Cara Brown McCormick

Cara McCormick, principal at Smart Campaigns, advises on strategy and research. With 10+ years in major races, she led Maine’s historic move to ranked choice voting. Her work focuses on election reforms that improve representation and voter choice.

ALL INDY: Alaska’s Reformers Will Protect Electoral Innovations and Break New Ground in 2026

Ballotpedia reports this week that in 2026, Alaska’s independent voters will have the chance to solidify their role as election reform pioneers by voting on two initiatives.

By Cara Brown McCormick

January 28, 2025

ALL INDY: Alaska’s Reformers Will Protect Electoral Innovations and Break New Ground in 2026

MERGER: The Organization that Brought Ranked Choice Voting and Ended SuperPACs in Maine Joins California’s Nonpartisan Primary Pioneers

The Chamberlain Project, an organization I co-founded with Peter Ackerman a decade ago, has been dissolved. The Chamberlain Boards have voted to combine all of Chamberlain’s associated entities, including Americans Elect, Level the Playing Field, the Committee for Ranked Choice Voting, and Citizens

By Cara Brown McCormick

January 23, 2025

MERGER: The Organization that Brought Ranked Choice Voting and Ended SuperPACs in Maine Joins California’s Nonpartisan Primary Pioneers

POLL: San Diego Voters Dissatisfied with Government, Want More Choices

The late Peter Ackerman, an expert in nonviolent civil resistance and a driving force behind reform efforts like Maine’s “More Voice” initiatives, said that even the best ideas are accepted in stages:

By Cara Brown McCormick

May 24, 2024

POLL: San Diego Voters Dissatisfied with Government, Want More Choices