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Non-profit

United for Democracy

Website:

unitedfordemocracy.us/
Location:

Washington, DC
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(4)

Type:

Supreme Court Activism Coalition
Formation:

2023
Executive Director:

Stasha Rhodes

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United for Democracy is a left-of-center activist campaign consisting of more than 100 Democratic Party-aligned organizations that criticizes the U.S. Supreme Court. 1 The group also advocates in favor of left-of-center policy positions and judicial rulings on issues including abortion, gun rights, and environmentalism. 2 3

United for Democracy’s advocacy campaign launched in 2023 and consisted of a $1 million advertising campaign targeting Pennsylvania, Arizona, Wisconsin, Nevada, and Montana, states in which Democrats are defending U.S. Senate seats in 2024. 4

History and Leadership

United for Democracy was founded in 2023 to influence the U.S. Supreme Court and advocate left-of-center policy positions. 5 The group’s launch consisted of a $ 1 million ad campaign and multi-state initiative. 6 7

Stasha Rhodes is the campaign director of Untied for Democracy. 8 9 Previously, she worked at left-of-center organizations including the  Hub Project, Giffords, and the Center for American Progress. 10

Activities and Funding

United for Democracy is a left-of-center activist campaign consisting of more than 100 Democratic Party-aligned organizations that criticizes the U.S. Supreme Court. 11 The group also advocates left-of-center policy positions and judicial rulings on issues including, abortion, gun rights, and environmentalism. 12 13

United for Democracy receives personnel and funding from its member organizations. 14 Its advocacy positions have included calling the U.S. Supreme Court “too extreme,” 15 calling for the U.S. Congress to “rein in” the Supreme Court, 16 claiming that the Supreme Court has been captured by “right-wing extremists,” 17 and saying that the Supreme Court does not care about gun violence. 18

United for Democracy’s advocacy campaign launch consisted of a $1 million advertising campaign and a multi-state initiative targeting Pennsylvania, Arizona, Wisconsin, Nevada, and Montana, states in which Democrats are defending U.S. Senate seats 2024. 19 The organization stated that it would continue its activism throughout the U.S. Congress’s 2023 August recess. 20

In June 2023, United for Democracy opposed the Supreme Court’s rulings banning affirmative action in university admissions procedures. 21 The organization also criticized the Supreme Court ruling in Biden v. Nebraska and Department of Education v. Brown to stop a Biden administration student debt cancellation plan, claiming the decision disproportionately harms minority borrowers and opens the door to “future challenges to policies made by the President.” 22 23 Responding to the Court’s ruling in 303 Creative v. Elenis, United for Democracy claimed the ruling preventing government-compelled speech put “bigotry over justice and freedom.” 24

In 2023, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) praised the creation of the United for Democracy Campaign and called it a tool that could combat what he called a “united effort to capture the court and turn it into a weapon of the far-right wing.” 25 26

On January 17, 2024, members of United for Democracy partnered with members of the activist organization Workers Circle to protest outside the United States Supreme Court in Washington D.C while the court heard oral arguments for Relentless Inc. v. Department of Commerce and Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo. According to both groups, they claimed they were protesting the outcome in both cases which could, “eliminate the ability of federal agencies to make rules to execute laws that Congress has passed that deliver benefits and protections like Social Security, health and safety standards, environmental protections and more.” 27 Both cases appeared to be tied to the Chevron Deference, or the 1984 Supreme Court ruling in Chevron v. NRDC, in which judges, “defer to certain agency interpretations of statutes they administer.” 28

Partners

United for Democracy was launched by over 100 Democratic Party-aligned organizations. 29

As of July 2023, United for Democracy’s partners include the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), League of Conservation Voters (CLV), Giffords, National Education Association (NEA), Fair Fight Action, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), pro-abortion NARAL Pro-Choice America, MoveOn, March for Our Lives, Black Voters Matter, Accountable.US, Protect NEPA, Advance North Carolina, Albert Shanker Institute, Alliance for Justice, America’s Voice, American Muslim Civil Rights Center, Asian American Women’s Political Initiative, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, Arizona Coalition for Change, Arizona AANHPI Advocates, Bend the Arc Jewish Action PAC, Black Women for Wellness Action Project, Catholics for Choice, Center for Common Ground, Center for Popular Democracy, Chicago Abortion Fund, Climate Hawks Vote, Coalition of Labor Union Women, Common Defense, radical-left Community Justice Exchange, DemCast USA, Demos, United Methodist Church, Disability Victory, Drum Major Institute, End Citizens United, Let America Vote, Equality California, EG Equal Ground, End Rape on Campus, Evergreen Action, Faith for Black Lives, Faithful America, Free Speech for People, Friends of the Earth, Get Money Out Maryland, Grandmothers for Reproductive Choice, Guns Down America, Indivisible Project, Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action, Keystone Progress Education Fund, Low Country Pride, Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA), March on Future Coalition, Michigan Voices, National Association of Social Workers, National Council of Churches, National Center for Transgender Equality, National Council of Jewish Women, National Employment Law Project, Newtown Action Alliance, Network of Spiritual Progressives, NextGen America, Ohio Women’s Alliance, Organizers, Our Revolution Organize to Win, Our Voice, Our Vote, Partners in Abortion Care, People Power United, People’s Parity Project, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, 30 Poder Latinx, Progress Arizona, Represent Justice, Reproductive Rights Coalition, Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), Side with Love, Sex Ed for Social Change (SIECUS), Sister Love, Sojourners Action, Southern Christian Leadership Global Policy Initiative, Stand Up America, Take Back the Court, Texas Gun Sense, The Outrage, Workers Circle, Truth and Conciliation, UltraViolet, UnPAC, Voter Choice Connecticut, Voters of Tomorrow, We Testify, and Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice. 31

Funding

United for Democracy is funded by non-tax-deductible donations that are routed through the FastAction fundraising portal. 32 The organization also receives funding from its member organizations. 33

References

  1. Edelman, Adam. “Dem-aligned groups launch campaign to keep Supreme Court front of mind in 2024.” NBC News. June 12, 2023. Accessed July 2, 2023. https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/meetthepressblog/dem-aligned-groups-launch-campaign-keep-supreme-court-front-mind-2024-rcna88662.
  2. “Who We Are.” United for Democracy. Accessed July 2, 2023. https://unitedfordemocracy.us/about/.
  3. “100+ Groups Representing Tens of Millions of Americans Launch Campaign Calling on Congress to Rein in Extreme Supreme Court.” United for Democracy. June 12, 2023. Accessed July 2, 2023. https://unitedfordemocracy.us/press-releases/100plusgroupslaunchufd/.
  4. Edelman, Adam. “Dem-aligned groups launch campaign to keep Supreme Court front of mind in 2024.” NBC News. June 12, 2023. Accessed July 2, 2023. https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/meetthepressblog/dem-aligned-groups-launch-campaign-keep-supreme-court-front-mind-2024-rcna88662.
  5. “Who We Are.” United for Democracy. Accessed July 2, 2023. https://unitedfordemocracy.us/about/.
  6. “100+ Groups Representing Tens of Millions of Americans Launch Campaign Calling on Congress to Rein in Extreme Supreme Court.” United for Democracy. June 12, 2023. https://unitedfordemocracy.us/press-releases/100plusgroupslaunchufd/.
  7. Edelman, Adam. “Dem-aligned groups launch campaign to keep Supreme Court front of mind in 2024.” NBC News. June 12, 2023. Accessed July 2, 2023. https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/meetthepressblog/dem-aligned-groups-launch-campaign-keep-supreme-court-front-mind-2024-rcna88662
  8. “ECU // LAV Joins United for Democracy Coalition to Rein in Extreme Supreme Court.” End Citizens Unite. June 14, 2023. Accessed July 2, 2023. https://endcitizensunited.org/latest-news/press-releases/ecu-lav-joins-united-for-democracy-coalition-to-rein-in-extreme-supreme-court/.
  9. “100+ Groups Representing Tens of Millions of Americans Launch Campaign Calling on Congress to Rein in Extreme Supreme Court.” United for Democracy. June 12, 2023. https://unitedfordemocracy.us/press-releases/100plusgroupslaunchufd/.
  10. “Stasha M. Rhodes.” LinkedIn Profile. Accessed July 2, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/stasha-m-rhodes-3508432a/.
  11. Edelman, Adam. “Dem-aligned groups launch campaign to keep Supreme Court front of mind in 2024.” NBC News. June 12, 2023. Accessed July 2, 2023. https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/meetthepressblog/dem-aligned-groups-launch-campaign-keep-supreme-court-front-mind-2024-rcna88662.
  12. “Who We Are.” United for Democracy. Accessed July 2, 2023. https://unitedfordemocracy.us/about/.
  13. “100+ Groups Representing Tens of Millions of Americans Launch Campaign Calling on Congress to Rein in Extreme Supreme Court.” United for Democracy. June 12, 2023. Accessed July 2, 2023. https://unitedfordemocracy.us/press-releases/100plusgroupslaunchufd/.
  14. Edelman, Adam. “Dem-aligned groups launch campaign to keep Supreme Court front of mind in 2024.” NBC News. June 12, 2023. Accessed July 2, 2023. https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/meetthepressblog/dem-aligned-groups-launch-campaign-keep-supreme-court-front-mind-2024-rcna88662
  15. “Who We Are.” United for Democracy. Accessed July 2, 2023. https://unitedfordemocracy.us/about/.
  16. “Image.” United for Democracy Instagram. Posted June 26, 2023. Accessed July 2, 2023. https://www.instagram.com/p/Ct7XpptIqnh/.
  17. “We are a diverse and growing coalition of community leaders, grassroots organizations, labor organizers, and advocates working across…” United for Democracy Facebook Video. Posted June 12, 2023. Accessed July 2, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/WeAreUFD/videos/we-are-a-diverse-and-growing-coalition-of-community-leaders-grassroots-organizat/798881315077367.
  18. “Image.” United for Democracy Instagram. June 13, 2023. Accessed July 2, 2023. https://www.instagram.com/p/CtceHJGspOU/.
  19. Edelman, Adam. “Dem-aligned groups launch campaign to keep Supreme Court front of mind in 2024.” NBC News. June 12, 2023. Accessed July 2, 2023. https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/meetthepressblog/dem-aligned-groups-launch-campaign-keep-supreme-court-front-mind-2024-rcna88662.
  20. “100+ Groups Representing Tens of Millions of Americans Launch Campaign Calling on Congress to Rein in Extreme Supreme Court.” United for Democracy. June 12, 2023. Accessed July 2, 2023. https://unitedfordemocracy.us/press-releases/100plusgroupslaunchufd/.
  21. “Image.” United for Democracy Instagram. Posted June 30, 2023. Accessed July 1, 2023. https://www.instagram.com/p/CuFSMp6xA75/.
  22. “Extreme Supreme Court Puts Big Banks and Billionaire Benefactors Ahead of Students; “Politicians in Robes” Once Again Overturn Will of People.” United for Democracy. June 30, 2023. Accessed July 2, 2023. https://unitedfordemocracy.us/press-releases/studentdebt-scotus/.
  23. “Image.” United for Democracy Instagram. Posted July 1, 2023. Accessed July 2, 2023. https://www.instagram.com/p/CuHzsbuOVkf/.
  24. “Supreme Court Once Again Sides with extremists to Put Bigotry Over Justice and Freedom.” United for Democracy. June 30, 203. Accessed July 2, 2023. https://unitedfordemocracy.us/press-releases/303scotus/.
  25. Edelman, Adam. “Dem-aligned groups launch campaign to keep Supreme Court front of mind in 2024.” NBC News. June 12, 2023. Accessed July 2, 2023. https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/meetthepressblog/dem-aligned-groups-launch-campaign-keep-supreme-court-front-mind-2024-rcna88662.
  26. Wilkins, Brett. “Progressive Coalition Launches Campaign to Demand Congress Act on SCOTUS Reform.” Common Dreams. June 12, 2023. Accessed July 2, 2023. https://www.commondreams.org/news/supreme-court-reform.
  27. “Workers Circle Delegation to Stop the Relentless Power-Grab.” The Workers Circle, accessed January 23, 2024. https://www.circle.org/events/powergrabrally
  28. Scalia, Eugene. “Chevron Deference Was Fun While It Lasted.” Wall Street Journal: Opinion, January 9, 2024. https://www.wsj.com/articles/chevron-deference-was-fun-while-it-lasted-legal-scotus-partisan-regulation-changes-bddbfe27?st=o220sbjgccf4q97&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
  29. “Supreme Court Once Again Sides With Extremists To Put Bigotry Over Justice and Freedom.” June 30, 2023. Accessed July 2, 2023. https://unitedfordemocracy.us/press-releases/303scotus/.
  30. Edelman, Adam. “Dem-aligned groups launch campaign to keep Supreme Court front of mind in 2024.” NBC News. June 12, 2023. Accessed July 2, 2023. https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/meetthepressblog/dem-aligned-groups-launch-campaign-keep-supreme-court-front-mind-2024-rcna88662.
  31. “Partners.” United for Democracy. Accessed July 1, 2023. https://unitedfordemocracy.us/partners/.
  32. [1] “Donate.” EveryAction United for Democracy. Accessed July 1, 2023. https://secure.everyaction.com/lCOxKqQVik-ISYNygz_2IQ2.
  33. Edelman, Adam. “Dem-aligned groups launch campaign to keep Supreme Court front of mind in 2024.” NBC News. June 12, 2023. Accessed July 2, 2023. https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/meetthepressblog/dem-aligned-groups-launch-campaign-keep-supreme-court-front-mind-2024-rcna88662.
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United for Democracy


Washington, DC