Looking Back and Looking Ahead
Issue One staffers reflect on 2025 and look ahead to 2026
As the year comes to a close, we wanted to hear from our staff about what excited them this year about their work or the democracy reform sector in general, and what they’re looking forward to in the coming year.
Below are what a few of our staffers had to say.
Michael Beckel, Senior Research Director:
This year, Washington has been awash in special interest money, from a record-breaking haul for Trump’s inauguration (with much of it coming from Big Tech) to private interests funding the controversial demolition of the East Wing of the White House to build a new ballroom. In April, Issue One uncovered a brazen example of corruption. By pouring over obscure campaign finance filings, we revealed that executives at companies accused of selling fraudulent tax credits literally lined the pockets of Billy Long, the former Missouri congressman who Trump nominated to lead the IRS. During Long’s confirmation hearing, multiple senators asked questions about these eyebrow-raising contributions, and ReFormers Caucus member former Rep. Claudine Schneider (R-RI) wrote an op-ed urging senators to oppose Long’s nomination. While Long was ultimately confirmed, Trump removed him from the job after less than two months.
Issue One also worked overtime this year to support novel campaign finance reform approaches at the state level — efforts that will continue in 2026. In October, two dozen members of Issue One’s ReFormers Caucus — 12 of whom served in public office as Democrats and 12 of whom served in public office as Republicans — filed an amicus brief with the First Circuit Court of Appeals to support a ballot measure passed last year by 75% of voters in Maine to cap contributions to super PACs. That same month, Issue One fielded two money-in-politics polls, one nationally and one in Montana. Our national polling was cited in the First Circuit legal brief from the ReFormers Caucus members, as well as an amicus brief filed by another advocacy organization to argue that independent expenditures can, in fact, raise concerns about the appearance of corruption. And our Montana polling found that 74% of Montanans — including 84% of Democrats, 69% of Republicans, and 64% of independents — would vote in favor of a proposed ballot measure to eliminate corporate and dark money spending in elections, which voters in that state are expected to see on their ballots in November 2026. Other states are now considering following Montana’s lead.
Isabel Sunderland, Tech Reform Policy Associate:
This year, the technology reform space has seen an unprecedented convergence of allies across the political spectrum, issue areas, and ideological lines. Over the past twelve months, the tech industry has aggressively pushed for a federal ban on state-level AI legislation, using every tool both inside and outside the playbook, to evade meaningful regulation. At face value, with President Trump’s signing of the executive order in December, they appear to have nearly won that fight.
Yet alongside that push, I have seen something far more powerful: a growing coalition of unlikely allies united by the shared recognition that Big Tech is fundamentally reshaping how we connect with one another and desperately impacting how our democracy functions. For years, the industry has tried to silo advocates, portraying kids’ online safety as separate from data privacy, and privacy as distinct from artificial intelligence. Those divisions are intentional. They are designed to fracture coalitions, pit groups against one another, and weaken our collective power.
The fight over AI preemption and moratoriums has shattered that strategy. These issues are deeply interconnected, and advocates — and the communities they represent — understand that clearly. Across generations, political affiliations, genders, and socioeconomic backgrounds, people are stepping forward to speak out, protest the technology sector’s entrenched modus operandi, and demand real accountability from Big Tech. That convergence, and the clarity it has produced, is what has made this year so energizing and what leaves me hopeful about the power we have built and the momentum we are carrying into the year ahead.
Hear what some of our staff had to say:
Joshua Bonet, Senior Legislative Associate:
This has been a critical year for democracy and political reform. President Trump remains an unusual political figure whose unprecedented leadership style continues to influence his party, which currently holds majorities in both chambers of Congress. As a result, state and local election officials have found themselves navigating intensified challenges created by an expansive executive and an already sensitive election environment.
The introduction of legislation such as the SAVE Act, which claims to prohibit noncitizens from voting in federal elections even though this is already illegal, demonstrates the embrace of falsehoods and bad faith narratives surrounding our elections and their integrity. Issue One met the moment by mobilizing election officials from our bipartisan Faces of Democracy campaign to inform federal lawmakers about the significant costs and administrative complications that such legislation would create. While many organizations in the voting rights community raised concerns about potential voter disenfranchisement, Issue One stressed the importance of centering the voices of the individuals who administer elections when Congress considers modifications to the ways elections are run. For us, Congress should be working to strengthen elections rather than undermine them.
Issue One also collaborates closely with former elected officials. As the country’s trust in institutions continues to erode, we have remained committed to advancing reforms that would ban members of Congress from trading or owning individual stocks. This type of ban is widely supported across ideological lines and has bipartisan backing in Congress. However, achieving meaningful reform requires building a large and consensus driven coalition. Issue One relied on our nonpartisan and pragmatic approach to bring together ninety former members of Congress who urged House leadership to bring a stock trading ban bill to the floor for a vote.
Across both of these efforts, Issue One has elevated the voices of trusted messengers and used a commonsense and bipartisan strategy to push back against bad faith proposals. At the same time, we have continued building momentum for reforms that would strengthen American democracy.
As we head into 2026 and the midterm elections, now is the ideal moment to amplify our trusted messengers and secure meaningful reforms.
Michael McNulty, Policy Director:
Over the past two-plus decades, I’ve been fortunate to have the opportunity to work with courageous democracy advocates around the world, particularly those defending free and fair elections in countries where authoritarians have rigged the system. This work gave me a deep appreciation for what it takes to protect democratic institutions. This past year, I made a career transition from international democracy support to defending democracy here in the U.S. What has excited me most this past year is seeing the same level of dedication to protecting democracy here at home that I have seen around the world. I’ve been inspired by the dedicated people and organizations working at every level — federal, state, and local — to protect our elections and bravely push back against unprecedented threats to our nation’s democracy.
With the 2026 elections approaching and key guardrails of democracy being weakened or removed, I look forward to seeing how our civil society will rise to meet this defining test. The midterms will take place amid escalating threats, including efforts to manipulate rules for partisan advantage, executive overreach, intimidation of election officials, and persistent false narratives designed to undermine trust in results. Democracy advocates, election officials, journalists, and voters across the political spectrum will be on the frontlines defending our elections against these challenges. I’m excited to see how strong this community can be as a bulwark against democratic backsliding, and by the growing resolve to ensure that our elections remain fair, secure, and trusted.
Tarang Mishra, Culture and Finance Coordinator:
In this sector, I’ve had the privilege to work on how businesses have been impacted by the erosion of our democratic institutions and the rule of law. Working with business owners and civic leaders from different backgrounds has been one of the most rewarding feelings, especially as someone new to the democracy space.
With my background owning a clothing business, I have resonated with the concerns shared by other business owners about executive overreach and harmful trade policy that prevents American businesses from flourishing within the U.S. and abroad. I’ve had the opportunity to contribute to Issue One’s Council for American Democracy by helping to create a Free Enterprise Task Force. This task force is made up of entrepreneurs, corporate directors, and retired CEOs that are all dedicated to the mission of combating crony capitalism and weaponized economic policy to create a future that is rooted in democratic sustainability.
For this new year, I’m looking forward to seeing more businesses share their story about how regulatory retaliation and volatile policy shifts have affected their day-to-day operations. More specifically, I hope to learn from those stories and help create real changes for those entrepreneurs whose lives depend on their business growth. American business owners have the power to completely change the trajectory of our economy and prevent the democratic backsliding that is occurring by joining Issue One’s initiatives, such as the Free Enterprise Task Force. Just like it takes a team to build a successful business — it takes a collective of civically engaged business owners to fight against backsliding.