Together for Democracy 2026 brought changemakers, partners, advocates, organizers, policymakers, and artists from all across the United States to connect, learn, and inspire as the pro-democracy community charts a path forward.
The convening was organized around the themes of Resilience, Resistance, and Reimagining, and came amidst the Trump-Vance administration’s violent surges in Minnesota and Maine, arrests of journalists telling those stories, and revelations that the administration is seeking to leverage its violent attacks on American cities to obtain voter rolls. Participants included those who have been on the frontlines in these cities, those personally impacted by the lawlessness of this administration’s policies, and the organizations working to protect them.
“Together for Democracy is a decision. It is a statement of values. It is a decision to build community in a time where it can seem easier to isolate and doom scroll. And, it is a decision not to give up on the work to protect people and our democracy. It is a decision not to give up. To never ever give up.”
– Democracy Forward President & CEO Skye Perryman
With hundreds of people in attendance, dynamic panels, fireside chats, creative performances, and skill-building workshops offered changemakers, partners, advocates, organizers, policymakers, and artists from all 50 states a chance to connect, learn, and inspire as the pro-democracy community charts a path forward. The gathering also included a reception at the National Museum of Women in the Arts where Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient Dolores Huerta energized an even larger group with chants of: ¡Sí se puede!
The conference featured prominent speakers, including Emmy-nominated comedian and political commentator Jordan Klepper, New York Attorney General Letitia James, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell, Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient Dolores Huerta, Maine Governor Janet Mills, U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, U.S. Reps. Hakeem Jeffries, Jamie Raskin, Jason Crow, and Kelly Morrison, Texas State Representative Gene Wu, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris, former minority leader of the Georgia House of Representatives Stacey Abrams, General Wes Clark (ret.), Creators Aaron Parnas and V Spehar, the Bulwark’s Joe Perticone and Andrew Egger, MS Now’s Eugene Daniels and Jesse Rodriquez, Politico’s Ankush Khardori, Public Private Strategies Founder & CEO Rhett Buttle, Democratic Attorneys General Association President Sean Rankin, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, Former U.S. Capitol Police Officer Winston Pingeon, Hub Project Founder Jess Floyd, Executive Director of the American Public Health Association Dr. Georges Benjamin, Interfaith Alliance President & CEO Rev. Paul Raushenbush, Rev. Susie Hayward, Bishop Mariann Budde, Artistic Freedom Initiative Co-Executive Director Ashley Tucker, and Alliance for Higher Education President and CEO Mike Gavin, and Democracy Forward President & CEO Perryman.
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We see this convening as the continuation of the work we will do collaboratively in communities across the nation this year. There is much work to be done, but together, we can build the community we need to strengthen our courage and resolve to do what we know is right.
