Skip to main content

“A Republic, If We Can Keep It.”

Sell not liberty to purchase power.

Ben Franklin Signature

Our Mission

Keep Our Republic is a non-partisan civic education organization dedicated to:
  • Preserving a republic of laws
  • Strengthening the checks & balances of our democratic operating system
  • Raising awareness of emerging risks to the electoral process that is so vital to America’s liberty and prosperity
  • Working at national and state levels to mitigate these risks by conducting research, publishing our ideas and promoting dialogue
  • Coordinating closely with other civic groups to help promote trust in the strength of our republic and its institutions

Our Pledge

At the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787, Ben Franklin was asked by passersby about what kind of political system we would have and he reportedly replied: “A Republic, if you can keep it.”
We pledge to keep it.

Therefore, we rededicate ourselves to uphold the following basic principles, and we call on our fellow citizens to do the same:

Let every eligible voter vote.
Let every vote be counted.
Let the electoral count stand.

Respect the voice of the people in each state as expressed in the popular vote.

Quotes from Our Leaders

“Americans must do whatever we can to preserve American democracy. We both have been to Normandy. We visited the cemetery that honors young Americans who hit the beach knowing their chances of survival were slim. History is asking comparably little of us today to preserve freedom. Surely we will respond to the call.”

Dick Gephardt and Tom Ridge

“Keep Our Republic has been a leader and partner in identifying and addressing potential threats to our orderly electoral process. KOR’s thought leadership and state-level training programs are a model of non-partisan civic action to protect American democracy. “

Trevor Potter
President, Campaign Legal Center

“Keep Our Republic is amazingly effective at doing exactly what their name suggests. From their thought leadership at the national level, to their pragmatic approach in running state-level educational programs to guard against risks to the electoral process, KOR has harnessed the deep expertise and experience of its members to become an invaluable resource in the fight to preserve democracy.”

Elizabeth Goitein
Senior Director
Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law

“The freedom to vote is a foundation of our democracy. Preserving it depends on Americans being able to vote, knowing their vote will be counted and having confidence in the results. Free and fair elections are under attack by enemies both visible and invisible, and confronting them is necessary to avoid chaos.”

Dick Gephardt, Trevor Potter and Tim Wirth

“Democracy is fragile. Its integrity is under threat, and we must do everything in our power to protect it.”

Jonathan Winer
Former Deputy Assistant U.S. Secretary of State for International Law Enforcement

“The hijacking of our democratic processes by extremists also infringes the constitutional rights of the rest of us—no matter which side of the political aisle you’re on.”

Mary McCord
Executive Director of the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection

“The ‘Big Lie’ – the baseless claim that the 2020 presidential election outcome was the result of massive fraud and other electoral misconduct – began germinating long before many Americans even realized. It has now endured well beyond reason justifies or our democracy deserves.”

Former U.S. Sen. Gary Hart and Ari Mittleman

“Keep Our Republic brings people together–regardless of party–to prepare for and counter the extremism and political violence that threaten civic life and undermine our democracy. We all have a role to play.”

Mary McCord, Esq.
Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection

What We Are Reading

Reports

Unprecedented and Costly Recount In Lycoming County

The 2020 presidential election may feel like a distant memory, but not in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. County commissioners voted to hand recount roughly 60,000 ballots despite costs of county dollars and employees’ time. Partisan actors have operated across Pennsylvania with successful precinct level audits in various counties. However, Lycoming is the only county where efforts…
Keep Our Republic Staff
January 19, 2023
United States Capitol BuildingKOR in the News

Just Security: January 6th Report Exposes Ongoing, Converging Threat of Anti-Democracy Schemes and Paramilitary Violence

Editor’s note: To hear a conversation with Mary McCord and Andrew Weissmann about paths to reform after the January 6th report, including addressing paramilitary groups, listen to the Just Security podcast here. Two years ago, when rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol and ruptured our country’s tradition of the peaceful transfer of power, images of the mob’s extremism…
Mary McCord and Jacob Glick
January 6, 2023

The Unconventional Threat Podcast

Subscribe Today

Season 2 Episode 1

A Shadow Falls on Our Democracy

In the first episode of Season 2 of Unconventional Threat, hosts Jonathan Winer and Peter Eisner uncover efforts by extremists to gain control of our government through unconstitutional methods.

With a focus on the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Winer and Eisner reveal the unethical tactics being used across the country by forces opposed to fair and impartial elections in order to execute their strategies of

Please donate today to support our work.

Donate Today

Subscribe to Our Weekly Newsletter

Sign Up to Receive Keep Our Republic’s Weekly Newsletter: Democracy Almanack