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Reproductive Rights are Economic Rights: Expanding the Reach of the Supreme Court’s Abortion Decision

Women’s reproductive and economic freedoms do not, and have never, existed separately.

Blog
Brenda Wright

Supreme Court Decision Is A Step Back for Campaign Finance Reform

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision vacating the federal bribery conviction of former Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell.  The Court’s ruling narrowed the scope of federal bribery laws and required clearer jury instructions on the kinds of “official acts” that can be prosecuted when officeholders accept personal gifts from private individuals.  In response, Brenda Wright, Vice President of Policy and Legal Strategies at Demos, issued the following statement:

Press release/statement

District Campaign Donors are Disproportionately White, Wealthy and Male

D.C. politicians are funded by donors who are whiter and wealthier than the constituents they serve, an analysis by the liberal think tank Demos found.[...]

While it comes as no surprise that wealthy people are more inclined to spend on political races, the Demos analysis is the first comprehensive look at the demographics of District campaign contributors in recent years. Analysts matched campaign donors to a voter database used by Democrats that includes race, gender and income.[...]
In the media
Fenit Nirappil

The Court's Decision Will Help Ensure Our Institutions of Higher Education Reflect Our Diversity

Yesterday, the Supreme Court reaffirmed its long-standing view that colleges and universities may seek to foster diversity in higher education by considering race and ethnicity as one factor in a holistic admissions process.   Demos applauds this decision, and agrees that a diverse student body is of vital importance to the mission of higher education in America.   “America is the world's boldest experiment in a multi-racial democracy, and yet we are still working to fulfill the ideal of an equal say and an equal chance for all,” s
Press release/statement

In Diverse D.C., A Small Group of Wealthy White Donors Wield Outsized Influence

The D.C. donor class doesn’t represent the diversity of Washington D.C.’s population, a new Demos report finds. In Washington D.C.’s 2014 mayoral election, large donors (those who gave more than $1,000) accounted for 67 percent of all money raised by the three candidates in 2014.

Press release/statement

Ideología: How the Social and Cultural Aspects of Immigration Shape Latinos' Attitudes Toward Political Parties

Immigration policy is considered the holy grail of policies when it comes to attracting Latino voters. Immigration is explicitly mentioned in the post-2012 Republican autopsy report as one of the strategies to increase the party’s base racial and ethnic diversity.

Blog
Juhem Navarro-Rivera

Who Donates the Most Money to Politicians? Biggest Contributors Tend to be Whiter and More Conservative, Study Finds

The biggest political donors aren’t just wealthier than the median voter. A study from the think tank Demos suggests they also tend to be disproportionately white, male and right-wing.

In the media
Ned Resnikoff

Companies Are Trying to Lure Customers With Offers of Student Loan Help

Companies have finally woken up to a huge and potentially profitable market: Student borrowers.

In the media
Jillian Berman

Victory in Virginia as Federal Judge Dismisses Voter Purge Case

League of Women Voters of Virginia intervened in the lawsuit, and argued that the proposed purging would have threatened eligible voters

Following a hearing Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Judge Leonie M. Brinkema dismissed a lawsuit filed by self-styled "election integrity" group Virginia Voter's Alliance. The suit sought to force Alexandria's registrar to conduct what the League of Women Voters of Virginia (LWV-VA), which intervened in the case, called an unnecessary and ill-conceived voter purge. 

Press release/statement