2022 Defenders of Democracy
Country First has selected candidates who put country over party and will uphold their oaths to defend democracy -- no matter what. Like our movement, these leaders are reasonable people of goodwill from all parties and of none, and our endorsements uniquely reflect it.
How can you support the Country First Defenders of Democracy slate?
✔ Sign-up to Volunteer
✔ Donate on this page and the funds will be used to support the victory of these candidates
✔ Show your values with Country First gear. We have new yard signs, a "Stand for Truth" line, and old favorites.
Country First, led by Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), today announced its endorsements for the 2022 general election. All candidates endorsed have shown a commitment to standing for truth and defending democracy. Country First will support campaigns with a tailored combination of fundraising, advertising, texting, grassroots engagement, and get-out-the-vote -- the same strategy we successfully employed throughout the primaries to defeat toxic candidates.
"Now more than ever, it’s critical we elect leaders up and down the ballot who are loyal to the Constitution and willing to be a bulwark for democracy – regardless of their political party affiliation," Rep. Kinzinger said. "We must set partisan politics and ideology aside in order to preserve our nation’s democracy and demand accountability in our leaders. I’m proud to endorse this slate of candidates that are ready to put our country and the American people first."
Country First is proud to support the following candidates -- not because of their party affiliation or policy beliefs -- but because they stand ready to defend democracy and build cross-partisan coalitions that can make our country stronger:
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Sen. Lisa Murkowski, for U.S. Senator from Alaska (R)
- Murkowski courageously put her country before party by voting to convict Donald Trump at his impeachment trial, the only Republican to do so who is up for re-election this cycle. Throughout her tenure in the Senate, she has been a model for bi-partisan bridge building. Her opponent has been endorsed by Trump, and continues to help perpetuate the Big Lie that the 2020 election was stolen.
-
Evan McMullin, for U.S. Senator from Utah (I)
- McMullin is an independent conservative voice who has built bi-partisan coalitions to ensure our country and its people come before party and politics. His opponent, U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R), has been endorsed by Trump, and continues to fuel conspiracy theories that the 2020 election was stolen.
-
Josh Shapiro, for Governor of Pennsylvania (D)
- Shapiro is a staunch defender of our democratic institutions and will lead the state with integrity. His opponent, Doug Mastriano, is an election denier who has spread dangerous conspiracy theories, fought to overturn Pennsylvania’s election results, and was present at the Capitol on January 6th after paying to bus people from Pennsylvania to D.C.
-
Katie Hobbs, for Governor of Arizona (D)
- As the current Arizona Secretary of State, Hobbs has been a staunch defender of our democratic institutions, despite threats of violence, and will lead the state with integrity. Her opponent, Kari Lake, is an election denier who has spread dangerous conspiracy theories, advocated for overturning Arizona's election results, and demonstrates greater loyalty to Donald Trump than to our constitution and institutions.
-
Brad Raffensperger, for Georgia Secretary of State (R)
- As the incumbent Secretary of State, Raffensperger has proven he has the experience, integrity, and courage to serve Georgians again in that office. As the top election official in Georgia, he overcame tremendous pressure from Donald Trump and his supporters to "find" enough votes to declare Trump the winner. Few politicians are willing to risk their careers to do the right thing, which is why it's so important to support those, like Brad Raffensperger, who do.
-
Adrian Fontes, for Arizona Secretary of State candidate (D)
- Fontes has proven he has the experience and integrity to serve as Secretary of State, the top election official in Arizona. His opponent is an extremist election denier who masterminded the bogus Arizona Audit and demonstrates greater loyalty to Donald Trump than to our constitution and institutions.
-
Cisco Aguilar, for Nevada Secretary of State (D)
- Aguilar has proven he has the experience and integrity to serve as Secretary of State, the top election official in Nevada. His opponent is an extremist election denier who demonstrates greater loyalty to Donald Trump than to our constitution and institutions.
-
Steve Simon, for Minnesota Secretary of State (D)
- Simon, the incumbent Secretary of State, has proven he has the experience and integrity to continue as the top election official in Minnesota. His opponent is an extremist election denier who demonstrates greater loyalty to Donald Trump than to our constitution and institutions.
-
Jocelyn Benson, for Michigan Secretary of State (D)
- Benson, the incumbent Secretary of State, has proven she has the experience and integrity to continue as the top election official in Michigan. Her opponent is an extremist election denier who demonstrates greater loyalty to Donald Trump than to our constitution and institutions.
-
Clint Smith, candidate for Arizona’s 5th Congressional District (I)
- Smith is the epitome of a Country First candidate, someone devoted to country before party, and who felt compelled to run as an independent after extreme elements of the GOP sought to overturn Arizona’s election results. His opponent, Rep. Andy Biggs, is actively using his position in Congress to undermine the foundations of American democracy and perpetuate the Big Lie that the 2020 election was stolen.
-
Larry Lazor, for Connecticut's 1st Congressional District (R)
- Lazor is the epitome of a Country First candidate, someone devoted to country before party, and who insists the GOP must break from “the dishonest narrative and divisive vitriol that led to the January 6th attacks on the U.S. Capitol.” Lazor and his campaign can serve as an important model for Republicans of good conscience to follow.
-
Thomas Knecht, for State Representative in Minnesota HD49B (R)
- Knecht is the epitome of a Country First candidate, someone devoted to country before party, and who wants to build bridges to combat polarization and partisanship in the Minnesota House. Knecht and his campaign can serve as an important model for Republicans of good conscience to follow.
How can you support the Country First Defenders of Democracy slate?
✔ Sign-up to Volunteer
✔ Donate on this page and the funds will be used to support the victory of these candidates
✔ Show your values with Country First gear. We have new yard signs, a "Stand for Truth" line, and old favorites.
Country First, led by Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), today announced its endorsements for the 2022 general election. All candidates endorsed have shown a commitment to standing for truth and defending democracy. Country First will support campaigns with a tailored combination of fundraising, advertising, texting, grassroots engagement, and get-out-the-vote -- the same strategy we successfully employed throughout the primaries to defeat toxic candidates.
"Now more than ever, it’s critical we elect leaders up and down the ballot who are loyal to the Constitution and willing to be a bulwark for democracy – regardless of their political party affiliation," Rep. Kinzinger said. "We must set partisan politics and ideology aside in order to preserve our nation’s democracy and demand accountability in our leaders. I’m proud to endorse this slate of candidates that are ready to put our country and the American people first."
Country First is proud to support the following candidates -- not because of their party affiliation or policy beliefs -- but because they stand ready to defend democracy and build cross-partisan coalitions that can make our country stronger:
-
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, for U.S. Senator from Alaska (R)
- Murkowski courageously put her country before party by voting to convict Donald Trump at his impeachment trial, the only Republican to do so who is up for re-election this cycle. Throughout her tenure in the Senate, she has been a model for bi-partisan bridge building. Her opponent has been endorsed by Trump, and continues to help perpetuate the Big Lie that the 2020 election was stolen.
-
Evan McMullin, for U.S. Senator from Utah (I)
- McMullin is an independent conservative voice who has built bi-partisan coalitions to ensure our country and its people come before party and politics. His opponent, U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R), has been endorsed by Trump, and continues to fuel conspiracy theories that the 2020 election was stolen.
-
Josh Shapiro, for Governor of Pennsylvania (D)
- Shapiro is a staunch defender of our democratic institutions and will lead the state with integrity. His opponent, Doug Mastriano, is an election denier who has spread dangerous conspiracy theories, fought to overturn Pennsylvania’s election results, and was present at the Capitol on January 6th after paying to bus people from Pennsylvania to D.C.
-
Katie Hobbs, for Governor of Arizona (D)
- As the current Arizona Secretary of State, Hobbs has been a staunch defender of our democratic institutions, despite threats of violence, and will lead the state with integrity. Her opponent, Kari Lake, is an election denier who has spread dangerous conspiracy theories, advocated for overturning Arizona's election results, and demonstrates greater loyalty to Donald Trump than to our constitution and institutions.
-
Brad Raffensperger, for Georgia Secretary of State (R)
- As the incumbent Secretary of State, Raffensperger has proven he has the experience, integrity, and courage to serve Georgians again in that office. As the top election official in Georgia, he overcame tremendous pressure from Donald Trump and his supporters to "find" enough votes to declare Trump the winner. Few politicians are willing to risk their careers to do the right thing, which is why it's so important to support those, like Brad Raffensperger, who do.
-
Adrian Fontes, for Arizona Secretary of State candidate (D)
- Fontes has proven he has the experience and integrity to serve as Secretary of State, the top election official in Arizona. His opponent is an extremist election denier who masterminded the bogus Arizona Audit and demonstrates greater loyalty to Donald Trump than to our constitution and institutions.
-
Cisco Aguilar, for Nevada Secretary of State (D)
- Aguilar has proven he has the experience and integrity to serve as Secretary of State, the top election official in Nevada. His opponent is an extremist election denier who demonstrates greater loyalty to Donald Trump than to our constitution and institutions.
-
Steve Simon, for Minnesota Secretary of State (D)
- Simon, the incumbent Secretary of State, has proven he has the experience and integrity to continue as the top election official in Minnesota. His opponent is an extremist election denier who demonstrates greater loyalty to Donald Trump than to our constitution and institutions.
-
Jocelyn Benson, for Michigan Secretary of State (D)
- Benson, the incumbent Secretary of State, has proven she has the experience and integrity to continue as the top election official in Michigan. Her opponent is an extremist election denier who demonstrates greater loyalty to Donald Trump than to our constitution and institutions.
-
Clint Smith, candidate for Arizona’s 5th Congressional District (I)
- Smith is the epitome of a Country First candidate, someone devoted to country before party, and who felt compelled to run as an independent after extreme elements of the GOP sought to overturn Arizona’s election results. His opponent, Rep. Andy Biggs, is actively using his position in Congress to undermine the foundations of American democracy and perpetuate the Big Lie that the 2020 election was stolen.
-
Larry Lazor, for Connecticut's 1st Congressional District (R)
- Lazor is the epitome of a Country First candidate, someone devoted to country before party, and who insists the GOP must break from “the dishonest narrative and divisive vitriol that led to the January 6th attacks on the U.S. Capitol.” Lazor and his campaign can serve as an important model for Republicans of good conscience to follow.
-
Thomas Knecht, for State Representative in Minnesota HD49B (R)
- Knecht is the epitome of a Country First candidate, someone devoted to country before party, and who wants to build bridges to combat polarization and partisanship in the Minnesota House. Knecht and his campaign can serve as an important model for Republicans of good conscience to follow.