Peter, Ariel Hayes here.

I just joined DASS as Executive Director because the stakes have never been higher – and what happens in the next year and a half could shape the next decade.

Over the past few years, we’ve seen just how fragile our democratic institutions can be when they’re in the wrong hands. We’ve seen politicians refuse to certify election results, stoke conspiracies, and try to overturn the will of the voters.

It’s become clear: the far right has a long game. They’re not just focused on who wins the next presidential election – they’re focused on controlling how that election is conducted. They want to hand the keys to our democracy to extremists who will rewrite the rules, restrict access to the ballot box, and suppress the voices they can’t win over.

That’s why I joined this fight.

Because when you strip everything else away, Secretaries of State are the last line of defense for free and fair elections. They oversee how we vote, when we vote, and whose votes count. They ensure that every eligible voter – no matter their zip code, background, or party – has an equal voice in our democracy.

And in 2026, 26 of these offices are on the ballot.

These races will shape the future of election administration, redistricting in 2030, and the outcome of the 2028 presidential race. They will decide whether our democracy is guarded by public servants who believe in the rule of law – or hijacked by those who don’t.

That’s why we’re not waiting. At DASS, we’re launching the most ambitious early campaign we’ve ever run – defending swing states like Arizona and Nevada, and taking the fight to Republicans in places like Georgia, Ohio, and Iowa.

But to build early, organize deep, and win big – we need your help right now. Can you chip in $3 or whatever you can to power this work?

Ariel Hayes
Executive Director