This is a movement — not a new political party. Here's why it started, what we believe, and where we're going.
I started Accountable Representation after working on the floor of the House of Representatives, where I personally knew all 435 members. That experience gave me a clear view of how the system works — and how badly it needs to change.
Two things crystallized this idea for me. The first was attending a Bernie Sanders rally where a young man stood up and asked Bernie who was going to fix the problems in Washington. Bernie's answer was simple: "YOU!" That stuck with me. The second was a post by my friend Robert Marks that perfectly captured the frustration millions of Americans feel but can't quite put into words.
"Many years ago I believed the internet would eventually change politics. I thought we the people would one day be able to identify and select candidates for office rather than simply choosing from whoever put themselves forward."
Why do we need parties at all? Our system has drifted so far from its original purpose that we no longer select the best people for the job — we pick from whoever chose to run, filtered through a process driven almost entirely by money.
Why can't we interview and hire members of Congress the same way every other employer hires for an important job? That question is at the heart of everything we're doing.
We want to build a selection process — not just an election process. The goal is to find qualified, principled people in every congressional district, vet them openly, and put them forward as candidates the public can rally behind.
Every member of the House and Senate represents their constituents, their state, and the entire country. So why shouldn't every American have a voice in scrutinizing the candidates? We'd like to establish representation in every congressional district to identify local candidates who can be evaluated by any citizen who cares enough to participate.
Being a good public servant shouldn't be complicated. Work hard. Represent the people who sent you. Know when your time is up. We don't need term limits if we put the right people in the seats to begin with — and that starts with finding them.
We need to get big money out of the equation entirely. Pay public servants well — well enough that they don't need outside money — so they can focus entirely on doing the job. A candidate who isn't bought can't be influenced.
Before anything else, we need to get the right people and put them in the right seats. Being a politician shouldn't require being on television or chasing donors. It should require competence, integrity, and a genuine commitment to the people you serve.
We the people should select our representatives. Not the parties. Not the donors. Us.
This is the perfect climate to launch something huge. Millions of Americans are ready for real change — they just need a vehicle. That's what Accountable Representation is. A new approach. A new standard. A movement built by citizens, for citizens.
Join thousands of Americans who believe politics can be better.
Join the Movement