John --



One of the greatest gifts of 2023 has been getting to spend much more quality time with my wife and 15-month-old son. I'm sure I don't have to tell any of the parents that there's nothing like a child to prove how quickly time flies by, and that when something is precious to us -- like our families -- we must prioritize it, we must nurture it, we must protect it.



The same is true for our country. And just like a family, or anything else we care about, set-it-and-forget-it doesn't work well for long. That's what's so inspiring about Country First: the hundreds of thousands of Americans who step up and say WE are the Reasonable Majority, WE are the solution.



Country First has a solid plan for getting pro-democracy, pro-freedom problem solvers into all levels of government, and we've already proven our adeptness at removing some of the most toxic. But that won't be enough. We've actually got to make the system better so our reasonable, ethical candidates, no matter their party, are able to win, survive, and thrive -- without having to act nuts to win a primary. And we've got a solid plan for that, too.



So I just want to thank you for being a part of this movement. What we're doing together is unique in politics; it's unique in American society. I encourage you to share the gift of this community with as many people as you can. Everyday we hear from more Americans so thankful to have found us.  So help bring more to our table -- there will always be room for another chair.



Country First,



Adam



PS: Check out this week's Movement Memo below, which includes the replay <[link removed]> of last week's hugely successful Campfire. Many thanks to the volunteers and staff who create this resource!



<[link removed]>Consider an investment in our Critical Mission <[link removed]>















See something of interest? All are welcome! Click on the event to register.



April 18 at 8pm ET: 



- Communications Volunteer Working Group Town Hall <[link removed]>

- Speaker Series Volunteer Working Group Town Hall <[link removed]>



April 19 at 8pm ET: 



- Electoral Reform Volunteer Working Group Town Hall <[link removed]>



April 24 at 8pm ET: 



- Finding Solutions Volunteer Working Group Town Hall <[link removed]>



April 25 at 8pm ET: 



- Political Research Volunteer Working Group Town Hall <[link removed]>

- Mending Divisions Volunteer Working Group Town Hall <[link removed]>



April 27 at 8pm ET: 



- Country First Book Club <[link removed]>



AND IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...



Last week, we worked with our Montana State Chapter to produce a national campfire with over 22,000 people tuning in. The Montana Chapter leaders, former state legislators Joel Krautter and Bruce Grubbs, interviewed former Montana Governors Steve Bullock (D) and Marc Racicot (R) to discuss the importance of good, reasonable people -- no matter their party -- uniting to defeat extreme attacks on our institutions and Constitution.



<[link removed]>



Here are some highlights and inspiring words from our speakers: 



- Gov. Racicot charged us: "We as citizens have an obligation to become involved in supporting, examining, and building strong institutions in concert with people from across the political spectrum."

- Gov. Bullock encouraged us: "When you can sit down and actually openly and earnestly try to learn from others who disagree with you, you’re going to be a better person."



Click here to watch the replay of Country First's Uniting States Campfire <[link removed]>!







ELECTION REFORM



Axios <[link removed]>: Colorado group pushes for ranked choice voting in Denver



Denver's mayoral election has been whittled down from 16 candidates to just two, but not before leaving voters overwhelmed with choices. Now, some activists are pushing for a simpler way to conduct elections — ranked choice voting.



Driving the news: Ranked Choice Voting for Colorado, a grassroots advocacy group founded in 2017, announced Wednesday it formed a committee to advocate for the new voting system in the state's largest city.



The Minnesota Daily <[link removed]>: Minnesota elections could see ranked-choice voting by 2026



A new bill in the Minnesota Legislature, introduced on March 1, would implement ranked-choice voting (RCV) for federal and state elections. The bill most recently had hearings in the House Elections, Finance and Policy Committee and the Senate Committee on State and Local Government and Veterans on March 17. Both committees amended the bill and re-referred it to committees, where it now waits.



While Minneapolis, St. Paul, St. Louis Park, Bloomington and Minnetonka voters use RCV for local elections, RCV would extend to state and federal elections if passed. Local jurisdictions would still decide whether to implement RCV for local elections.



AZ Mirror <[link removed]>: Lawmakers to ask AZ voters to block ranked-choice voting in 2024



Far-right lawmakers are hoping Arizonans will vote to prohibit ranked-choice voting in 2024, aiming to cripple the efforts of voter organizations to put the system up for consideration on the same ballot.



Last week, House Concurrent Resolution 2033 was approved via a party line vote, with the staunch opposition of Democrats, and sent to the Secretary of State for placement on the 2024 ballot. If voters approve, it would modify the Arizona Constitution by forcing all partisan state, county and city positions to be determined with a direct primary model. In a direct primary, voters choose one candidate from each political party to advance to the general election. 



The Times Tribune <[link removed]>: Supporters hope Pa.’s new legislature will embrace open primaries, but at least one big hurdle remains



Lawmakers and advocates who support opening Pennsylvania’s primary elections to over a million independent voters hope the Legislature will take action this year, but at least one key senator stands in their way.



Pennsylvania is one of nine states that has closed primaries, meaning only registered Democrats and Republicans can vote for candidates during partisan primary elections. This means only those voters have a say in which candidates from those parties will face off in the November election, excluding the 1.2 million people in Pennsylvania who are registered to a third party or who are unaffiliated.



There have been repeated bipartisan attempts to change Pennsylvania’s primary process dating to at least 1995. In recent years, an open primaries measure came closest to succeeding in 2019, when one passed the state Senate 42 to 8. The measure was sponsored by former state Sen. Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson, who was then the chamber’s president pro tempore and held considerable power. 



2024 ELECTION WATCH



Politico <[link removed]>: Asa Hutchinson announces presidential bid, says Trump should withdraw from race



Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson is running for president in 2024, he said Sunday. "I am going to be running. And the reason, as I’ve traveled the country for six months, I hear people talk about the leadership of our country, and I’m convinced that people want leaders that appeal to the best of America, and not simply appeal to our worst instincts," Hutchinson said during an interview with Jonathan Karl on ABC’s This Week. "I believe I can be that kind of leader for the people of America."



Washington Examiner <[link removed]>: Liz Cheney 2024 chances jump after Trump indictment



Republican support for former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) has doubled in the wake of former President Donald Trump’s hush money indictment, making her the new threat to Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) and could shake up the 2024 GOP race.



Support for Cheney, at 5% before the indictment news, has surged to 10%, putting the Trump foe and GOP face of the House Jan. 6 committee in a solid third place behind Trump and DeSantis, who has fallen from 32% to 22% in the latest Trafalgar Group survey of Republican voters.



BIPARTISANSHIP



The Tennessean <[link removed]>: One TN Republican didn't vote for lawmakers' expulsion. Here's who and why.



Rep. Charlie Baum's votes Thursday on the expulsion of three representatives were unique. Baum, R-Murfreesboro, was the only Republican representative to vote against expulsion for all three: Justin Jones, D-Nashville; Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis; and Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville.



Baum said his Republican colleagues had concerns about the rules not being followed by the “Tennessee Three” representatives in the days following the Covenant School shooting in Nashville.



"I know my constituents, the vast majority of them didn't want these representatives expelled," said Baum, who is in his fifth year as state representative for District 37. 



Politico <[link removed]>: Bennie Thompson: "I chose Liz Cheney over party"



Rep. Bennie Thompson, the man who for nearly 18 months anchored the House investigation into the events that led to the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, says he sees parallels between the attacks on his committee’s work and the skepticism levied at the Manhattan district attorney.



"What happened on Jan. 6 was that sole reminder that, even though we are the greatest country in the world, we have to maintain vigilance in keeping it. … Otherwise, the potential for what occurred on Jan. 6 could very well happen again. So I wanted to frame it [in that context and] I chose Liz Cheney as my vice chair. I didn’t have to. I could have picked anyone, but I think it was for the country. I chose Liz Cheney over party."







Actions you can take right now to help make a difference!



WATCH <[link removed]>our newest advertisement focusing on the lies Tucker Carlson and Fox News have continued to spread and share it with a friend using your unique recruiter link! 



SIGN <[link removed]>the petition demanding Fox News and Tucker Carlson to stop amplifying dishonest, distorted, and damaging lies regarding the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol. 



SHOP <[link removed]> the cause and wear your values.



YOU + TWO



Reach out directly to friends and family, regardless of their political party, who are tired of our leaders who put politics before what's best for the country.



Your unique recruiter link: [link removed]



<[link removed]>Get Involved <[link removed]>



<[link removed]>Support the Mission <[link removed]>



<[link removed]>Wear the Cause <[link removed]>







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