Demos is a liberalthink tank based in the United States.[2] Founded in 2000, Demos' stated mission is to "power the movement for a just, inclusive, multiracial democracy."[3] The organization's president is Taifa Smith Butler, formerly of the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute.[4]
In March 2000, Demos opened its first office in New York City with Stephen B. Heintz as president. In this first year, Demos' work focused on solving economic inequities and increasing civic participation by developing a more inclusive democracy. These two areas continue to be a large part of Demos' core work. In 2001, Heintz stepped down and was replaced by Miles S. Rapoport, a Connecticut legislator (1985–1995) and Secretary of State (1995–1999).
In March 2014, Rapoport left Demos to become the President of Common Cause, a watchdog group.[5]Heather McGhee, formerly the Vice President of Policy and Outreach at Demos, became the organization's president.[6] McGhee is now a Distinguished Senior Fellow at Demos. In 2018, Demos named Sabeel Rahman as the new president.
Demos was part of a settlement in a lawsuit, filed in 2005, alleging Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, Governor Bob Taft, and their predecessors failed to protect the fundamental rights of eligible Ohio voters to cast a meaningful ballot, as required by the Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.[9] The settlement was binding and required the state to provide for uniformity and consistency in Ohio election procedures so that the opportunity to vote can be enjoyed equally by all Ohio citizens.[9]
Edsal, Thomas (April 27, 2016). "How the Other Fifth Lives". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-07-19. The accompanying chart, which shows voting patterns by income in the 2012 and 2014 elections, illustrates this phenomenon (it was created by Sean McElwee, a policy analyst at Demos, a liberal think tank).
