About Us

“We believe in American exceptionalism,” reads the opening line of the 2016 Republican Party Platform. “We believe the United States of America is unlike any other nation on earth.”

Yet today, the Republican Party finds itself entertaining some of the same unsettling nativist and authoritarian impulses that characterized Europe throughout the 20th century. These ideals are antithetical to what it means to be a Republican, and what it means to be American.

Defending Democracy Together is a 501(c)(4) advocacy organization created by lifelong conservatives and Republicans — many of whom have served in Republican administrations and write for conservative publications. We are dedicated to defending America’s democratic norms, values, and institutions and fighting for consistent conservative principles like rule of law, free trade, and expanding legal immigration.

Through research, education and grassroots activism, Defending Democracy Together is fighting abuses of power that threaten to undermine the integrity of U.S. elections, federal agencies, and the Republican Party as a whole. We aim to elevate voices across the conservative political spectrum who advocate for these principles. We hope Americans on the Left, Right, and Center will join us.

General inquiries and media requests can be sent to [email protected].

Leadership and Staff

William Kristol

Director

Bill Kristol is editor-at-large of The Bulwark. He was a founder of The Weekly Standard, and is a regular guest on leading political commentary shows. Prior to his work at The Weekly Standard, Kristol led the Project for the Republican Future, an organization that helped shape the strategy that produced the 1994 Republican congressional victory.  From 1985 to 1993, Kristol served as chief of staff to Education Secretary William Bennett in the Reagan Administration and as chief of staff to Vice President Dan Quayle in the George H. W. Bush administration. Before coming to Washington, Kristol taught politics at the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University.

Mona Charen

Director

Mona Charen is policy editor of The Bulwark, a nationally syndicated columnist, and the author of two New York Times bestsellers: Useful Idiots and Do-Gooders. Her new book, Sex Matters, was released in June. Charen began her career writing for National Review, and she served as a speechwriter for Nancy Reagan before joining President Reagan’s staff in the White House Office of Public Liaison and in the Office of Communications. Her work has been featured in over 200 newspapers and websites, and she is a regular guest on public affairs programs.

Linda Chavez

Director

Linda Chavez was the highest-ranking woman in President Ronald Reagan’s White House when she served as Director of the Office of Public Liaison. She is the of chair and founder of the Center for Equal Opportunity, a senior fellow at the Niskanen Center, and was a syndicated columnist for over 30 years. She has served on two Fortune 500 company boards and is the author of three books. In 2000, the Library of Congress honored Chavez as a Living Legend.

Sarah Longwell

Executive Director
Sarah Longwell is the President and CEO of Longwell Partners, a full-service communications firm in Washington, D.C. Sarah is a Co-Founder of the organization Defending Democracy Together and spokeswoman for its project, Republicans for the Rule of Law. She is also the Publisher of The Bulwark and Chief Strategist for Republic Affairs, a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening our country’s core values and institutions. A long-time Republican strategist and former national board chair of the Log Cabin Republicans, Sarah launched Longwell Partners to engage in issues beyond partisan politics and focus on solving some of the country’s most intractable problems through cross-partisan coalitions. She lives in Washington, D.C. with her family and is a graduate of Kenyon College.

Tim Miller

Director

Tim Miller is The Bulwark’s Writer-at-Large and a communications consultant. He previously served as senior advisor to the anti-Trump Our Principles PAC, communications director for Jeb Bush, and spokesman for the Republican National Committee.

Barry Rubin

Video Production Director

Barry Rubin is director of video production at Defending Democracy Together. Barry started making videos at the age of 13, when he guilted his mother into allowing him to use his bar mitzvah money to buy a video camera and editing equipment. Barry holds a B.A. in film production from Arizona State University.