staff are now seriously strained and need support! DONATE One click supports three groups: Democracy Forward, Public Citizen, and the State Democracy Defenders Fund. Your donation is tax-deductible. If you have a donor advised fund or other restricted funds from which you can make a charitable contribution, please email us for more information. HOW THE COURTS ARE DEFENDING DEMOCRACY Public Citizen's Strategy in the Courts and Streets May 7, 2025 Robert Weissman , Co-President Q&A Session | May 7, 2025 Robert Weissman and Anne Weisberg WHO IS DEFENDING DEMOCRACY? Experts Present Their Strategies | March 26, 2025 Norm Eisen , Board Chair, State Democracy Defenders Fund Skye Perryman , President and CEO, the Democracy Forward Foundation Q&A Session | March 26, 2025 Jeremy Paul , Constitutional Law Professor The three groups in the Defending Democracy Fund: Democracy Forward Chaired by Marc Elias, Democracy Forward Foundation is holding the Trump-Vance administration accountable in the courts by providing free representation and filing and winning lawsuits on behalf of unions, nonprofit organizations, veterans groups, houses of worship and more. It has filed more than 25 legal actions since January 20 and counting, securing major wins and bringing together a unique coalition of more than 400 organizations to address the Administration’s harmful policies impacting the American people Public Citizen Founded in 1971, Public Citizen defends democracy and fights to ensure that government works for the people, not big corporations. It brings suits when the government fails to do its job and petitions regulatory agencies to safeguard the public. Since Trump’s inauguration, they have brought cases to protect information DOGE is trying to access and to stop the freeze on foreign aid as a violation of separation of powers, which was favorably decided by the US Supreme Court. Public Citizen has called for an investigation into Trump’s promotion of his “Official Trump Meme,” a probable violation of federal law that forbids the president from soliciting gifts. They Co-chair a coalition of legal, good government and grassroots groups combating attacks on the rule of law. State Democracy Defenders Fund Chaired by founder Amb. Norm Eisen (ret), State Democracy Defenders Fund is leading the fight to stop the assault on our democracy, defend the rule of law and end corruption. They have sued to overturn illegal terminations of federal workers and have secured a victory for them and are suing to stop Musk & DOGE from accessing citizens private information and from continuing their unconstitutional assault on federal employees and programs. DONATE

Meet U.S. House Candidate Marie Gluesenkamp Perez Washington 03 Incumbent DONATE to the Gluesenkamp Perez Campaign DONATE to FM House Slate Return to House Slate Why This Race Matters Rep. Perez defeated MAGA Republican Joe Kent in 2022 by a mere .8% and again in 2024 by 3.8%. Significantly, Kamala Harris lost this district by 3.30% suggesting the competitive swing district nature of this seat. WA 03 is in the southernmost part of western Washington, sharing a border with Oregon. Demographically, the district is 77.8% white, 11.1% Hispanic, 3.6% Asian, 1.7% Black, 1.2% Native American. Median household income is $69,543 and 91.6% of residents have high school diplomas and 27.1% college degrees. The district has always been competitive, with Bush winning in ’04, Obama in ’08, Trump in ’16 and ’20, but more recent assessments suggest a shift to the right. Perez is one of the more prominent members of the Blue Dog Democrat Caucus. She has successfully positioned herself as a moderate, who dislikes extremist rhetoric and focuses on issues that concern everyday small business owners like herself. While her races have been close – particularly in 2022 – evidence suggests she has benefited from significant cross-over vote by Republicans. She has been characterized as the poster child of working class Democrats. The Cook Political Report rates this race as Toss up while Sabato's Crystal Ball rates this race as Lean Democrat. The Republican Congressional Campaign Committee (RCCC) has targeted her as one of the 26 most vulnerable Democrats in its efforts to increase their majority. As a consequence, RCCC fundraising and organizing support will flow to her opponent. Two republicans have declared for this race and will thus run in the State's non-partisan primary election scheduled for 8/4/26. They are: State Senate Republican Leader John Braun, and political newcomer and small businessman Antony Barren. Braun appears to be the Republican front-runner at this point. Braun is seen as a low-key, effective state legislator likely to be popular among rank-and-file Republicans. Note that in a non-partisan primary, all candidates are listed on the same ballot. In this so-called "jungle primary," the top two vote getters advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation. Hear directly from candidate Gluesenkamp Perez in this short video: Marie Gluesenkamp Perez calls GOP Financial Services bill a slap in the face to taxpayers Watch Background + Experience Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp-Perez was elected to her first term in 2022 and was reelected in 2024. She is in the fifth generation of working-class Washingtonians on her mother’s side. Her father emigrated from Mexico to attend college at Western Washington University, where her parents met. Marie graduated from Reed College in Oregon with a degree in economics. She and her husband, Dean Gluesenkamp, co-own an auto repair shop in Portland with eight employees. They live in rural Skamania County with their son. Perez first entered politics in 2016 when she lost a race for County Commissioner. She was elected to the Underwood Soil and Water Conservation District in 2018, and became a member of the Washington State Democratic Committee in 2020. In a crowded nonpartisan top-two primary in ‘22, she won first place over Joe Kent, a Trump-endorsed election denier (31% vs. 22.6%). Moderate Republican incumbent, Jaime Herrara Butler, one of the few Republicans who had voted to impeach Trump, lost the renomination contest in the primary. On the Issues Gluesenkamp-Perez worked for Bernie Sanders in 2016 but now describes herself as a moderate Democrat. She is fighting to: Support small businesses and workers’ rights. Support reproductive freedom and women’s access to healthcare. Oppose bans on assault weapons but support raising the age of legal gun purchase to 21. Invest in clean energy. Lower the cost of healthcare, childcare and prescription drugs. Overturn Citizens United to limit the influence of big money. Invest and expand apprenticeships and skills training. Tackle rising cost of food, gas and housing. “I came to Congress to represent Southwest Washington's independent values, not just vote down the party line. I’ve made it a priority to build relationships across the aisle, fight polarization, and tune out the noise of clickbait politics, 77% of the bills I have introduced are bipartisan – because good ideas are good ideas, no matter which side of the aisle they come from. For these efforts, I received an A grade on the Bridge Pledge, which recognizes strong records of bipartisan voting and legislating." (gluesenkamperez.house.gov/report; 2024 Year End Report)

Take Action! Defeating authoritarianism and restoring democracy requires us to take collective action that resists the MAGA regime and strengthens democratic institutions. Mass x Velocity = Momentum PROTESTS MATTER T hey provide a new narrative that challenges the autocracy. They demonstrate that opposition to the actions of the government is widespread and legitimate and they give social permission to others to join. They help us affirm our rights by exercising them. They lay the foundation for other forms of action like economic boycotts and strikes. They create opportunities for people to cooperate and they combat isolation and despair. They generate feelings of solidarity. They impact voter turnout and electoral outcomes. BUT PROTESTS ARE NOT ENOUGH Defeating authoritarianism and restoring democracy will require a wide range of tactics that weaken the regime and rebuild the rule of law. Learn more about Force Multiplier’s recommended actions of resistance HERE and how you can help Force Multiplier have even greater impact HERE . Learn about non-violent civil resistance and why protests matter from Erica Chenoweth and Protect Democracy. Erica Chenoweth Explains Why Protest Matters Today July 24, 2025 Q&A Session With Erica Chenoweth Tom Hallock, Force Multiplier Co-Chair, Moderator July 24, 2025 PROTECTING DEMOCRACY

Meet U.S. House Candidate Shannon Taylor Virginia 01 Challenger DONATE to the Taylor Campaign DONATE to FM House Slate Return to House Slate Why This Race Matters Virginia is usually considered a “blue” state. This spring Virginia voters and Governor Spanberger approved the state legislature’s congressional redistricting plan favorable to Democrats which was subsequently thrown out by the State Supreme Court. The trendlines bode well in this district. District 01 is one of the few seats that shifted to the left between the 2020 and 2024 presidential elections. Taylor is a high profile, accomplished candidate running in a favorable political environment. Taylor’s opponent is Representative Rob Wittman, who won by 13 points in 2024 in a district Trump won by 5 points. Wittman is a strong Trump supporter who voted for the disastrous “Big Beautiful Bill.” The race is rated Lean R by the Cook Political report, Sabato’s Crystal Ball, and Inside Elections indicating that, while Wittman currently has the advantage, the race is considered competitive. Hear directly from candidate Taylor in this short video: Interview: Shannon Taylor talks VA-01 campaign Watch Background + Experience Taylor is a lifelong Virginian with a distinguished career as a prosecutor. She has a BA from the University of Virginia and graduated from the University of Richmond School of Law. In 2011, she was the first woman elected as Henrico County Virginia Commonwealth attorney, a position she currently holds. Taylor was the first Democrat in 24 years in that position. As a prosecutor Taylor has tried thousands of cases with a 90% conviction rate for homicides. When Roe v. Wade was overturned, she was one of the first prosecutors in the nation to commit to defending abortion rights. Taylor has shut down countless fraudsters trying to take advantage of working families and has incarcerated violent criminals. She pioneered programs to support victims of human trafficking, created a task force to tackle the opioid epidemic, and has removed illegal guns from the streets. Taylor is currently President of the Virginia Association of Commonwealth Attorneys. On the Issues Taylor’s priorities are detailed on her campaign website . They include: Lower costs and grow the economy Clean up crime and corruption Fight for quality, affordable healthcare “I got into this race to defeat career politician Rob Wittman and take on a broken Washington. And that has not changed. Wittman has spent nearly two decades in Washington enriching himself while voting to raise costs and rip away health care. A court ruling does not erase that record. As Henrico Countuy’s top prosecutor, I have dedicated my career to keeping our community safe, and I know how to take on tough fights to win. That's exactly what we are going to do in November." (Press release after the VA Supreme Court decision invalidating a redistricting plan approved by the voters of Virginia and Governor Abigail Spanberger)

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Force Multiplier funds grassroots groups through America Votes to reach 2.75 million low-turnout Democratic voters in 18 battleground House districts. Help flip Congress in 2026. The America Votes Turnout Fund Mid-terms are won or lost on turnout. The potential for a blue wave and a blue Congress is real if our voters turnout. Some need to be supported and encouraged.. This year persuasion and turnout is focused on 2024 Harris voters who don’t usually vote in mid-terms and Democratic voters who swung away or stayed home in 2024. The latter - mostly young people, Latinos, Asian-Americans, Black men, and/or rural voters — are most likely to swing back and vote for Democrats in 2026 if they vote. Our national partner America Votes has identified more than 2,750,000 such voters in 18 battleground House districts where we’re supporting candidates. With sufficient funding, grassroots groups can reach these voters. The groups we’re supporting in those districts: focus on these new swing voters and the issues most relevant to them. use a ‘surround sound’ approach with coordinated use of door-knocking, mail, phone, text, and social media. provide a continuum of voter engagement from registration, education, and turnout through to ballot counting, ballot curing, and outcome certification. spread out voting across early, mail-in, ballot boxes and in-person voting are led and staffed by local people of the same demographic as the voters they’re engaging. DONATE DONATE

Meet U.S. House Candidate Rebecca Bennett New Jersey 07 Challenger DONATE to the Bennett Campaign DONATE to FM House Slate Return to House Slate Why This Race Matters New Jersey is a reliably blue state in presidential elections and with a Democratic trifecta of Governor and both chambers of the state legislature. However, NJ 07 has emerged as a swing district in recent elections and is currently seen as a major battleground. Incumbent Republican Representative Tom Kean, Jr. has been mysteriously out of public view- and off the campaign trail – with an undisclosed illness since he last voted in Congress on March 5. He has strong backing from Trump. Democrats see the possibility of flipping this seat that is held by a vulnerable two-term Republican given the prevailing political environment and Bennett’s favorable background and experience. Bennett readily defeated three challengers in the June Democratic primary. Kean won NJ 07 by 5.4% in 2024 and by 2.8% in ‘12. Significantly, Democratic Governor Mikie Sherrill carried NJ 07 by 2% in ‘26. This race is rated Toss-up by both the Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball indicating neither candidate currently has the advantage. Hear directly from candidate Bennett in this short video: Rebecca Bennett says raising family gives her insight on 7th District needs Watch Background + Experience Born and raised in Texas, Bennett graduated from Cornell University on a Navy ROTC scholarship majoring in chemical engineering. She served 15 years in the Navy as a helicopter pilot, experimental test pilot, and aircraft commander. After graduating from flight school at the top of her class, she flew the MH-Seahawk and was the number one pilot in every squadron she served in. Bennett was only the 18th woman in Navy history selected to attend the Naval Test Pilot School. She used the G.I bill to complete her MBA at the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business while continuing to serve in the Naval Air Reserve. Bennett subsequently pursued a career in healthcare working on increasing access to care, improving patients' outcomes, and decreasing costs. Bennett and her husband have two children. On the Issues Bennett’s priority issues, as detailed on her campaign website, include: Making New Jersey more affordable Growing New Jersey's economy Lowering healthcare costs Keeping our neighborhoods safe Protecting America’s security Defending our freedoms Supporting America’s veterans and military families Safeguarding New Jersey’s environment “If this group of badass American patriots can get a political outsider — a 2010 Honda Accord-driving, Navy-veteran mom — to win in one of the most competitive primaries in the country, we are going to flip this seat. Hard does not scare me. We cannot just be anti-Trump and anti-hate. We have to be for something. We have to solve the problems that we ae all facing in our everyday lives.” — (New York Times, 6/2/26, Bennett primary victory speech)

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Meet U.S. House Candidate Cait Conley New York 17 Challenger DONATE to the Conley Campaign DONATE to FM House Slate Return to House Slate Why This Race Matters New York politics is dominated by the Democratic party which holds a massive voter enrollment advantage and controls all statewide offices, both US Senate seats, and a majority of the congressional delegation—19 Democrats and 7 Republicans. Democrats have controlled the State Senate since 2019 and the State Assembly since 1975. The political landscape is currently defined by a rising progressive and Democratic Socialist movement, particularly in New York City. Generally, however, the state is more conservative and Republican in upstate and suburban counties. NY 17 has some 80,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans although Conley’s opponent, Republican Mike Lawler, has held this seat since 2023. He was re-elected in’24 with 51.3% of the vote. Lawler is one of only three Republicans in the 119th congress to represent a district carried by Kamala Harris in 2024 making this race a key Democratic target as a “flip” opportunity. Lawler has been loyal to Trump while simultaneously trying to present himself as a Republican moderate with a bi-partisan legislative record. Given the makeup of his district and the fact that Trump is extremely unpopular in New York, his ties to the president are likely to be a liability. The race is rated Toss-up by the Cook Political Report, Sabato’s Crystal Ball, and Inside Elections. This may be the most vulnerable Republican seat in November.. Hear directly from candidate Conley in this short video: Cait Conley on her race against Rep. Mike Lawler in November Watch Background + Experience Cait Conley attended the United States Military Academy at West Point graduating in the top 2% of her class. She earned Master’s Degrees from both MIT and Harvard. Conley served 16 years as an active-duty Army officer, deploying for six tours of duty to combat zones including Iraq and Afghanistan. She broke barriers as one of the first women in Special Operations leadership and was awarded three bronze stars for her performance in combat operations. While in uniform, Conley was Director for Counterterrorism on the National Security Council in the Biden White House. She then worked in the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to protect the security and integrity of elections. On the Issues Conley’s campaign has emphasized reducing housing costs and increasing affordable childcare and healthcare. Specific issues, which are detailed on her campaign website, include: Lower costs for Hudson Valley families Clean up corruption Fix America’s broken infrastructure A safe America and the integrity of American democracy Invest in tackling climate change as a national security crisis “ Protecting what makes this country great is why I’m running, because the politicians who created this mess are not going to be the ones who fix it." (Campaign Launch Video) “ ...tonight the primary ends and now our true mission begins, and that is a mission we begin together and will finish together. It's about trust that someone is going to fight for working families, for our country and for the values that define America. The Hudson Valley deserves a representative who puts service above self, who puts country above party, and who puts working families above special interests. Tonight, everyone can hear this message loud and clear." (CBS News, Primary Victory Speech, 6/23/26)

Meet U.S. House Candidate Tonty “Manny” Rutinel Colorado 08 Challenger DONATE to the Rutinel Campaign DONATE to FM House Slate Return to House Slate Why This Race Matters Since it was created in 2021, CO 08 has been a true swing district, electing a Democrat in 2022 by fewer than 1,600 votes, and incumbent Republican Gabe Evans in 2024 by fewer than 2,500 votes. Trump carried this district by less than 2% in ‘24. CO 08 is a critical “flip” opportunity for Democrats to retake the House. Rutinel defeated two opponents in the Democratic primary with 61% of the vote. About 40% of the district is Hispanic and Immigration was a central issue of the campaign. Hispanic voters will have an important voice in determining the winner of this race. One of Rutinel’s opponents in the primary, veteran state senator Shannon Bird, has endorsed him, saying in her concession speech: “Unlike Gabe Evans, Manny will fight to protect our freedoms and to lower costs, and I urge everyone to unite behind his campaign so we can flip the House and stop this reckless administration from continuing to wreak havoc on our communities.” (Colorado Public Radio, 6/30/26) The November contest between Rutinel and Evans is expected to extend the district’s extreme competitiveness. Evans is widely considered one of the most vulnerable Republicans up for reelection in ‘26. Colorado’s politics have a distinct urban-rural divide, often defined by water rights. Urban areas and, increasingly, suburban communities are reliably Democratic. Republican strength is concentrated in more rural locations particularly in the eastern plains region. CO 08 stretches northeast from the Denver suburbs to Greeley. The Cook Political Report, Sabato’s Crystal Ball, and Inside Elections all rate this race Toss-up. Hear directly from candidate Rutinel in this short video: Manny Rutinel speaks after winning Congressional District 8 Democratic primary race Watch Background + Experience Tonty “Manny” Rutinel was born in Los Angeles, CA. His early childhood was in the Dominican Republic with his single mother before they returned to the US. He has an associate degree from California’s Pasco-Hernando State College, a BA in economics and a BS in microbiology from the University of Florida, an MS in applied economics from Johns Hopkins University, and a Juris Doctor from Yale. Early in his career Rutinel was an economist for the US Army Corps of Engineers in upstate New York . After law school, he was an associate attorney with Earthjustice and later CEO of the nonprofit organization Climate Reform. In 2023, Rutinel was selected to fill a vacant seat in the Colorado House of Representatives for the 32nd district. On the Issues In the Colorado legislature Rutinel has led efforts to oversee ICE detention centers in Colorado. On the Rutinel for Colorado website, he says: “I’m fighting to lower costs, stop ICE from terrorizing our communities, and stand up to Trump’s attacks on our rights.” Widely viewed as one of a rising generation of progressive Democrats, Rutinel’s priority issues include: Lower costs for working families Protect and strengthen Social Security and Medicare Lower health care costs and expand access Make housing affordable for working families Support veterans and military families Create good jobs and economic opportunity Stopping corruption Stopping Trump's immigration cruelty Stopping the abuse of your tax dollars Protecting our neighbors from brutality Holding the Trump Administration accountable Comprehensive immigration reform and public safety “Together we have shown not just that we can win the primary, but that we stand ready to take the fight to Gabe Evans......Tonight has shown that the son of a single mom who grew up filling out food stamp and Medicaid forms and worked at McDonald’s and go on to work for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, serve in the state House … [could] now become your nominee for Congress in the most competitive seat in the country." (Colorado Public Radio, Primary Victory Statement, 6/31/26)

A grassroots fundraising group dedicated to electing Democratic majorities in the House and Senate, and defending our democracy. 1 2 12 1 1/12 YOU X ME = DEMOCRACY Our democracy is at stake. To save it, we must win the 2026 midterms . Our Strategy We work on three intersecting fronts: We support candidates in competitive races to win the House and build power in the Senate. We fight autocracy by supporting litigation groups that uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and organizations that prevent election interference both nationally and locally. We educate and engage voters online and on the ground. Download a PDF of this overview JOIN US! OUR PROMISE TO YOU: We do the research, so you don’t have to. We identify the races most likely to flip the House and increase Democratic power in the Senate based on deep-dive research, not ideology. We support the predominant groups fighting autocracy by countering far-right propaganda with pro-democracy fact-based content to mobilize and engage voters. We give you access to candidates and leaders. We host regular virtual events with candidates and leaders of the groups we recommend so you can meet them and ask them your own questions. We suggest contributions of $100 for events but welcome donations of any size. We don’t touch a dime of your money. 100% of your donations goes directly to the candidates or groups we recommend. We depend on you: You choose where to invest among our evolving slates of candidates and groups. We respect your privacy and your time. We send emails only with your permission, on average of two or three times a week. We never share, swap or sell our lists. By donating through FM’s Act Blue pages, you will never be added to another email list without your permission. You may unsubscribe from Force Multipler at any time. Want to join? CLICK HERE Want to donate or attend an event? CLICK HERE Want to get involved? CLICK HERE Our Story We founded Force Multiplier in 2017 in response to the authoritarian threats posed by the first Trump administration. Today, we are responding to the current administration’s unprecedented power grab. We have grown from a Boston-area group of 12 to a national network of over 13,000 donors who have collectively contributed over $31 million to save democracy. Their contributions have helped elect 35 current members of the House and 11 current members of the Senate. Since the 2024 elections, we have broadened our strategy from primarily helping elect candidates to include support for groups working to fight autocracy through litigation, halting election interference, and establishing an online media presence that amplifies pro-democracy and fact-based content to educate, mobilize, and engage voters. Taken together, our work is laser focused on winning the ’26 midterms—the key to reversing the slide towards authoritarianism. Our Results Read more about our results. PEOPLE ARE TALKING “We were all so impressed with what Force Multiplier has accomplished! You are truly an inspiration.” — BETSEY K. DALLAS, TX

U.S. House Nominee Fund Michigan 07 Democratic Nominee Primary August 4 DONATE to MI 07 Nominee Fund DONATE to FM House Slate Return to House Slate Why This Race Matters Three viable Democrats are competing to challenge incumbent Republican Tom Barrett: Bridget Brink, William Lawrence and Matt Massdam. Barrett defeated Curtis Hertel in ‘24 by 3.7%. The seat was previously held by now U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin. The Cook Political Report, Sabato’s Cystal Ball and Inside Elections rate this race as Toss-up.