SiX Action is an advocacy group that promotes progressive policies at the state level. SiX Action is affiliated with State Innovation Exchange, which was founded amid significant losses for Democrats in state legislative elections during Barack Obama’s presidency and represented a merger of several left-of-center state-level advocacy organizations. ^{1 2}

In addition to its state-level advocacy, SiX Action organizes left-progressive state legislators to support the Democratic Party’s agenda at the federal level. ³

Background

SiX Action was founded by Nick Rathod, a former Special Assistant to President Obama who as of 2021 is campaign manager for the Texas gubernatorial campaign of former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX). ⁴ Its current co-executive directors are Jessie Ulibarri and Neha Patel. ⁵

The State Innovation Exchange claims 3,500 left-progressive state legislators are members of SiX Action, ⁶ and the two groups share a mailing address and staff. ⁷ Its website offers a password-protected “Resources” page. ⁸ SiX Action’s Facebook page shares updates several times a year, ⁹ and the Twitter account linked on its website has been deleted. ¹⁰

The board of SiX Action in 2018 was comprised of prominent liberal operatives and politicians with state and campaign experience, including former state legislator and unsuccessful Texas gubernatorial and congressional candidate Wendy Davis; Biden administration Energy Secretary and former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D); Marlon Marshall, an alumnus of Democratic presidential campaigns; and President Joe Biden’s Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. ¹¹

Funding

SiX Action receives less funding than its partner organization. In 2017, it grossed less than $600,000; in 2018, that amount was less than $400,000 ¹² — compared to the State Innovation Exchange’s approximately $4.3 million and $5.5. million respectively. ¹³

Activities

SiX Action has organized letters of support, signed by state legislators, that align with the Democratic Party’s agenda. In 2021, in alliance with Black Mamas Matter Alliance and the Center for Reproductive Rights, SiX Action organized legislators in support of adding postpartum coverage to Medicaid for “women and birthing people” as part of the “Build Back Better” plan. ¹⁴ It also supported the Texas legislators who fled the state to avoid voting on election integrity legislation and in support of a federalization of election administration. ¹⁵

In 2020, SiX Action generated state legislative opposition to confirming Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court. ¹⁶ In the early days of the Trump administration, the organization opposed the confirmation of Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education. ¹⁷

1. Vogel, Kenneth P. “Democrats Create an ALEC-Killer.” POLITICO. November 9, 2014. https://www.politico.com/story/2014/11/democrats-create-an-alec-killer-112733.
2. “FAQs.” SiX: State Innovation Exchange. Accessed November 13, 2021. https://stateinnovation.org/frequently-asked-questions/.
3. “News.” SiX Action. Accessed November 20, 2021. https://sixaction.org/news/.
4. Svitek, Patrick. “Beto O’Rourke Says He’s Running for Texas Governor.” Texas Tribune. November 15, 2021. https://www.texastribune.org/2021/11/15/beto-orourke-texas-governor-2022/.
5. “Staff.” SiX: State Innovation Exchange. Accessed November 21, 2021. https://stateinnovation.org/staff/.
6. “What SiX Does.” SiX: State Innovation Exchange. Accessed November 21, 2021. https://stateinnovation.org/.
7. SiX Action, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2018.
8. “Resources.” SiX Action. Accessed November 21, 2021. https://sixaction.org/resources/.
9. Facebook. SiX Action. Accessed November 21, 2021. https://www.facebook.com/SiXAction/.
10. This account doesn’t exist. Twitter. Accessed November 21, 2021. https://twitter.com/SiXActionNews.
11. SiX Action, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2018.
12. SiX Action, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2018.
13. State Innovation Exchange, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2018.
14. “Over 150 State Legislators Sign Letter to Call on the Senate to Enact Permanent and Mandatory Postpartum Medicaid Investments in Build Back Better Act.” SixAction. November 22, 2021. https://sixaction.org/wp-content/uploads/FINAL_Press-Release_-Over-150-State-Legislators-sign-letter-to-call-on-the-Senate-to-enact-permanent-and-mandatory-postpartum-Medicaid-investments-in-Build-Back-Better-Act.pdf.
15. “Speaker Pelosi, Sen. Klobuchar, and State Lawmakers Urge Congress to Protect Voting Rights; Klobuchar Says Deal Is Near on For the People Act.” SiX Action. July 29, 2021. https://sixaction.org/news/.
16. “405 State and Local Officials Demand No Confirmation Until Inauguration.” SiX Action, October 15, 2020. https://sixaction.org/news/.
17. Brown, Emma. “Progressives Launch Last-Minute Push Against Betsy DeVos, and Conservatives Counter with Online Ad Campaign.” Washington Post. January 30, 2017. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/education/wp/2017/01/30/progressives-launch-last-minute-push-against-betsy-devos-and-conservatives-counter-with-online-ad-campaign/.