Stand Up Republic Expands Leadership
McMullin, Finn build capacity for pro-democracy political alternative
Stand Up Republic (SUR), the pro-democracy organization founded by Evan McMullin and Mindy Finn in the wake of the 2016 election, today announces additions to its board of directors. Former Congressman David Jolly (FL-13), Austin-based digital advertising entrepreneur Bryan Jones, ABC News political contributor Tara Setmayer, “How the Right Lost Its Mind” author and former conservative radio host Charlie Sykes and Niskanen Center president Jerry Taylor join Finn and McMullin as directors.
With the two major political parties moving toward ideological extremes and embracing populist rhetoric, Stand Up Republic unites Americans across the political spectrum around the ideals of liberty, equality and truth.
“The future of America depends on defending the democratic norms, ideals and institutions that have sustained our progress for nearly 250 years such as freedom of speech, the press and religion, rule of law and separation of powers,” said McMullin upon the announcement of SUR’s board.
“While we as a nation hold our leaders accountable to basic Constitutional principles, we must also work to address new challenges to our individual and collective prosperity such as technology-driven disruption to the way we work, live and relate to each other,” said Finn. “We must put country over Party and work as Americans to face looming crises with reason and resolve rather than enable demagogues to exploit cultural anxieties for their personal political gain.”
SUR launched in conjunction with Donald Trump’s inauguration, and ran a full-scale media campaign to call for a serious, independent investigation into Russia’s involvement in the 2016 election, and later pressured Congress to pass a bipartisan Russian sanctions bill. SUR will expand its activities this fall to include education and advocacy related to the threat of disinformation and propaganda orchestrated by domestic and foreign actors.
In pursuit of the mission to promote democracy in America, McMullin and Finn launched sister 501(c)(3) organization Stand Up Ideas, focused on scalable civic education and leadership development. Joining the Stand Up Ideas board of directors are Rhett Dornbach-Bender, a deputy director at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Uttam Jain, a director at Boston-based private equity firm Thomas H. Lee Partners, Molly McKew, a journalist and information warfare expert, and Yascha Mounk, a Harvard University lecturer and author of “The People versus Democracy: Why Our Freedom is in Danger and How to Save It.”
To manage the movement’s extraordinary growth and the anticipated surge of new grassroots advocates, three staff members join the joint SUR/SUI team, each contributing experience from inside and outside the beltway. Alyssa Anderson, who brings experience from both houses of Congress, will serve as Project Manager. Greg Spenchian, a former policy analyst at the Homeland Security Studies and Analysis Institute, joins as the Director of Policy and Partnerships. Steven Cruz, who previously oversaw the Koch network’s digital advocacy operations and served as a spokesman for The LIBRE Initiative, rounds out the trio as the Director of Media.
For interviews with a representative from Stand Up Republic, please contact Steven Cruz at 786–290–8373.
