PENNSYLVANIA—Today, democracyFIRST announced the latest wave of supporters signing the democracyFIRST Promise, a cross-partisan effort to restore political consensus for democratic norms for our election process, including the condemnation of all political violence.
The new democracyFIRST Promise supporters join a bipartisan group of more than 100 candidates and elected officials, representing 48 counties in Pennsylvania. Also, all living former Pennsylvania governors from both political parties have made the promise, including Tom Ridge, Mark Schweiker, Ed Rendell, Tom Corbett, and Tom Wolf.
The latest supporters are former Republican Party of Pennsylvania (PAGOP) National Committeeman Bob Asher, former State Rep. Lita Indzel Cohen, former Montgomery County Commissioner Tom Ellis, former Montgomery County GOP Chair Ken Davis, and the leadership of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber and York County Economic Alliance.
Bob Asher, former National Committeeman, PAGOP
“As millions of Pennsylvanians cast their ballot this November, they should do so with the utmost confidence in our election system and the validity of the results. It’s the foundation our republic was built on and the strength of American democracy for generations to come.”
Lita Indzel Cohen, former State Representative [148]
“Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of our democracy, yet misinformation continues to swirl around our electoral system, eroding trust among voters. We must unite to rebuild confidence in our election process.”
Tom Ellis, former Montgomery County Commissioner
“What has always made our country unique is the peaceful transition of power, too often taken for granted. The survival of our republic depends on the unifying principle that every vote counts and at the end of any electoral contest, the one with the lower vote total congratulates the victor and pledges to work together for the common good.”
Ken Davis, former Chairman of the Montgomery County GOP
“In this time of political discourse, it is critical to counter irresponsible legal, regulatory and legislative efforts that make it difficult to register to vote, and to vote – or to deny the legitimate results of an election. Instead, we must work to restore faith and trust in our Republic’s free and fair elections and peaceful transition of power which the principles of democracyFIRST call for.”
Ryan Unger, Harrisburg Regional Chamber President and CEO
“Businesses expect stability and predictability of government to thrive, and that starts with our election process. When leaders respect the results of the election and work together to drive our economy forward, it benefits businesses in our region and throughout the Commonwealth.”
Kevin Schreiber, York County Economic Alliance President and CEO
“Our democratic processes, as enshrined in the Constitution, are at the core of our republic. In November 2024, our country will convene for the 60th time to elect a president of the United States. Amidst this heightened period of political polarization and sectarianism, let us remember the significance of the democratic process in which we are about to partake and call on all candidates to respect and adhere to the Constitution, regardless of the outcome.”
Voters across the ideological spectrum overwhelmingly support these four core pro-democracy principles. Before the November 2023 elections, democracyFIRST conducted a survey that found voters overwhelmingly support the four principles contained in the democracyFIRST Promise.
The democracyFIRST effort works to restore political consensus for democratic norms and establish a cross-partisan, pro-democracy baseline for voters and media to evaluate candidates seeking positions overseeing the administration and certification of elections. democracyFIRST promotes and supports a broad, ideologically diverse and cross-partisan group of candidates and elected officials who make the democracyFIRST Promise.
For media inquiries or to schedule interviews with coalition members, please contact [email protected].
For more information about the Pennsylvania coalition and the democracyFIRST Promise, please visit www.democracyfirst.org/state/pennsylvania.
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