We Choose Us Action is the political action wing of We Choose Us, a left-of-center coalition of 26 groups based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that promote left-wing voting policies such as expanding voter registration and that mobilize young activists to change election laws. ^{1 2} We Choose Us Action is an independent project sponsored by Faith in Minnesota that is part of a broader left-wing “pro-democracy campaign,” mobilized against those who claim that the 2020 election was unfair or stolen. ^{3 1}

Initiatives and Policy Support

We Choose Us Action promotes the voting initiatives of its parent group and 501(c)(3) affiliate, We Choose Us, the most successful of which was the state-level Democracy for the People Act which was signed into law in May 2023. ⁴ The law codifies automatic voter registration for eligible citizens, pre-registration for 16 and 17-year-olds, voting rights restoration for former criminals, permanent absentee voting lists, extended early voting periods, the right to paid time off from work to vote, increased access to voting for students and the elderly in assisted living, improvement to physical voting precincts, and increases in non-English language access. The bill also seeks to protect voters from alleged intimidation and harassment at the polls, as well as increase access to federal funds that support the left-of-center democracy movement. ⁵

We Choose Us supported a Minnesota state law that codified the rule that the winner of an election is the candidate who receives the most votes. It also supported Minnesota state laws that redefine express advocacy according to federal standards and that prohibit foreign influence in elections through corporate campaign finance. ⁶

Partners

We Choose Us Action is fiscally sponsored by Faith in Minnesota, the political action arm of ISAIAH, an activist organization based in Minnesota that recruits left-of-center activists from church congregations in order to advance a number of left-of-center policy priorities. ISAIAH opposes the use of law enforcement to deter crime, advocates for the decreased incarceration of criminals, and works against the enforcement of immigration laws. ^{7 8}

We Choose Us also partners with several left-of-center organizations, including the Land Stewardship Action Fund, AFL-CIO, FairVote Minnesota, Planned Parenthood, Move to Amend, New Justice Project, TakeAction Minnesota, Unidos MN, and the 100% Campaign. ^{1 9 10}

We Choose Us’s affiliated groups list also includes the League of Women Voters of Minnesota, CAIR Minnesota, Minnesota Voice, Jewish Community Action, Main Street Alliance, Indivisible Minnesota, Clean Elections Minnesota, Pro-Choice Minnesota, Muslim Coalition of ISAIAH. ¹¹

Leadership

We Choose Us Action’s campaign director is Lilly Sasse. ¹ A 2020 graduate of the University of Minnesota, Sasse has held the position since 2022. ¹² She was honored in 2023 by Minnesota’s Secretary of State for her advocacy for left-of-center voting initiatives and social change efforts. ¹³ In 2023, she was a registered lobbyist for ISAIAH. ¹⁴

Financials

There is no available financial information related to We Choose Us Action or We Choose Us. However, We Choose Us Action is funded by Faith in Minnesota, the 501(c)(4) political action arm of advocacy group ISAIAH 501(c)(4). In 2022, ISAIAH reported $4,386,778 in revenue, $4,971,026 in expenses, and $7,046,829. ¹⁵

We Choose Us was also listed in a Minnesota Reformer article that celebrated the $32 million “pro-democracy campaign” that responded to those who challenged the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. ²

1. About. We Choose Us Action. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.wechooseusaction.com/about
2. Winter, Deena. “Minnesota was part of quiet $32 million nationwide campaign to push back on election deniers.” January 18, 2023. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://minnesotareformer.com/2023/01/18/minnesota-was-part-of-quiet-32-million-nationwide-campaign-to-push-back-on-election-deniers/
3. ^[1] Winter, Deena. “Minnesota was part of quiet $32 million nationwide campaign to push back on election deniers.” January 18, 2023. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://minnesotareformer.com/2023/01/18/minnesota-was-part-of-quiet-32-million-nationwide-campaign-to-push-back-on-election-deniers/
4. Sullivan, Caroline. “Minnesota Governor Enacts the Democracy for the People Act.” Democracy Docket. May 5, 2023. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/minnesota-governor-enacts-the-democracy-for-the-people-act/
5. Big Wins. We Choose US. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.wechooseusmn.com/big-wins
6. Big Wins. We Choose Us. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.wechooseusmn.com/big-wins
7. Home. Faith in Minnesota. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://faithinmn.org/
8. About Us. ISAIAH. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://isaiahmn.org/about/
9. Pazniokas, Mark. “Miles Rapoport named national president of Common Cause.” CT Mirror. January 14, 2014. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://ctmirror.org/2014/01/14/miles-rapoport-named-national-president-common-cause/
10. “Home.” 100 Percent MN, Accessed September 5, 2024. https://100percentmn.org/
11. Partners. We Choose Us. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.wechooseusmn.com/partners
12.  Lilly Sasse. LinkedIn. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/lilly-sasse-042a18144/
13.  Sec. Simon Awards National John Lewis Youth Leadership Award to Two Minnesotans. Minnesota Secretary Of State. July 31, 2023. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.sos.state.mn.us/about-the-office/news-room/sec-simon-awards-national-john-lewis-youth-leadership-award-to-two-minnesotans/
14. ISAIAH. Minnesota Campaign Finance Board. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://cfb.mn.gov/reports-and-data/viewers/lobbying/lobbying-organizations/5316/2024.1/
15. Isaiah – 2022 990 Form. ProPublica. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/411957358/202313539349301406/full