John --



What if I told you this email has GREAT news? News we think will leave you saying "wow!"  That's not something political emails regularly deliver.  In fact, it's all too rare... we can be guilty of that, too.



But today, Country First is thrilled to share not one, not two, but 13 big primary victories in Pennsylvania's local elections.



Why does this matter? Because this year, Pennsylvania will elect all of the county clerks who will administer the 2024 presidential election. And lo and behold, our research discovered there were 17 counties where an election denier needed to be defeated to help prevent a constitutional crisis next year.



Country First Academy identified, recruited, and trained fantastic people to run in these races, and we're proud to share their success with you:



-  11 of 15 of our challenger candidates advanced through their primaries



-  3 of 3 aligned incumbents advanced through their primaries.



And due to the conservative nature of many target counties, eight of our pro-democracy challenger candidates are essentially guaranteed to be elected to manage the 2024 cycle in their counties.



That is a HUGE win for democracy.



These efforts took considerable manpower, with two full-time Country First Academy staff and tons of volunteers on the ground in Pennsylvania, supported by the national team at headquarters.  Country First didn't just ensure there are pro-democracy, pro-freedom leaders on the ballot in November, we knocked out a lot of election deniers who would have wreaked havoc in a key battleground state... AGAIN.



This work isn't just limited to Pennsylvania. The Country First network is more committed than ever to identifying, recruiting, and training awesome pro-democracy, pro-freedom candidates all over the country and from any party (or none at all) -- people whose first priority is coming together to solve problems.



That's what America needs more of. And Country First is delivering.



Together,



Country First Team



PS: If you've ever considered running for office, fill out our interest form and schedule an intro webinar <[link removed]> to learn more. Country First Academy is the only non-partisan political leadership incubator out there, and it's always free to work with us.











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



Upcoming Events



May 24 at 9pm ET



- National Mending Divisions Training <[link removed]>



May 25 at 7pm ET 



- Country First Book Club <[link removed]>







ELECTION REFORM  <[link removed]>



The Brookings Register <[link removed]>: Open primary question may make 2024 ballot in South Dakota



It’s a well-worn adage that politics are about timing, and that’s especially true when it comes to citizen-led ballot measures in South Dakota. South Dakota Open Primaries has submitted a petition for a constitutional amendment to establish top-two primaries – sometimes called "jungle primaries" – for governor, Congress, state legislative, and county races.



All registered voters would be eligible to weigh in on which candidates advance to the general election. Currently, Independent voters in South Dakota can vote in Democratic primaries but not Republican contests. 



Penn Live <[link removed]>: I see a need for more serious legislators than the closed primary process produces.



Pennsylvania is one of only nine states with a fully closed primary election. This means that only registered Democrats and Republicans can vote for candidates in our primary elections. Legislation has recently been introduced in both the Pennsylvania State House and Senate to open our primary elections to independent voters. This legislation would allow independents to pick a party primary in which to participate. Independent voters are among the fastest-growing segment of the electorate in many states including Pennsylvania.



Anchorage Daily News <[link removed]>: OPINION: Open primaries and ranked choice voting reflect Alaskans' spirit



The "pick one" primary and ranked choice voting (RCV) general election are a reflection of Alaska’s independent spirit. The largest party of registered voters in Alaska is the "non-party" – the commonsense, no-nonsense group sandwiched between the two main parties. If anything has been driving down civic engagement and voter participation, it is the divisive rhetoric and ineffectiveness of our governing bodies. The open primary helps level the playing field and temper the partisan antics. Common sense and good government can prevail with the help of RCV. <[link removed]>



GERRYMANDERING



NPR <[link removed]>: Is drawing a voting map that helps a political party illegal? Only in some states



A recent unusual ruling by North Carolina's highest court has put a spotlight on the patchwork of state laws and court decisions that determine where maps of voting districts can be drawn to make elections less competitive and certain political parties more likely to win. The practice is known as partisan gerrymandering, which, courts have found, both Republicans and Democrats have deployed when in control of redistricting.



CNN <[link removed]>: Supreme Court agrees to take up South Carolina racial gerrymandering case



The Supreme Court agreed on Monday to consider a lower court decision that struck down a congressional district in South Carolina as an illegal racial gerrymander. The lower court held that the congressional district – which includes Charleston – "constituted and unconstitutional racial gerrymander in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment because race was the predominant factor in the adoption of the" plan.



BIPARTISANSHIP



AP <[link removed]>: Wisconsin lawmakers unveil bipartisan election overhauls



Wisconsin lawmakers unveiled bipartisan plans on Thursday to address problems that have disrupted how elections have been administered in the presidential battleground state since 2020. Among other changes, the proposals would prevent last-minute polling site closures, better protect election officials and enact stricter military voting requirements to deter fraud. The bills add to a growing list of proposals from a group of Democrats and Republicans focused on making the state’s elections safer and more secure. Their efforts stand in stark contrast to bills put forth by GOP lawmakers during the last legislative session that sought to limit local clerks’ power and make it harder to vote.



Axios <[link removed]>: Scoop: House centrist groups eye bipartisan policy partnership



Two groups whose membership accounts for nearly 1/3 of the House of Representatives have been quietly meeting to explore potential areas of bipartisan cooperation, Axios has learned. Why it matters: The combined muscle of the center-left New Democrat Coalition and center-right Republican Governance Group gives them greater leverage for joint initiatives than the 61-member Problem Solvers Caucus (formed by No Labels).



COUNTRY OVER PARTY



Country Music Superstar, Dolly Parton, calls <[link removed]> out politicians focused more on helping their parties than the people in her new song.







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



WATCH <[link removed]>our newest advertisement, updated after the ousting of Tucker Carlson at Fox News! Share it with your friends!



SIGN <[link removed]>the petition demanding that Congressman Santos resigns in shame!



SHOP <[link removed]> our Country First baseball cap!



BRING a friend to one of our events! Your unique recruiter link: [link removed]



Check out our Volunteer Working Groups!



As a grassroots coalition, Country First is dedicated to providing each member with the opportunity to contribute to the success of the movement. National Volunteer Working Groups (NVWG) are separated by interest and are aligned with one of Country First’s key pillars.



- Election Reform <[link removed]>

- Political Research <[link removed]>

- Finding Solutions <[link removed]>

- Communications <[link removed]>

- Mending Divisions <[link removed]>

- Inspiring Speakers Series <[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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