Advance American Democracy is a left-of-center nonprofit organization that funds lobbying efforts that support policies that would eliminate Republican-backed election integrity policies and funds campaigns that oppose financial reforms to entitlement programs. ^{1 2 3}

Background

Advance American Democracy is a lobbying group that advocates for legislation that would eliminate Republican-backed election integrity policies and opposes reforms to spending on entitlement programs. ^{4 3 2} It was founded in 2023 and reported having no employees. ⁵

In 2023, Advance American Democracy received $720,000 from the Sixteen Thirty Fund, which is managed by Arabella Advisors. ⁶ Advance American Democracy received $962,000 from the North Fund (which is also managed by Arabella Advisors) in 2022 and $2.3 million in 2023. ^{7 8}

Back Off Our Benefits Bus Tour

In 2023, Advance American Democracy reported organizing a “Back Off Our Benefits Bus Tour.” It reported that it spent $1.7 million on the campaign and received $2.9 million in revenue associated with the campaign. ³ The main organizer of the bus tour was Courage for America, a group that was founded in 2022 by Democratic Party strategist Zac Petkanas to oppose Republican candidates in the 2022 midterm elections. ^{9 10 11}

The Back Off Our Benefits Bus Tour drove bused activists across the country over a twenty-day period, making stops at districts of members of the House of Representatives whom it describes as “extreme members of the Republican House majority.” It hosted events opposing the leadership of then-Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and opposing efforts to reduce spending on entitlement programs. ² The Washington Times reported in 2023 that the plan Republican House members were proposing was to address a looming budget shortfall on the programs and included providing a privatized option for Medicare and packaging different Medicare coverage plans into an income-based subsidy that seniors could use to purchase Medicare or a private insurance plan. ^{12 11}

Lobbying

Supported Legislation

In 2023 and 2024, Advance American Democracy reported engaging in lobbying efforts supporting the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2023. ^{13 1} The bill would federalize election administration by requiring qualifying states and localities to get preapproval of the federal government in jurisdictions whose population consist of over 20 percent minorities if they create an at-large election, change jurisdiction boundaries, implement voter roll removals, and if they change polling location or voting dates. It would also require federal preapproval for policies that introduce voter identification requirements. ^{14 15}

In 2023 and 2024, Advance American Democracy reported lobbying in support of H.R. 11, the Freedom to Vote Act. ^{13 1} The bill would require campaign donations over $10,000 from an organization that donated on behalf of an initial donor would be required to disclose the initial donor. It would also update the definition of “electioneering communications” to include online ads, subjecting them to the same disclosure laws as television and radio ads. Lastly, the Freedom to Vote Act would require web platforms with over 50 million monthly users to create a public archive of campaign ads. ¹⁶

Contracted Lobbyists

Between 2023 and 2024, Advance American Democracy contracted Mission Strategies to engage in its lobbying efforts, paying them $350,000 between both years, and led by Democratic Party operatives Scott Fay and Jordan Wood. ^{17 18 19}

As Mission Strategies partner, Christopher Scott Fay is listed as the lobbyist contracted by Advance American Democracy. ²⁰ He is also a partner of Democracy Sentry. He was formerly the chief of staff for Representative David N. Cicilline (D-RI) and senior advisor and national political director for former U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA). Fay has also worked as executive vice president of End Citizens United, vice president of the Sheridan Group, and senior fellow of Democracy 21. ²¹

Financials

In 2023, Advance American Democracy reported $4.2 million in contributions and $3.6 million in total expenses. ²²

1. “Advance American Democracy Bills Lobbied.” OpenSecrets. Accessed November 24, 2024. https://www.opensecrets.org/federal-lobbying/clients/bills?cycle=2024&id=F326539.
2. Rebecca. “National Bus Tour Demands Congress Protect Benefits for Workers, Veterans.” Retired Americans, April 12, 2023. https://retiredamericans.org/national-bus-tour-demands-congress-protect-benefits-for-workers-veterans/.
3. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Advance American Democracy Inc. 2023. Part III, Line 4a.
4. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Advance American Democracy Inc. 2023. Part III.
5. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Advance American Democracy Inc. 2023. Part I, Line 5.
6. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Sixteen Thirty Fund. 2023. Schedule I.
7. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). North Fund. 2022. Schedule I.
8. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). North Fund. 2023. Schedule I.
9. Maga’s Fault If We Default – Lobby Day.” Courage for America, 2023. https://courageforamerica.org/magas-fault-if-we-default-lobby-day/.
10. Fish, Sandra. “A Well-Funded, Dark-Money Political Group That Opposed Cory Gardner Reemerges to Take on Lauren Boebert in 2024.” The Colorado Sun, April 7, 2023. https://coloradosun.com/2023/04/05/lauren-boebert-rocky-mountain-values/.
11. “Back off Our Benefits Bus Tour.” Courage for America, May 9, 2023. https://courageforamerica.org/back-off-our-benefits-bus-tour/.
12. Alic, Haris. “Republicans Push McCarthy to Address Social Security, Medicare in the Spending Fight.” The Washington Times, June 14, 2023. https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/jun/14/republicans-push-kevin-mccarthy-address-social-sec/.
13. “Advance American Democracy Bills Lobbied.” OpenSecrets. Accessed November 24, 2024. https://www.opensecrets.org/federal-lobbying/clients/bills?cycle=2023&id=F326539.
14. “John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.” HRC. Accessed November 24, 2024. https://www.hrc.org/resources/voting-rights-advancement-act.
15. John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2023. Bill, Congress.gov § (2023). https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/14/text.
16. “The Freedom to Vote Act Would Promote Greater Transparency and Disclosure.” Campaign Legal Center. Accessed November 24, 2024. https://campaignlegal.org/update/freedom-vote-act-would-promote-greater-transparency-and-disclosure.
17. “Advance American Democracy Lobbyists.” OpenSecrets. Accessed November 24, 2024. https://www.opensecrets.org/federal-lobbying/clients/lobbyists?cycle=2024&id=F326539.
18. “Advance American Democracy Lobbyists.” OpenSecrets. Accessed November 24, 2024. https://www.opensecrets.org/federal-lobbying/clients/lobbyists?cycle=2023&id=F326539.
19. “Our Team.” MISSION STRATEGIES. Accessed November 24, 2024. https://www.missionstrategies.com/our-team.
20.   “Mission Strategies Lobbyists.” OpenSecrets. Accessed November 24, 2024. https://www.opensecrets.org/federal-lobbying/firms/lobbyists?cycle=2024&id=F326615.
21. “Scott Fay.” LinkedIn. Accessed November 25, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-fay-7ab0627.
22. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Advance American Democracy Inc. 2023. Part I, Line 12-18.