Article IV

Article IV claims that its team includes Democrats, Republicans, and Independents with a “common interest in defending American democracy.”³ The group claims it is “geographically distributed” to push local and state-led policy initiatives. ³ The group has received funding from the left-of-center Hopewell Fund, part of the Arabella Advisors network. ¹

Background

Article IV claims that the two-party political system in the United States is no longer effective, as it leads to too few competitive general elections. ⁴ Instead, the group claims to support independent citizen redistricting commissions as well “Top-4” and “Top-5” primary cycles. The group claims such reforms push politicians into forming new coalitions to win elections. ⁴

Article IV was reportedly based in Lubbock, Texas as well as a P.O box Arlington, Virginia as of 2023. ^{2 5 6}

The organization claims to research what it calls “American democratic dysfunction” ⁷ while promoting local, state-led campaigns and policy initiatives. ⁷

Financials

In 2022, the Hopewell Fund, a nonprofit that is part of the left-of-center Arabella Advisors network, contributed $433,108 to Article IV. ¹

Article IV provides grants to organizations at the state level for campaigns. ⁷

In 2022, Article IV contributed $400,000 to the Utah Ranked Choice Voting Action for a ballot initiative. That same year it gave $342,000 for Oregon Ranked Choice Voting Advocates. It gave $150,000 to Protect AR Constitution, a local advocacy group based in Arkansas. ¹

In 2024, Article IV donated $2.25 million to the “Yes on 117” ballot initiative in Oregon to adopt ranked choice voting. ⁸

Article IV contributed $10.5 to the 2024 Ohio ballot initiative for a citizen redistricting commission. ⁹

Article IV contributed $13 million to the “Yes on 3” campaign in Nevada for the Question 3 on the ballot to adopt a “top-five primary” system in the state in 2024. ¹⁰

In 2024, Article IV gave $4.7 million to a Montana ballot initiative to adopt a top-four primary system. ²

In 2024, Article IV contributed $4.42 million opposing a ballot measure in Alaska to overturn the ranked-choice voting law. ¹¹

Leadership

George Wellde is the executive director of Article IV as 2024. In 2022 he earned a salary of $180,000 according to that year’s tax returns for the group. ¹

Cabell Hobbs is the treasurer of the board of directors at Article IV. ¹

Sam Mar is the secretary of the board of directors at Article IV. ¹