Unite America
Formation2013
PurposeTo reform the American political system
HeadquartersDenver, CO
Founder
Charlie Wheelan
AffiliationsNational Association of Nonpartisan Reformers, Bridge Alliance
Websitewww.uniteamerica.org
Formerly called
The Centrist Project

Unite America (previously known as The Centrist Project) is an American grassroots organization founded by Charlie Wheelan with the goal of reforming the political system and bridging the partisan divide. Unite America supports both electoral political reforms as well as independent-minded candidates.[1]

Affiliated politicians include: Former Alaska Governor Bill Walker, former Iowa state senator David Johnson, Greg Orman, and Evan McMullin.[2]

History

Author and educator Charles Wheelan published The Centrist Manifesto[3] in 2013, inspired by the failed bipartisan efforts surrounding the Simpson-Bowles Commission in 2011.[4] In the book, he outlines an approach to government in which a "Centrist Party" challenges partisanship by controlling the swing vote and facilitating compromise between Democrats and Republicans.[5] Putting ideas into practice, Wheelan worked with business, political, and academic leaders from across the country to form the Centrist Project in 2014, which would eventually become Unite America.[6]

In October 2016, Nick Troiano, former congressional candidate and part of "Forbes 30 under 30" for Law & Policy, joined as executive director.[7] The organization continued to grow through 2017, attracting talent from both sides of the aisle on a mission to elect enough independents to shift the balance of power in key state and statewide elections.[8] Unite America adopted its current name in January 2018, aiming to reflect the organization's core mission.[9] Unite America announced the first-ever nationwide slate of independent candidates in February 2018.[10]

In March 2019, Unite America announced that they were expanding their mission of accelerating the democracy reform movement, with strategic investments in multi-cycle campaigns and infrastructure.[11] They also announced the addition of two new board members: philanthropist Kathryn Murdoch and former independent Senate candidate Neal Simon.

Mission

Unite America aims to bridge the partisan divide by passing electoral reforms that incentivize leaders to represent their constituents and support candidates who will work across the aisle. It endorses candidates on both federal and statewide levels. Unite America candidates and supporters subscribe to a set of principles laid out in the "Unity Principles."[12]

Strategy

Unite America works by making strategic investments to accelerate the democracy reform movement. Through the Unite America Fund, the organization invests in campaigns across four key reform areas:

The organization's commitment to these reforms is based in part on the Harvard Business School study by Katherine Gehl and Michael Porter.

In keeping with their mission of scaling the democracy reform movement, the organization also invests in what they call "movement capacity" to align organizations within the democracy reform space.

The third pillar of the organization is supporting what they call "Unity Candidates"; candidates who are independent-minded, committed to reform, and sign on to the organization's Unity Principles.

"Unity Principles"

Each of Unite America's endorsed candidates abides by a unifying set of principles. Formerly called the "Declaration of Independents," [13] published in February 2018, the principles are now called the Unity Principles to reflect the larger aims of the organization. Developed by Unite America's leadership, the document lays out the movement's five key tenets:

First, we put the public interest ahead of any partisan or special interest. Government should represent "We the people" – not the party leaders or those who can buy access to power.

Second, we use common sense and find common ground to solve problems. We reject today's zero-sum politics and instead work together with Democrats and Republicans in an inclusive and civil manner to get things done.

Third, we stand for the timeless values of opportunity, equality and stewardship. We want to empower every American to realize their full potential, uphold equal rights for all under the law, and ultimately leave a stronger country for the next generation.

Fourth, we champion integrity, transparency and accountability in politics. We seek to rebuild America's trust in government by holding ourselves to the highest standards of honor and honesty and by fixing the broken incentives that contribute to political dysfunction.

Fifth, we believe in shared responsibility of civic engagement. As Americans, we understand it is our civic duty to be informed and engaged on important issues."[14]

Reform strategy

In 2019, Unite America released the first State of Democracy Report in which they graded every state based on their status in five reform areas.[15] In September 2019, Unite America announced their plan to invest in their first portfolio of campaigns based on these reforms.

2019 Reform Investments
Campaign Reforms State
Alaskans for Better Elections Ranked Choice Voting, Nonpartisan top-four primaries, prohibit dark money Alaska
Rank the Vote NYC Ranked Choice Voting New York
Pennsylvanians Against Gerrymandering Independent Redistricting Commissions Pennsylvania
Voter Choice Massachusetts Ranked Choice Voting Massachusetts

Unity Candidates

Virginia

In March 2019, Unite America announced the creation of their new statewide chapter, Unite Virginia.[16] Unite Virginia would work to reward bipartisanship and support candidates through the 2019 primary elections.

The organization endorsed a bipartisan slate of candidates in Virginia.[17]

2019 Virginia Endorsements
Candidate Party Distinction District Result
Martha Mugler Democrat Hampton School Board Member HD-91 Won
Suhas Subramanyam Democrat Obama administration alum, volunteer firefighter HD-87 Won
Emmett Hanger Republican Incumbent state senator SD-24 Won

Partnerships

State-focused partnerships

In an effort to build the movement from the ground up, Unite America endorses and provides resources to independent candidates for state legislatures in a number of viable states, including Colorado, New Mexico, Maine, Alaska, and Washington.[18]

Unite Colorado

Unite America formalized its Colorado-concentrated efforts for statehouse elections with the organization of its largest state-focused affiliate, Unite Colorado.[19] Troiano identified the state's wide-ranging political leanings and the potential for a historic independent candidate victory as the driving motivations for this strategy.[18] In 2018, Unite Colorado endorsed five independent candidates the Colorado House of Representatives and the Colorado Senate.[18]

The group will endorse independent candidates running for office in New Mexico state legislature in an effort to promote competition amongst 30 of 70 uncontested New Mexico House of Representatives seats.[20]

Washington Independents

Washington Independents, with support from Unite America, launched in fall of 2017 with the intention of supporting independent, centrist candidates in Washington. Its co-founders were Chris Vance, the former chairman of the state's Republican Party, and Brian Baird, a former Democratic Congressman (WA-3).[21] The Political Action Committee spent over $100,000 on three candidates for state office in the 2018 general election. All three lost. In spring of 2019, Washington Independents announced that it would suspend operations.[22]

Unite Virginia

In March 2019, Unite America launched Unite Virginia in order to focus on Virginia's off-year state legislative elections.[23] Pivoting from its strategy in the 2018 elections, Unite America chose to support moderate, reform-minded Republicans and Democrats rather than independents. More specifically, it worked with four moderate primary challengers — two on the right and two on the left. Three of the four won their races.[24]

The Committee for Ranked Choice Voting

In 2018, Unite America endorsed the Committee for Ranked Choice Voting, an organization that pushed for the implementation of instant-runoff voting in Maine.[25][26] After a majority of voters approved a RCV citizens ballot initiative in 2016, state lawmakers called a special session to repeal the measure. In the following year, the people of Maine petitioned to override the veto, ultimately voting to restore RCV in Maine in time for the 2018 general election.[27]

2018 Endorsed National and State Candidates

Unite America announced the first-ever slate of national candidates in February 2018, including three gubernatorial candidates and two candidates for US Senate.[28]

2018 national candidates
Candidate Distinction State Race Result Vote percentage
Bill Walker Incumbent governor of Alaska[29] Alaska Governor Withdrew N/A
Greg Orman Entrepreneur and managing member of Exemplar Holdings[30] Kansas Governor Lost 6.50%
Terry Hayes State Treasurer of Maine[31] Maine Governor Lost 5.91%
Neal Simon CEO of Bronfman Rothschild and community leader[32] Maryland US Senate Lost 3.74%
Craig O'Dear Corporate trial attorney in Kansas City[33] Missouri US Senate Lost 1.41%
Marty Grohman Entrepreneur; State Representative[34] Maine US House (ME-1) Lost 8.8%

In January 2018, Unite Colorado announced a slate of independent candidates for both the Colorado House of Representatives and the Colorado Senate.[18] In addition, Unite America endorsed independent candidates for state office in Alaska, Arizona, Maine, Maryland, New Mexico, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington. All but four were defeated.

2018 state candidates
Candidate Distinction State Position Result Vote percentage
Jason Grenn Incumbent[35] Alaska House District 22 Lost 41.6%
Chris Dimond Union organizer[36] Alaska House District 33 Lost 44.0%
Daniel Ortiz Former high school teacher; Incumbent[37] Alaska House District 36 Won 58.3%
Kathy Knecht Peoria Unified School District Governing Board, member at large[38] Arizona South Dakota 21 Lost 46.7%
Steve Peterson Strategy consultant[39] Colorado Senate District 30 Lost 5.7%
Maile Foster Financial planner; IBM administrator[40] Colorado House District 18 Lost 6.9%
Eric Montoya Thornton, Colorado City Council member[41] Colorado House District 31 Disqualified N/A
Jay Geyer Professor of ethics and political philosophy[42] Colorado House District 33 Lost 4.3%
Thea Chase Director of the Southwest Innovation Corridor[43] Colorado House District 54 Lost 34.0%
Paul Jones Retired Colorado Parks and Wildlife game warden[44] Colorado House District 59 Lost 44.0%
Crystal Canney CEO of The Knight Canney Group[45] Maine Senate District 27 Lost 25.2%
Dennis Welsh Commercial photographer[46] Maine House District 47 Lost 48.8%
Anne Gass Author; Women's rights advocate[47] Maine House District 67 Lost 46.9%
Walter Riseman Business development background[48] Maine House District 69 Won 54.9%
Owen Casas Veteran; Involved in local government; Incumbent[49] Maine House District 94 Lost 47.3%
Ray Ranker Pastor; Activist[50] Maryland House District 21 Lost 6.3%
Tweeti Blancett Sustainable energy advocate[51] New Mexico House District 40 Lost 19.2%
Jarratt Applewhite Nonprofit leader, small business owner[52] New Mexico House District 50 Lost 41.9%
Cory Ann Ellis Small business owner; Community organizer[53] South Dakota House District 7 Lost 14.2%
Laura Sibilia Economic development[54] Vermont House District 127 Won 96.0%
Ben Jickling Incumbent; Local government experience[55] Vermont House District 128 Won 24.9%
John Vihstadt Incumbent; Local government experience[56] Virginia Arlington County Board Lost 46.4%
Dr. Ann Diamond Physician[57] Washington House District 12-A Lost 44.3%
Ned Witting Auditor and financial officer[58] Washington House District 25-B Lost in jungle primary 8.0%
Marco Padilla Co-founder of Bremerton Visionaries; PhD Candidate[59] Washington House District 26-B Lost in jungle primary 5.3%

Board of directors

Unite America's operating board is made up of leaders from both private and public spheres.[60]

  • Charles Wheelan, founder and senior economics lecturer at Dartmouth College
  • Neal Simon, former candidate for US Senate
  • Kathryn Murdoch, co-founder and president of Quadrivium
  • Shawn Riegsecker, CEO and founder of Centro Inc
  • Lisa D. T. Rice, political and external affairs strategist
  • Marc Merrill, co-chairman, co-CEO, and co-founder of Riot Games
  • Ben Goldhirsh, co-founder and chairman of GOOD
  • Katherine Gehl, former president and CEO of Gehl Foods

References

  1. ↑ "Political Reformers Gain Steam – With an Eye on 2020". rollcall.com. Retrieved 2019-05-10.
  2. ↑ "Anti-Trump Independents Are Starting to Organize". POLITICO Magazine. Retrieved 2017-08-10.
  3. ↑ Wheelan, Charles (2013-04-19). The Centrist Manifesto. ISBN 978-0393346879.
  4. ↑ "The Man Behind the Movement: An Interview with Dr. Charles Wheelan – Free Wheel Media". Free Wheel Media. 2017-10-16. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  5. ↑ "The Centrist Manifesto | W. W. Norton & Company". books.wwnorton.com. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  6. ↑ "Our Story". Unite America. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  7. ↑ "Nick's Site". Nick's Site. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  8. ↑ "Centrist Project hopes to break statehouse gridlock by electing independent candidates – Colorado Politics". coloradopolitics.com. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  9. ↑ "Centrist Project launches initial Colorado slate of unaffiliated legislative candidates, announces name change – Colorado Politics". coloradopolitics.com. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  10. ↑ "Unite America Announces First-Ever National Slate of Independent U.S. Senate and Governor Candidates". Unite America. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  11. ↑ "Unite America 2020: Scaling the Democracy Reform Movement". Unite America. Retrieved 2019-10-04.
  12. ↑ "Declaration of Independents". Unite America. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  13. ↑ "Statewide independents roll out national slate". POLITICO. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  14. ↑ "Independents Can Unite America | RealClearPolitics". Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  15. ↑ "Report ranks every state on 5 key democracy reform moves". The Fulcrum. 2019-06-26. Retrieved 2019-10-04.
  16. ↑ Hankerson, Mechelle. "National group wants to back Virginia centrists, boost bipartisanship". www.nbc12.com. Retrieved 2019-10-04.
  17. ↑ "What we did in Virginia". Unite America. Retrieved 2019-10-04.
  18. 1 2 3 4 "Unite America Director: History Will Be Made In November". IVN.us. 2018-03-13. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  19. ↑ Roberts, Michael (2018-01-09). "Unite Colorado's Plan to Snuff Out Partisan Political Bullsh*t". Westword. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  20. ↑ "Independent Revolution Expands to New Mexico with Competitive Slate of Candidates". IVN.us. 2018-05-24. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  21. ↑ "Is there room for a political center in Washington state? Ex-officials – a Democrat and a Republican – start new group to find out". The Seattle Times. 2017-11-16. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
  22. ↑ "Washington PAC supporting independents calls it quits". oregonlive.com. Associated Press. 2019-05-29. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
  23. ↑ "Launching Unite Virginia". Unite America. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
  24. ↑ "What we did in Virginia". Unite America. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
  25. ↑ "Unite America Endorses Maine Ranked Choice Voting". Unite America. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
  26. ↑ "The Committee for Ranked Choice Voting 2020". The Committee for Ranked Choice Voting 2020. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
  27. ↑ "Timeline of RCV in Maine". FairVote. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
  28. ↑ "National Slate of Independent Candidates". National Press Club. 2014-08-14. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  29. ↑ "Gov. Bill Walker, Governor (AK)". Unite America. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  30. ↑ "Greg Orman, Governor (KS)". Kansas City Star. Retrieved 2018-06-08.
  31. ↑ "Treasurer Terry Hayes, Governor (ME)". BDN Politics. Retrieved 2018-06-08.
  32. ↑ "Neal Simon, US Senate (MD)". Politico. Retrieved 2018-06-08.
  33. ↑ "Craig O'Dear, US Senate (MO)". Kansas City Post. Retrieved 2018-06-08.
  34. ↑ "Martin Grohman's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
  35. ↑ "Jason Grenn". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
  36. ↑ Purdy, David (2018-08-06). "Chris Dimond hopes to bring compromise and focus on workers to statehouse". KTOO. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
  37. ↑ "About". Ortiz 4 AK House. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
  38. ↑ "Kathy Knecht". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
  39. ↑ "Steve Peterson, Senate District 30". IVN. Retrieved 2018-06-08.
  40. ↑ "Maile Foster, House District 18". Colorado Springs Indepdendent. Retrieved 2018-06-08.
  41. ↑ "Eric Montoya, House District 31". Eric Montoya. Retrieved 2018-06-08.
  42. ↑ "Jay Geyer, House District 33". Jay Geyer. Retrieved 2018-06-08.
  43. ↑ "Thea Chase, House District 54". Colorado Politics. Retrieved 2018-06-08.
  44. ↑ "Paul Jones: We welcome independent Paul Jones to the race for Colorado House District 59". Durango Herald. August 13, 2018. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
  45. ↑ "The Knight Canney Team | Government Relations, Public Relations, Event Planning, Campaign & Election". The Knight Canney Group. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
  46. ↑ "Candidate profile: Dennis Welsh". Brunswick Times Record. 2018-10-21. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
  47. ↑ "Anne B. Gass". Maine Suffrage Centennial. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
  48. ↑ "Representative Walter Riseman | Maine State Legislature". legislature.maine.gov. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
  49. ↑ "MEET OWEN". Re-elect Owen Casas. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
  50. ↑ "Candidate for House of Delegates: Ray Ranker". capitalgazette.com. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
  51. ↑ "Tweeti Blancett, NM HD-40". INV. Retrieved 2018-06-08.
  52. ↑ "Jarratt Applewhite, NM HD-50". Santa Fe New American. Retrieved 2018-06-08.
  53. ↑ "Meet Cory Ann". Elect Ellis D7 House. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
  54. ↑ "Representative Laura Sibilia". legislature.vermont.gov. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
  55. ↑ "Representative Benjamin Jickling". legislature.vermont.gov. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
  56. ↑ "About John". John Vihstadt for Arlington County Board. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
  57. ↑ "Ann Diamond, WA LD-12". Unite America. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  58. ↑ "Ned Witting, WA HD-25". Washington Independents. Retrieved 2018-06-08.
  59. ↑ "Marco Padilla, WA LD-26". Marco Padilla. Retrieved 2018-06-08.
  60. ↑ "Board". Unite America. Retrieved 2019-05-10.
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