 |
By The RepresentUs Team April 29, 2025 |
HELP US BUILD THE FUTURE OUR COUNTRY DESERVES
America is in crisis. We’re seeing our leaders dismantle our system of checks and balances, ignore the Constitution, consolidate power, and take political corruption to the next level. What we do in this moment will shape the future of democracy tomorrow and for decades to come.
That’s why we’re heading to Phoenix, AZ on May 14-16, 2025 for American Democracy Summit (ADS).
American Democracy Summit is the premier nonpartisan event uniting experts, activists, and thought leaders from across the nation and political spectrum to confront the critical challenges we’re up against today.
With inspiring speakers, dynamic trainers, A-list entertainment, and cultural influencers, this is your chance to connect with activists, educators, and leaders committed to protecting and strengthening our democracy.
We hope you’ll join us–tickets are on sale now.
What is American Democracy Summit?
Presented in partnership with leading pro-democracy organizations, ADS brings everyone fighting for a better democracy under one roof to celebrate the movement, connect across party lines, and collaborate to protect and strengthen our democracy during this time of political crisis.
Over the course of three days, ADS will shine a bright light on the most vital and pressing issues of our time—attacks on the Constitution, gerrymandering, money in politics, voting rights and more–through dynamic content, inspiring speakers, expert trainers, and world class entertainment.
I was absolutely blown away with the operation you all put forward. Would love to come back to ADS in 2025.
– Nick Ramos, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
The 2023 Summit held in Los Angeles was a huge success with 1,000+ attendees representing more than 50 organizations from all across the country. The broad and diverse democracy movement was on full display with attendees sharing ideas, forging new connections, finding inspiration, getting training, and leveling up their skills.
As threats to our democratic institutions continue to mount, American Democracy Summit 2025 comes at a critical moment for our movement.
Who’s Coming to ADS?
ADS brings the diverse leaders shaping the future of democracy together – and we do mean diverse. Past speakers have included sitting members of Congress, former presidential advisors, world-renowned academics, civil rights leaders, Oscar-winning actors and SNL-alums, and even a couple of Badass Grandmas. The summit is proudly nonpartisan, bringing together voices from across the political spectrum. Because a crisis this big is going to take all of us.
Speaker Preview
Adam Kinzinger
Adam Kinzinger is a former six-term Congressman, an Air Force veteran, and one of the most prominent voices calling for accountability and democracy reform after January 6th. He defied party lines to serve on the Select Committee investigating the attack, then founded Country First to rally Americans around truth and principle. These days, you’ll find him on CNN, on the bestseller list, and on the front lines of the fight for a saner political future.
Michael Douglas is a Hollywood icon — two-time Academy Award winner, cultural tastemaker, and the force behind classics like Wall Street, Traffic, and The American President. But behind the spotlight, he’s spent decades fighting for peace, nuclear disarmament, and a healthier democracy. A United Nations Messenger of Peace since 1998, Douglas has used his platform to speak out on urgent global issues and champion democratic reforms. Whether he’s on screen or on the world stage, Douglas is all in on protecting what matters most.
Maggie Toulouse Oliver has spent over two decades safeguarding democracy in New Mexico — first as County Clerk in the state’s largest county, and now as Secretary of State. She’s a trailblazer in modernizing elections, expanding voting access, and increasing government transparency. A former League of Conservation Voters director, a mom of two, and a Ph.D. student, Toulouse Oliver brings deep expertise and relentless energy to the fight for fair elections.
Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno is a powerhouse advocate for democracy and accountability. As CEO of RepresentUs, she leads the charge to build a government that truly serves the people—not special interests. A seasoned attorney, nonprofit leader, and award-winning author, Maria has spent decades fighting corruption and defending human rights both in the U.S. and around the world. Whether she's testifying before Congress, organizing grassroots movements, or writing hard-hitting reports, Maria brings a fearless, justice-driven voice to the front lines of democracy reform.
Adrian Fontes is Arizona’s Secretary of State, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, and a nationally recognized elections expert. From reforming Maricopa County’s voting system to testifying before Congress about threats to election workers, Fontes has made protecting democracy his life’s work. He’s laser-focused on ensuring every Arizonan — regardless of party — can vote freely, fairly, and securely.
Francisco Aguilar — or “Cisco,” as most people know him — is Nevada’s Secretary of State and Chair of the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State (DASS). The son of a union electrician and the first in his family to graduate college, Cisco’s journey is a testament to the power of public service. In Nevada and beyond, he’s a leading voice for secure elections, access to the ballot, and building trust in democracy across divides.
Lisa D. T. Rice is the powerhouse behind DC’s biggest democracy win in recent history. As the leader of the Initiative 83 campaign, she led the charge to open DC’s primaries to independent voters and bring ranked choice voting to the nation’s capital — winning with 73% of the vote. A lifelong Washingtonian, veteran advocate, and CEO of Grow Democracy DC, Lisa is on a mission to put voters first and make democracy work for everyone.
Ed Helms is not just the actor and comedian you know and love from The Office. He’s also a dedicated anti-corruption fighter and RepresentUs Board Member, who’s been leveraging his public platform to bring awareness and action to critical democracy issues.
Desmond Meade is the President of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC), which advocates for voting rights and criminal justice reform. Himself a formerly homeless returning citizen, Meade led the hugely-successful ballot initiative campaign that restored voting rights to over 1.4 million formerly incarcerated Floridians in 2018.
Plus, you’ll hear from a range of experts across law, technology, security, philanthropy, and business – even Hollywood stars and elected officials – all bringing their unique perspectives and bold solutions for protecting and strengthening our democracy.
Powerful Partnerships
American Democracy Summit is of, by, and for the democracy movement. It’s a proudly collaborative project shared across dozens of pro-democracy organizations.
What programming will there be?
ADS is no ordinary conference. It’s fast-paced, interactive, immersive, and entertaining, with curated opportunities to meet and collaborate with fellow democracy advocates. It’s your chance to share your ideas, inspire and educate one another, and forge lasting connections across party lines to power the future of the movement.
Here’s a taste of some of the programming on offer at ADS:
- Confronting our constitutional crisis
- How we enforce the rule of law
- What we can learn from student organizing
- Crossing the partisan divide
- Engaging women in civic life
- Election reform
- Lessons from Seattle’s voucher program
- Countering election sabotage
- Standing up to authoritarianism
- The role of states moving forward
- The role of spirituality in civic life
The future of our democracy is being written right now—and your voice belongs in the room.
American Democracy Summit 2025 isn’t just another conference. It’s a rallying point for everyone who refuses to sit on the sidelines while corruption deepens and our freedoms erode. Whether you're a seasoned advocate or just getting involved, ADS will equip you with the tools, connections, and inspiration to make real change. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the most urgent, energizing, and impactful democracy event of the year.
Join us in Phoenix this May and help create the future our country deserves.