Informing Democracy is a left-of-center research organization and advocacy group formed in 2022 that publishes information on election laws and certification processes, while also publishing information about Republican state and local officials and election administrators whom the organization deems a “threat” to democracy. The organization focuses its research on politically competitive states including Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Arizona, providing information about the electoral process in those states and criticizing officials who attempted to delay the certification of results or were otherwise outspoken in questioning election results. The organization also calls for “closer observation” of officials that have shown “anti-democratic tendencies.” ^{1 2 3}

The organization is led by Jenna Lowenstein, the former digital director for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, and Peter Bondi, a former researcher on the Clinton campaign and a former Obama White House staffer. ^{4 5}

Background

Informing Democracy was formed in 2022. According to incorporation information from the District of Columbia, the organization also operates an educational arm known as the Informing Democracy Education Fund. ^{6 7} The organizational filings state that the group is headquartered in Connecticut and that the organization was incorporated by Katherine LaBeau, a political law partner at the Elias Law Group, a Democratic Party-aligned law firm led by attorney Marc Elias, who along with his firm is best known for his involvement in Democratic political campaigns, redistricting litigation, and election litigation. ^{8 9}

Research

Informing Democracy published a report in April 2023 titled “Democracy Under Threat: A Spotlight on 204 Officials Who Could Undermine Our Elections” which profiled Republican election officials and politicians whom the organization viewed as having “anti-democratic tendencies or actions,” such as social media posts doubting election results or attendance at the January 6, 2021 “Stop the Steal” Rally in support of then-President Donald Trump. ¹⁰

The officials mentioned in the report include “94 local officials across 59 jurisdictions, including several who voted against the certification of elections in their own jurisdictions” and “110 current state legislators who provoked concern due to anti-democratic tendencies or actions.” ¹¹

Reporting on the Democracy Under Threat report from Politico described the report as the “pessimist’s case for the state of American democracy,” while noting: “The good news? Even though threats to the elections system are still rampant, most local election officials—Republican or Democrat—are trying to hold fair elections.” ¹²

People

Jenna Lowenstein is the executive director of Informing Democracy, she was previously the digital director for the Clinton 2016 presidential campaign and also worked for EMILY’s List, the Democratic National Committee, and Terry McAuliffe’s (D) 2013 campaign for Virginia Governor. ^{13 14}

Peter Bondi is the managing director of the organization. He previously worked as a researcher for many Democratic campaigns including Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign, Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), and John Edwards’ 2008 campaign for President. He also worked in the Obama White House as the Director of Strategy Deliverables for Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force, and as a researcher for the U.S. Senate Banking Committee. ¹⁵

1. “Virginia: Vote Counting and Election Certification.” Informing Democracy. April 2023. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://www.informingdemocracy.org/research-library/virginia-research-report
2. “Democracy Under Threat: A Spotlight on 204 Officials Who Could Undermine Our Elections.” Informing Democracy. April 2023. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1b0NtEWCP5ewYn96RxjvI1kfbc18rOLNb/view
3. “Research Library.” Informing Democracy. April 2023. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://www.informingdemocracy.org/research-library
4. “Peter Bondi.” LinkedIn Profile. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-bondi-b278023/
5.  “About Jenna Lowenstein.” Jenna Lowenstein. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://www.jennalowenstein.com/about-jenna-lowenstein
6. “Informing Democracy” District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://corponline.dcra.dc.gov/BizEntity.aspx/ViewEntityData?entityId=4324549
7. “Informing Democracy Education Fund” District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://corponline.dcra.dc.gov/BizEntity.aspx/ViewEntityData?entityId=4343436
8. “Katherine LaBeau.” LinkedIn Profile. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-labeau-88ab9b14/
9. “Informing Democracy” District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://corponline.dcra.dc.gov/BizEntity.aspx/ViewEntityData?entityId=4324549
10. “Democracy Under Threat: A Spotlight on 204 Officials Who Could Undermine Our Elections.” Informing Democracy. April 2023. Accessed August 20, 2023.   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1b0NtEWCP5ewYn96RxjvI1kfbc18rOLNb/view
11. “Democracy Under Threat: A Spotlight on 204 Officials Who Could Undermine Our Elections.” Informing Democracy. April 2023. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1b0NtEWCP5ewYn96RxjvI1kfbc18rOLNb/view
12. Montellaro, Zach. “The pessimist’s case on the state of American democracy.” Politico. April 20, 2023. https://www.politico.com/newsletters/politico-nightly/2023/04/20/the-pessimists-case-on-the-state-of-american-democracy-00093129#:~:text=IN%20DENIAL%20%E2%80%94%20The%202022%20election,offices%20that%20actually%20oversee%20elections.
13. “Watchdog Group Founded in Aftermath of Jan 6: Democracy Still At Risk” Informing Democracy. Accessed August 20, 2023.  https://www.informingdemocracy.org/press/ufcj170sv7x9hlswwtu7g02bgea6et
14. “About Jenna Lowenstein.” Jenna Lowenstein. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://www.jennalowenstein.com/about-jenna-lowenstein
15. “Peter Bondi.” LinkedIn Profile. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-bondi-b278023/