Friend - 

You and I are here together and chances are neither of us thought this day would come. If you go back far enough, nobody believed that Trump would win back in 2016. He didn’t even see that coming.

None of us ever thought we would be in a fight for the survival of our democracy. Maybe you saw the writing on the wall, or perhaps you still have a lingering sense of shock about the general state of things today.

This fight has brought us together here today. It’s bigger than anything in our past, even past presidential campaigns. Simply stated, it’s for the future of our democracy.

Those of us who were inside the GOP before the Trump era are in the strange position of knowing that speaking the truth about the present danger can seem hyperbolic. But I promise you, things we said at the start that may have sounded alarmist then, may prove to be inadequate at the end.

Republican elected officials who supported Trump did nothing while hundreds of thousands of Americans died needlessly. They have blood on their hands. They supported a monster and now they feel afraid. Cowards.

McConnell, McCarthy, Trump, and all of their complicit party members are ultimately trying to destroy the American democracy - imperfect as it may be. And they are much closer to achieving this than many people realize.

And while that would most certainly be a tragedy to you and me, to our founding fathers, and the many who have come before us - imagine the loss for the world and for future generations if they succeed. This truth - this present danger that has awakened us and connected us - is what drives all of us to work each day at the Lincoln Project.

Thank you for standing with us. This fight is unlike any I’ve ever experienced and your support makes it all possible.

Over the next few days, you will hear from some of our co-founders and learn more about the Lincoln Project and our summer plans. The best way to make sure you never miss an email from us is to mark this one as important in your inbox.

Thanks, Friend. We’ll be in touch soon.

- Stuart Stevens