The events of January 6 had a profound impact on all Americans. The violence at the United States Capitol shook our nation and reminded us that democracy is not a given – it must be protected by smart laws, honorable lawmakers and brave citizens who will stand up for our Constitution. Harry Dunn was there on that fateful day, and he knows exactly what’s at stake in this election.
In the years since, we have seen numerous attempts to weaken our democratic institutions. Attacks on voting rights, intimidation of elected and election officials, corporate and foreign influence and the rampant abuse of powers under Donald Trump have all shown why it is so important that we elect leaders to Congress who understand that our American way of life will not survive if we do not stand up to protect and strengthen our democracy.
The examples are stark:
- According to the Brennan Center for Justice, in 2022 alone, states enacted 11 new laws to restrict voting and 12 new laws that increase the opportunity for election interference. Those trends continued into 2023 with 11 states enacting 13 restrictive laws in just the first five months of the year.
- Elections officials have been inundated with threats and harassment campaigns; the Justice Department Election Threats Task Force has charged over a dozen individuals with threats to the election community and has reviewed over 1000 contacts reported as hostile and harassing.
- Spending from dark money groups and shell companies hit a midterm record in 2022 according to the nonpartisan watchdogs at OpenSecrets. And federal officials have warned that Russia and China continue to try to influence our elections.
Harry Dunn believes standing up for our communities starts with standing up for our democracy. He will push for common sense laws to protect our voting rights, protect our electoral process, curb corporate and foreign influence, promote civic education and engagement and safeguard a free and independent press. Harry is the grandson of an election poll worker and judge, the son of an veteran, and himself a lifelong public servant. As a Capitol Police Officer, he stood against threats to Congress and the U.S. Capitol. As our Congressman, he’ll continue to work to protect our democratic institutions and the opportunities of all Americans to make their voice heard.
Highlights of Harry Dunn’s Plan to Protect the People’s Democracy:
Strengthening Voting Rights
- Harry Dunn will co-sponsor the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act on his first day in Congress and fight for its passage so we can ensure that voters can vote.
- Harry Dunn will support the Freedom to Vote Act that includes broad reforms to end voter suppression, ensure voting rights are protected and allow Americans to make their voices heard at the ballot box.
Standing Against Election Intimidation
- Harry Dunn will co-sponsor and support the Election Worker Protection Act to provide states with resources to recruit and train election workers and ensure their safety.
- Harry Dunn supports the Preventing Election Subversion Act, sponsored by Representative John Sarbanes, that would help prevent unfounded removals of election officials.
Clean and Ethical Government
- Harry Dunn has made it clear he is working for Maryland, not the corporate special interests. He has refused corporate PAC donations and has pledged to co-sponsor the Democracy for All Amendment to overturn Citizens United.
- Harry Dunn supports the establishment of a voluntary public financing system for federal elections.
- Harry Dunn will cosponsor the Honest Ads Act which ensures ads sold online are covered by the same rules as ads on TV, radio, and satellite while requiring online platforms to ensure foreign interests aren’t buying political ads.
- Harry Dunn will support the Stop Interference in Ballot Measures Act to close a legal loophole that allows foreign governments and residents to donate to state and local ballot initiatives and referendums.
Table of Contents:
Protecting and Strengthening Our Democracy
Strengthening Voting Rights
Standing Against Election Intimidation
Clean and Ethical Government
Promoting Civic Education and Voter Participation
Protecting and Strengthening Our Democracy
The events of January 6 had a profound impact on all Americans. The violence at the United States Capitol shook our nation and reminded us that democracy is not a given – it must be protected by smart laws, honorable lawmakers and brave citizens who will stand up for our Constitution.
In the years since, we have seen numerous attempts to weaken our democratic institutions. Attacks on voting rights, intimidation of elected officials and voters, corporate and foreign influence and the rampant abuse of powers under Donald Trump have all shown why it is so important that we elect leaders who understand that our American way of life will not survive if we do not stand up and protect and strengthen our democracy.
Strengthening Voting Rights
The basis of democracy is the right to vote: each person exercising their constitutional right to cast a ballot for their preferred candidate knowing that their vote will be counted and respected. Sadly, there are currently numerous efforts underway to weaken that right.
As our Congressman, Harry Dunn will fight for our votes and our right to vote:
- Co-Sponsor the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act on day one.
In 2013, the Supreme Court struck down key sections of the Voting Rights Act and made it more difficult for the Justice Department to monitor and sanction attacks on voting rights. In the years since, many state legislatures have acted aggressively to curtail voting rights and purge eligible voters from the polls for little or no reason at all.
To give one prominent example, twenty-nine million Americans now live under new voter ID laws that have passed since 2020. These laws are passed in the name of “voter fraud” but the reality is that the primary impact of these laws is more restrictions on legal voting.
The facts are clear: voter fraud is extremely rare. According to the League of Women Voters, “out of 250,000,000 votes cast by mail in 2020, there were 193 criminal convictions. By those numbers, a person is more likely to be struck by lightning than they are to commit voter fraud.”
In contrast, millions of Americans have been denied their right to vote due to these laws: in Texas, a strict ID law resulted in 608,470 registered voters being deemed ineligible – or 4.5% of registered voters.
These laws disproportionately impact Black, Native, Latino, low-income, elderly and student voters and trace their roots back to Jim Crow laws that were transparently focused on preventing Black Americans from voting. The result is millions of Americans once again being denied their right to vote. It’s no wonder prominent non-partisan, good government organizations like the League of Women Voters oppose these laws.
Harry Dunn believes our voting rights are guaranteed by the Constitution. He will co-sponsor the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act on his first day in Congress and fight for its passage so we can ensure that voters can vote.
- Increasing Voter Participation
Even as we stand up against bad laws that restrict voting rights, we also need to make it easier to vote.
According to data from the Pew Research Center & Statista, voter turnout in the 2022 midterm elections was just 46.8%, the lowest for a midterm since 2014. In many areas of the country, turnout is even lower.
To address this challenge, Harry Dunn will support measures to remove barriers to voting and encourage greater participation. Harry Dunn will support the Freedom to Vote Act that includes broad reforms to end voter suppress suppression, ensure voting rights are protected and allow Americans to make their voices heard at the ballot box, including:
- Automatic voter registration: Allowing eligible citizens to be automatically registered to vote when interacting with government agencies, ensuring no one is left out.
- Online voter registration: Providing convenient and accessible methods for registering to vote.
- Expanded early voting and vote by mail: Offering more opportunities for voters to cast their ballots, reducing long lines and wait times on Election Day.
Together, the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act will protect and strengthen the rights of every American to vote.
Standing Against Election Intimidation
January 6 was a large-scale attack on our democratic institutions. But it wasn’t the only one. There have been numerous examples since of tactics meant to intimidate voters and elected officials. The Washington Post reported on a far-right group of election deniers that broke up a meeting of the Mariposa County Board of Supervisors in Arizona. These groups have been emboldened by Donald Trump’s rhetoric and have made it clear they will stop at nothing to get their way.
Harry Dunn stood against these mobs on January 6 and he will stand against them again as our Congressman.
- Protecting Election Officials and Workers
Numerous local elected officials and election workers have reported threats of violence against them during and since the 2020 elections, including the violence at the Capitol on January 6. Three of four election officials reported to the Brennan Center for Justice that threats have increased. Forty-five percent of election workers nationwide say they fear for their colleagues’ safety. Election work is often volunteer or low-paid, done by concerned citizens who just want to help their fellow residents vote. It is disgusting that these workers – and their families – would be targeted for following the law and loving their communities.
While several states have passed laws to protect election workers since 2020, it’s clear we need federal protections as well. Harry Dunn will co-sponsor and support the Election Worker Protection Act to provide states with resources to recruit and train election workers and ensure their safety.
We also need to make sure that election workers and officials cannot be removed from their posts due to unfounded partisan witch hunts. The threat of this is very real – since 2020, twelve states have enacted criminal penalties targeting election officials. These laws are clearly intended to intimidate workers and criminalize routine ballot processing. As a result, hundreds of workers have left their posts out of fear of harassment.
Harry Dunn supports the Preventing Election Subversion Act, sponsored by Representative John Sarbanes, that would help prevent unfounded removals of election officials. It would also protect voters against illegitimate challenges such as a recent case in Georgia where 89,000 voter eligibility challenges were made by just six right-wing activists.
- Protecting Against Violence At the Polls
These heightened threats have also raised fears about violence – and specifically gun violence – at polling places. Maryland has taken steps to ensure voters can exercise their rights free from intimidation and it’s critical other states and Congress follow our lead.
Maryland’s law enforcement officers have made it clear they will stand up for our rights by enforcing laws that prohibit violent behavior or threats at polling places, blocking entrances to polling places or harassing voters as they exercise their rights. These measures also include reasonable restrictions on brandishing firearms in areas where voting is occurring. It is already a federal crime to interfere with the election process but we need to make sure local officials and law enforcement have the tools they need to uphold these laws.
As our Congressman, Harry Dunn will urge the Justice Department to deter election violence and protect our Constitutional right to vote, free from interference or intimidation.
- Protecting Ballot Counting and Certification
Workers and volunteers also need specific protections to ensure the integrity of ballot counting and certification – the very steps that were targeted in 2020.
Harry Dunn supports the Protecting Election Administration Free from Interference Act (currently cosponsored by Rep. John Sarbanes) which would extend prohibitions on intimidating and threatening voters to include officials who are counting our ballots and certifying results. It would strengthen protections for election records and infrastructure to stop anyone from endangering the security and preservation of ballots. And it would provide judicial review for election records to ensure compliance with the law.
We need to make sure our voters are safe and secure and Harry Dunn will always stand up for the security of our elections.
Clean and Ethical Government
- Limiting Corporate Influence on Elections
“Corporations are people” has never made sense to most people. It certainly never made sense to Harry Dunn.
In his time as a Capitol Police Officer, he saw thousands of people walk through the Senate and House Office Buildings and the Capitol to learn more about the history of our nation and speak with their Senators and Representatives. Not once did a corporation stroll through those doors.
Yet corporate influence is all over Congress. In 2022, business interests spent $3.5 billion to influence voters and ensure their interests are well represented in Washington, DC.
Harry Dunn has made clear he is working for Maryland, not the corporate special interests. He has refused corporate political action committee (PAC) donations and has pledged to co-sponsor the Democracy for All Amendment to overturn Citizens United.
- Comprehensive Campaign Finance Reform
While limiting corporate influence is a crucial step, truly strengthening our democracy requires comprehensive campaign finance reform. The current system allows wealthy individuals, special interests, and deep-pocketed organizations to wield disproportionate influence over our electoral processes through unlimited spending.
Harry Dunn supports the establishment of a voluntary public financing system for federal elections. This would provide qualified candidates with grants and matching funds, allowing them to run competitive campaigns without relying on wealthy donors or special interests.
Public financing has been successful in states like Arizona, Connecticut, and Maine, amplifying the voices of ordinary citizens and reducing the influence of big money. Efforts such as The Fair Elections Now Act, introduced by Senator Dick Durbin in 2017 (D-IL) would create such a system for Congressional elections. Harry Dunn will fight for the passage of such legislation to ensure fairer more people-powered campaigns.
- Limiting Foreign Influence on Elections
Foreign governments and interests have become more brazen in trying to influence our elections. In 2016, Russia used social media and digital platforms to place ads to urge unsuspecting voters to support its chosen candidate for president, with disastrous results for our nation.
It’s way past time to put an end to foreign meddling in our elections – the American people should pick our President, not Vladimir Putin.
Harry Dunn will cosponsor the Honest Ads Act which ensures ads sold online are covered by the same rules as ads on TV, radio and satellite and require online platforms to ensure foreign interests aren’t buying political ads.
And he will support the Stop Interference in Ballot Measures Act to close a legal loophole that allows foreign governments and residents to donate to state and local ballot initiatives and referendums.
We need to make sure we have a government of the people, by the people and for the American people.
- Cracking Down on Presidential Abuse of Power
Donald Trump’s illegal and unethical attacks on our democracy did not begin on January 6. In the years and months before that fateful day, he abused his presidential powers in numerous ways to reward his cronies, enrich his families and punish his “enemies”. While several state and federal law enforcement agencies are pursuing charges against him, it’s clear we also need to strengthen our legal framework to prevent such abuses in the future.
Representative John Sarbanes has led the Democracy Task Force to identify ways to reform our institutions against future presidents who abuse their power. Harry Dunn supports the Task Force’s work and will cosponsor the Protecting Our Democracy Act to prevent the abuse of pardon power, enforce the emoluments clause of the Constitution and ensure that no President is above the law.
- Strengthening Ethics Laws
As a Capitol Police Officer, Harry Dunn swore to uphold the laws of the land and protect members of Congress and the American people. Unfortunately, some members of Congress and the judiciary have failed to uphold the oaths they made.
Financial impropriety, misuse of government funds and conflicts of interest have become major problems and Congress has failed to act aggressively to combat these actions. Harry Dunn will support common sense legislation to hold public officials accountable and restore trust with the American people:
- Transparency in Taxpayer-Funded Travel Act: To strengthen disclosure of travel undertaken using taxpayer funds
- TRUST Act: To require members to place investments in qualified blind trusts
- STOCK Act: To strengthen legislation to crack down on financial conflicts of interest in all three branches of government
We also know it’s not just elected officials who need to be held accountable. Members of the Supreme Court have accepted handsome gifts from wealthy benefactors, have failed to disclose conflicts and have undermined trust in the institution. Harry Dunn supports the Justice is BLIND Act to require justices and their spouses to put investments in qualified blind trusts as a first step to restoring ethical principles on the Court.
Promoting Civic Education and Voter Participation
Our democracy thrives with an educated and engaged electorate. Unfortunately, studies have shown a concerning decline in civic knowledge and participation among Americans, particularly younger generations. To reverse this trend and strengthen the foundations of our democratic system, we must prioritize civic education and voter engagement initiatives.
- Enhancing Civic Education
According to the Annenberg Public Policy Center, only 39% of Americans can name all three branches of government, and just 26% can name all five rights guaranteed by the First Amendment. This lack of fundamental civic knowledge undermines the ability of citizens to participate effectively in the democratic process.
As our Congressman, Harry Dunn will champion efforts to revitalize civic education in schools and communities. He will support the Civics Secures Democracy Act, which would provide funding for robust civics and history education programs, professional development for teachers, and research-based curricula to improve students’ understanding of democratic principles and institutions.
Additionally, Harry Dunn will advocate for the expansion of community-based civic education initiatives, such as public forums, town halls, and workshops, to promote lifelong learning and engagement among citizens of all ages.
By prioritizing civic education, we can foster a more informed, participatory, and resilient democracy that truly reflects the will of the people.
- Safeguarding a Free and Independent Press
A free and robust media is a cornerstone of any healthy democracy. An independent press serves as a watchdog, holds those in power accountable, and ensures the free flow of information to the public. However, in recent years, we have witnessed attacks on media freedom, including attempts to discredit and undermine reputable news organizations, as well as instances of harassment and violence against journalists.
According to the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, there were over 163 reported incidents of journalists being assaulted, arrested, or having their equipment damaged while covering news events in 2023. Such attacks not only endanger the safety of reporters but also undermine the
public’s right to access accurate and timely information. Such acts of intimidation have no place in a democracy.
As our Congressman, Harry Dunn will champion legislation to safeguard media freedom and protect journalists from harassment and intimidation. He will co-sponsor the Journalist Protection Act, which would make it a federal crime to intentionally cause bodily injury to a journalist during the news-gathering process.
Additionally, Harry Dunn will support measures to strengthen the legal protections for whistleblowers and journalists’ sources, ensuring they can freely share information in the public interest without fear of retaliation.