Logo for InfluenceWatch InfluenceWatch

Donate
Other Group

Democracy Alliance Conferences

Frequency:

Semi-Annual

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

The Democracy Alliance (DA), a collective of wealthy Democratic and left-progressive individual and institutional donors, hosts semi-annual conferences for its members and guests. Described as a “major gathering of the institutional left,” the conferences primarily serve to connect prospective left-leaning donors with similarly minded activist groups, and to provide a forum for speakers and panels on important political issues, policy, and strategy. 1 In past years, conferences have featured some of the most prominent activists, leaders, and politicians in the United States.

Individual participants in Democracy Alliance conferences are listed under the “Directors, Employees & Supporters” section below. Organizations involved in conferences are listed under the “Coalition Members” section.

Purpose and Format

Democracy Alliance conferences have been held twice a year since the Alliance’s founding in 2005. 2 The conference format typically consists of a series of presentations and panels hosted by allied organizations and individuals. These events often feature prominent left-of-center activists, leaders, and politicians who discuss issues and strategy related to furthering their priorities.

Another purpose is to provide a forum for wealthy donors to learn about organizations that the Democracy Alliance has vetted and recommended. 2 Because both donors and organization representatives attend and participate in conference sessions, “[a]t DA conferences, furious networking is the order of the day.” 2

Typically held over the course of several days at a luxury hotel or resort, conferences are invite-only and security is known to be extremely tight. 3 Participation guidelines stipulate that “conference participants are entitled to the expectation that their conference experience and their identity should remain confidential.” 4 Locked trash bins are provided for attendees to dispose of unwanted conference materials for shredding, and attendees often refrain from discussing conference proceedings with the media. 5

Despite the security employed, news outlets such as the Washington Free Beacon and Politico frequently report on Democracy Alliance conferences and publish materials from past conferences. Agendas contained in these materials detail scheduled itineraries and participants.

Past Conferences

Spring 2023

Democracy Alliance’s spring 2023 conference was held in Charlotte, North Carolina. The group’s president Pamela Shifman gave the opening remarks, in which she spoke of the Democracy Alliance’s “ten-year plan,” and highlighted the need to bring “more donors and more money to the field” in order to avoid being “one election away from catastrophe every 4 years.”6

Fall 2022

Democracy Alliance’s fall 2022 conference was held in Washington, D.C. According to Fox News, vice president Kamala Harris attended the event. Also reportedly scheduled to attend were U.S. Representatives Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and former Representative Donna Edwards (D-MD), as well as U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D).7

Fall 2021

Democracy Alliance’s fall 2021 conference was held virtually and featured a number of prominent Democratic speakers, including vice president Kamala Harris and U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Cori Bush (D-MO). One agenda item was reportedly entitled “Weaponizing History: Critical Race Theory and The Fight for our Future,” which charged that critical race theory was “an invention of conservative activists searching for a new scare tactic to rile up their base and stir resentment, anger, and fear.” The introduction to the session was given by American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten, and it was moderated by Laura Flanders. The speakers were African American Policy Forum executive director and law professor Kimberlé Crenshaw and HIT Strategies chief executive officer Terrance Woodbury.8

Spring 2021

Democracy Alliance’s spring 2021 conference was held virtually over a two-day period, and it was Gara LaMarche‘s last conference before stepping down as president of the alliance. Known speakers at the spring 2021 conference included then-North Carolina House of Representatives member Ricky Hurtado (D) and Roger Kim, who spoke about climate and jobs. Narrative Initiative executive director Rinku Sen and Bobby Clark of the Rural Democracy Initiative spoke about the optimal way to talk to voters, while then-New Georgia Project executive director Nse Ufot and Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA) executive director Tomas Robles spoke on state-specific issues.9

Fall 2020

Democracy Alliance’s fall 2020 conference was held in the immediate aftermath of the 2020 elections, which were the focus of then-Democracy Alliance president Gara LaMarche‘s opening remarks. LaMarche called Donald Trump a “monster” and said that his “wretched” presidency and the prospect of defeating him in 2020 had occupied “our very psyches” to “an unhealthy and unsustainable extent.” Nevertheless, he said that Joe Biden’s victory left members of the Democracy Alliance with only a “qualified joy.” He explained that many of those in the alliance felt like they were “living in a different country than the one we thought we lived in,” and that he thought those who voted for Trump probably felt the same way. This sense of estrangement made it “hard for us to own our victory,” according to LaMarche.10

Spring 2020

Democracy Alliance’s spring 2020 conference was originally planned to take place in New York over a three-day period, but was instead held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The focus of the conference was on how to organize and mobilize on behalf of the Democratic Party for the upcoming 2020 elections. Then-Democracy Alliance president Gara LaMarche delivered opening remarks in which he argued that the pandemic demonstrated the need for “nothing less than a massive restructuring of our economy,” and favorably referenced People’s Action‘s proposal for a “people’s bailout.” LaMarche also commented on the need “to protect our elections from disinformation, interference and rigging,” and accused the Democracy Alliance’s “opponents” of believing that “the best election is the one in which the fewest people get to the polls.”11

Fall 2019

Fall 2019 Conference Materials

Democracy Alliance’s fall 2019 conference, entitled “Focus|Strategy|Victory” was held from November 13-16 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Washington DC. 12 The introduction to the conference agenda noted the “need to address the critical challenges of our time and ward off the dystopian future of a second Trump term. This really is the most important election of our lifetimes.” 12

A relatively large number of Democratic political figures participated in the conference, including Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Mark Warner (D-VA); Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Cheri Bustos (D-IL), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), and Xochitl Torres Small (D-NM); Governors Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI), Tony Evers (D-WI), Laura Kelly (D-KS), and Jay Inslee (D-WA); and former Governors Terry McAuliffe (D-VA) and Bob Wise (D-WV)12

Former President Barack Obama held a “fireside chat” on civic and political engagement with former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams. 12 Abrams also gave a keynote address on election security and reform. 12 Other notable speakers included Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez, former Obama administration official Valerie Jarrett, and Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes. 12

Spring 2019

Spring 2019 Conference Materials

Democracy Alliance’s spring 2019 conference was held from April 3-5 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Austin, Texas. 13 The conference focused on the 2020 elections and on making “the long-term, multi-year investments to build progressive political power and sustain it.” 13

Former Democratic mayor of Tallahassee and Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum gave keynote remarks alongside U.S. Representative Jennifer Wexton (D-VA). 13 Other notable conference participants included New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D), who provided video remarks, and Tara McGowan, the founder of ACRONYM. 13

Fall 2018

Fall 2018 Conference Materials

Democracy Alliance’s fall 2018 conference, entitled “Taking Our Democracy Back” was held from November 15-16 at the Capital Hilton in Washington, DC. 14 The conference took place in the immediate aftermath of the 2018 U.S. midterm elections, in which the Democratic Party retook the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. Conference topics included discussion on “progressive legislative strategy at the local, state, and national level” in the wake of those elections. 14

Notable participants included U.S. Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), former Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe (D), billionaire activist Tom Steyer, and National Education Association executive Kim Anderson. 14 Leana Wen, the former president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, gave remarks at the closing dinner. 14

Spring 2018

Spring 2018 Conference Materials

Democracy Alliance’s spring 2018 conference, entitled “Charting the Course for Progressive Power” was held from April 15-18 at the InterContinental Buckhead Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia. 4 Conference topics included “the growth of women’s political power, the evolution of progressive leadership in the South, and how to counter the vulnerabilities technology and social media pose to our democracy.” 4 Democracy Alliance partners also received a special welcome reception at the Center for Civil and Human Rights, at which NAACP president and CEO Derrick Johnson gave keynote remarks. 4

Notable participants included Democratic National Committee chair Tom Perez, ACRONYM founder Tara McGowan, former Planned Parenthood Federation of America president Cecile Richards, billionaire activist Tom Steyer, U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) and Mark Pocan (D-WI), and state Attorneys General Mark Herring (D-VA), Karl Racine (D-DC), Josh Shapiro (D-PA), and Josh Stein (D-NC). 4 Demand Justice Executive Director Brian Fallon was a panelist on a panel entitled “Preserving the Role of Our Courts,” the purpose of which was to discuss “new approaches to fight back and protect our courts against the Trump Administration and their congressional allies’ extremist takeover.”15

Fall 2017

Fall 2017 Conference Materials

Democracy Alliance’s fall 2017 conference, entitled “Beyond #Resistance: Reclaiming our Progressive Future” was held from November 15-18 at the La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California. 16 Key issues addressed at the conference included voter mobilization, “turning resistance energy into electoral action,” state-level electoral politics, and climate change. 16 Specific sessions also focused on local prosecutor races, election security, and social media. 16

George Soros, one of the founding members of the Democracy Alliance, spoke at the conference. 16 Then-House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) gave opening remarks at a dinner program featuring longtime left-wing activist Heather Booth. 16 Senators Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) each provided a videotaped message to conference attendees. 16 Other featured speakers included Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf (D), Representative Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), left-of-center activist Van Jones, and labor union executives John Stocks, Mary Kay Henry, and Kim Anderson. 16

Janell Ross, a reporter for the Washington Post, was placed on leave after it was revealed that she had participated in the conference. 17 Ross was a panelist at a session entitled “Getting the Economic Narrative Right,” at which one of the questions considered how to build “compelling narratives” to “build the public will to reorient our economy and combat inequality.” 16 The Washington Post stated to the Washington Free Beacon that it was unaware Ross had participated in the conference. 18

Fall 2016

Fall 2016 Conference Materials

Democracy Alliance’s fall 2016 conference, entitled “Seizing Opportunity & Building Power” took place from November 13-15 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Washington, DC. 19 Held in the immediate aftermath of the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election, Donald Trump’s victory led the Democracy Alliance to change many its plans for the conference, as reports indicated the original agenda would have “made more sense in the event of a Hillary Clinton Victory.” 20 According to Politico, Democracy Alliance officials recognized the need for a “reassessment” of strategy and tactics in order to resist Trump administration initiatives. 20

Democracy Alliance co-founder George Soros spoke at the conference. 19 Several prominent Democratic political figures also participated, including Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and then-U.S. Representative Keith Ellison (D-MN). 19 Left-leaning operatives and commentators Van Jones and David Brock were featured in sessions, as was controversial left-wing activist Linda Sarsour. 19 Union leaders including Mary Kay Henry, John Stocks, and Karen Nussbaum were listed as conference participants, and the State’s Attorney for Cook County, Illinois, Kim Foxx (D), was toasted at an evening gathering. 19

Spring 2016

Spring 2016 Conference Materials

Democracy Alliance’s spring 2016 conference, entitled “Vision Strategy Victory” was held from April 9-14 at the Fairmont Hotel in Santa Monica, California. 21 According to Politico, at least two conference sessions “focused partly on harnessing the power of Hollywood and the entertainment industry as a tool in the culture wars.” 21 Conference attendees were invited to attend a tour of the Brave New Films studio and listen to actor Martin Sheen speak on the importance of advocacy in media. 22

Then-House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) gave welcoming remarks over dinner. 22 Other notable participants included labor union officers Lee Saunders, John Stocks, and Brandon Davis, billionaire activist Tom Steyer, commentator and activist Van Jones, and Democratic U.S. Representative Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM). 22

Spring 2015

Spring 2015 Conference Materials

Democracy Alliance’s spring 2015 conference, entitled “Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future” was held from April 12-15 at the Four Seasons Hotel in San Francisco, California. 23 The conference began on the same day that Hillary Clinton officially launched her 2016 presidential campaign. Clinton had reportedly declined an invitation to speak at the conference, citing a scheduling conflict. 24

Billionaire activist Tom Steyer hosted three sessions at the conference, focusing especially on climate change. 23 Featured speakers included then-House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), then-California Attorney General Kamala Harris (D), and Democratic political operative John Podesta. 25 Labor union leaders including AFSCME president Lee Saunders, National Education Association executive director John Stocks, and SEIU president Mary Kay Henry participated in panel discussions. 25 Other notable attendees included political operative David Brock, then-U.S. Representatives Donna Edwards (D-MD) and Keith Ellison (D-MN), then-California Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom (D), and liberal mega-donor Jonathan Soros, son of left-wing billionaire giver George Soros. 25

Spring 2014

Spring 2014 Conference Materials

Democracy Alliance’s spring 2014 conference, entitled “A New Progressive Era?” was held from April 27-30 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Chicago, Illinois. 26 The spring 2014 conference “marked the beginning” of president Gara LaMarche’s leadership of the Democracy Alliance, and with it a renewed focus on state-level and grassroots organizing, economic inequality, climate change, and issues related to electoral administration and access to voting. 2 According to an agenda document obtained by right-leaning outlet Power Line, partner attendees received a private tour of the Art Institute of Chicago and were invited to a party in the Ritz-Carlton’s presidential suite featuring wine from wineries owned by individual partners. 27

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D), senior Obama administration official Valerie Jarrett, and former Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards were all featured speakers at the conference. 27 Other notable participants included then-Democratic National Committee chair and U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), then-Tallahassee Mayor and future Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum, senior Obama administration official David Axelrod, and billionaire environmental activist Tom Steyer. 27 Labor union executives such as AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) president Mary Kay Henry were also session panelists. 27

Participants

Individuals generally participate directly in Democracy Alliance conference functions either by appearing as a speaker or panelist at one of the sessions, or by hosting a session. 28 Organizations also frequently host sessions. 28 Individuals who have participated in past Democracy Alliance conferences are listed under the “Directors, Employees & Supporters” section below, while organizations that have been involved in past conferences are listed under the “Coalition Members” section.

References

  1. Vogel, Kenneth P. “Soros bands with donors to resist Trump, ‘take back power’.” Politico. November 14, 2016. Accessed May 26, 2020. Available at: https://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/democrats-soros-trump-231313
  2. Hertel-Fernandez, Alexander; Skocpol, Theda; and Sclar, Jason. “When Political Mega-Donors Join Forces: How the Koch Network and the Democracy Alliance Influence Organized U.S. Politics on the Right and Left.” Studies in American Political Development 32, no. 2 (2018): 127-65. Available at: https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/ahertel/files/when_political_megadonors_join_forces_how_the_koch_network_and_the_democracy_alliance_influence_organized_us_politics_on_the_right_and_left.pdf
  3. Goodman, Alana. “Security Tight at Secretive Democracy Alliance Meeting.” The Washington Free Beacon. May 1, 2014. Accessed May 27, 2020. Available at: https://freebeacon.com/politics/security-tight-at-secretive-democracy-alliance-meeting/
  4. Democracy Alliance. “2018 Democracy Alliance Spring Conference Agenda.” Posted to Scribd by The Washington Free Beacon. April 2018. Accessed May 27, 2020. Available at: https://www.scribd.com/document/376835956/2018-Democracy-Alliance-Spring-Conference-Agenda
  5. Markay, Lachlan. “Live from the George Soros Secret Donor Retreat.” The Washington Free Beacon. April 14, 2015. Accessed May 27, 2020. Available at: https://freebeacon.com/politics/live-from-the-george-soros-secret-donor-retreat/
  6. “DA Spring Conference Opening Remarks from Pamela Shifman.” Democracy Alliance May 8, 2023. Available at: https://democracyalliance.org/da-blog/da-spring-conference-opening-remarks-from-pamela-shifman/
  7. Joe Schoffstall and Cameron Cawthorne. “Kamala Harris Attends Secretive Gathering of Influential Democratic Donors Who Help Steer Liberal Agenda.” Fox News. December 1, 2022. Available at: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/kamala-harris-attends-secretive-gathering-influential-democratic-donors-help-steer-liberal-agenda
  8. Teddy Schleifer. Twitter Post. November 8, 2021. 12:42 pm. Available at: https://twitter.com/teddyschleifer/status/1457799611528060933
  9. “DA Spring Conference Final Remarks From Gara LaMarche.” Democracy Alliance. June 3, 2021. Available at: https://democracyalliance.org/da-blog/da-spring-conference-final-remarks/
  10. “A Few Thoughts on Emotion and Politics: Opening Remarks at the Fall 2020 DA Conference.” Democracy Alliance. November 18, 2020. Available at: https://democracyalliance.org/da-blog/opening-remarks-by-gara-lamarche-da-fall-conference-november-17-2020/
  11. “Opening Remarks by Gara LaMarche – DA Donor Meeting – April 1, 2020.” Democracy Alliance. April 1, 2020. Available at: https://democracyalliance.org/da-blog/opening-remarks-by-gara-lamarche-da-donor-meeting-april-1-2020/
  12. Democracy Alliance. “Full Democracy Alliance Agenda, Fall 2019 Investment Conference.” Posted to Scribd by The Washington Free Beacon. November 2019. Accessed May 28, 2020. Available at: https://www.scribd.com/document/435173252/Full-Democracy-Alliance-Agenda-Fall-2019-Investment-Conference
  13. Democracy Alliance. “Democracy Alliance Spring 2019 Full Agenda.” Posted to Scribd by The Washington Free Beacon. April 2019. Accessed May 28, 2020. Available at: https://www.scribd.com/document/404641552/Democracy-Alliance-Spring-2019-Full-Agenda
  14. Democracy Alliance. “Democracy Alliance, Full Fall 2018 Agenda.” Posted to Scribd by The Washington Free Beacon. November 2018. Accessed May 28, 2020. Available at: https://www.scribd.com/document/393377199/Democracy-Alliance-Full-Fall-2018-Agenda
  15. “2018 Democracy Alliance Spring Conference Agenda.” Posted to Scribd by The Washington Free Beacon. April 2018. Accessed October 21, 2020. Available at: https://www.scribd.com/document/376835956/2018-Democracy-Alliance-Spring-Conference-Agenda
  16. Democracy Alliance. “Democracy Alliance Fall Investment Agenda.” Posted to Scribd by The Washington Free Beacon. November 2017. Accessed May 27, 2020. Available at: https://www.scribd.com/document/364654492/Democracy-Alliance-Fall-Investment-Conference-Agenda?secret_password=DdVkqsjgUPrHic6jxmDz#from_embed
  17. Greenwood, Max. “Washington Post reporter put on leave for participating in liberal conference: report.” The Hill. January 11, 2018. Accessed May 28, 2020. Available at: https://thehill.com/homenews/media/368605-washington-post-reporter-put-on-leave-for-participating-in-liberal-conference
  18. Scher, Brent. “WaPo Reporter Goes Rogue, Gives Strategy Briefing to Secret Dem Donor Conference.” The Washington Free Beacon. November 22, 2017. Accessed May 28, 2020. Available at: https://freebeacon.com/politics/washington-post-reporter-gave-presentation-to-secret-liberal-donor-meeting-without-notifying-superiors/
  19. Democracy Alliance. “Democracy Alliance 2016 Investment Conference.” Posted by Politico. November 2016. Accessed May 27, 2020. Available at: https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000158-5f62-d185-ad7d-5ffb02a40002
  20. Vogel, Kenneth P. “Soros bands with donors to resist Trump, ‘take back power’.” Politico. November 14, 2016. Accessed May 27, 2020. Available at: https://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/democrats-soros-trump-231313
  21. Vogel, Kenneth P. “Donors seek to harness Hollywood to boost liberal causes.” Politico. April 10, 2016. Accessed May 27, 2020. Available at: https://www.politico.com/story/2016/04/democratic-donors-hollywood-conference-221764
  22. Democracy Alliance. “Democracy Alliance Spring 2016 Conference.” Posted by Politico. April 2016. Accessed May 27, 2020. Available at: http://static.politico.com/64/47/b971249843558514c9c6aff87765/democracy-alliance-spring-meeting-agenda.pdf
  23. Restuccia, Andrew and Vogel, Kenneth P. “Steyer stars as liberal donors gather.” Politico. April 13, 2015. Accessed May 27, 2020. Available at: https://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/tom-steyer-liberal-donors-democracy-alliance-116935
  24. Vogel, Kenneth P. and Parti, Tarini. “Hillary turns down invite to secretive donor meeting.” Politico. March 26, 2015. Accessed May 27, 2020. Available at: https://www.politico.com/story/2015/03/democracy-alliance-wants-to-push-hillary-clinton-to-the-left-116275
  25. Democracy Alliance. “Democracy Alliance Spring 2015 Conference: Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future.” Influence Watch. April 2015. Accessed May 28, 2020. Available at: https://www.influencewatch.org/app/uploads/2020/05/Democracy-Alliance-Conference-Materials-2015-Spring.pdf
  26. Vogel, Kenneth P. “Inside the vast liberal conspiracy.” Politico. June 23, 2014. Accessed May 27, 2020. Available at: https://www.politico.com/story/2014/06/inside-the-vast-liberal-conspiracy-108171
  27. Hinderaker, John. “A Window Opens Onto the Left-Wing Conspiracy.” Power Line. July 8, 2014. Accessed May 27, 2020. Available at: https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2014/07/a-window-opens-onto-the-left-wing-conspiracy.php
  28. See for example: Democracy Alliance. “Democracy Alliance, Full Fall 2018 Agenda.” Posted to Scribd by The Washington Free Beacon. November 2018. Accessed May 28, 2020. Available at: https://www.scribd.com/document/393377199/Democracy-Alliance-Full-Fall-2018-Agenda
  See an error? Let us know!