ReFormers Caucus

Nearly 200 former members of Congress, governors, and Cabinet officials united to fix our broken political system

ReFormers Caucus Co-chairs

Connie Morella

Former Representative (R-MD)

Tim Roemer

Former Representative (D-IN) and Ambassador

Zach Wamp

Former Representative (R-TN)

Issue One’s ReFormers Caucus is the largest bipartisan coalition of its kind ever assembled to advocate for sweeping reforms to fix our broken political system

Guiding Principles of the ReFormers Caucus:

Disclosure & Transparency. Real-time disclosure of all political contributions and expenditures.
Effective Enforcement. Hold candidates, legislators and organizations accountable if they break the law.
Ethics & Lobbying. Reform the connection between lobbying and campaign contributions to reduce conflicts of interest.
Participation. Support innovative solutions that improve civic participation and amplify the voices of small donors.
Integrity & Accountability. Push for a Congress responsive to citizens and constituents.

Reformers by the Numbers

18 Governors

10 Ambassadors

10 Cabinet Secretaries

190 Total Members

Featured Work

Issue One announces new effort to defend America’s checks and balances as former members of Congress call on lawmakers to exercise their constitutional authority

In a new open letter released today, more than 60 bipartisan former members of Congress are calling on the legislative branch to exercise their constitutional authority amid growing concerns that…

Members of Congress have a responsibility to uphold the highest ethical standards, ReFormers Caucus co-chairs say following Rep. Santos expulsion

In reaction to today’s bipartisan vote in the House of Representatives to expel Rep. George Santos (R-NY) from Congress in response to a thorough investigation by the House Ethics Committee,…

The Members

Map
List

A

Rep. Jason Altmire
Congressman (D-PA 2007-2013)
Rep. Chester Atkins
Congressman (D-MA 1985-1993)
Rep. Les Aucoin
Congressman (D-OR 1975-1993)

B

Sec. Bruce Babbitt
Secretary of the Interior (1993-2001); Governor (D-AZ 1978-1987
Rep. Brian Baird
Congressman (D-WA 1999-2011)
Rep. Michael Barnes
Congressman (D-MD 1979-1987)
Rep. J. Gresham Barrett
Congressman (R-SC 2003-2011)
Rep. Joe Barton
Congressman (R-TX 1985-2019)
Rep. Charles Bass
Congressman (R-NH 1995-2007, 2011-2013)
Rep. Bob Beauprez
Congressman (R-CO 2003-2007)
Sen. Mark Begich
Senator (D-AK 2009-2015)
Rep. Doug Bereuter
Congressman (R-NE 1979-2004)
Rep. Brian Bilbray
Congressman (R-CA 1995-2001, 2006-2013)
Sen. Jeff Bingaman
Senator (D-NM 1983-2013)
Gov. James Blanchard
United States Ambassador to Canada (1993-1996); Governor (D-MI 1983-1991); Congressman (D-MI 1975-1983)
Rep. David Bonior
Congressman (D-MI 1977-2003)
Rep. Jo Bonner
Congressman (R-AL 2003-2013)
Rep. Charles Boustany
Congressman (R-LA 2005-2017)
Sen. Bill Bradley
Senator (D-NJ 1979-1997)
Rep. Cheri Bustos
Congresswoman (D-IL 2013-2023)

C

Rep. Tom Campbell
Congressman (R-CA 1989-1993, 1995-2001)
Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell
Senator (R-CO 1993-2005); Congressman (D-CO 1987-1993)
Rep. Joseph Cao
Congressman (R-LA 2009-2011)
Rep. Mike Capuano
Congressman (D-MA 1999-2019)
Gov. John Carlin
Governor (D-KS 1979-1987)
Gov. Arne Carlson
Governor (R-MN 1991-1999)
Rep. Russ Carnahan
Congressman (D-MO 2005-2013)
Gov. Michael Castle
Governor (R-DE 1985-1992); Congressman (R-DE 1993-2011)
Rep. John Cavanaugh
Congressman (D-NE 1977-1981)
Rep. Ben Chandler
Congressman (D-KY 2004-2013)
Rep. Ron Chandler
Congressman (R-WA 1983-1993)
Rep. Jon Christensen
Congressman (R-NE 1995-1999)
Rep. Lacy Clay
Congressman (D-MO 2001-2021)
Rep. Bob Clement
Congressman (D-TN 1988-2003)
Sec. William Cohen
Secretary of Defense (1997-2001); Senator (R-ME 1979-1997); Congressman (R-ME 1973-1979)
Rep. Tom Coleman
Congressman (R-MO 1976-1993)
Rep. Barbara Comstock
Congresswoman (R-VA 2015-2019)
Sen. Kent Conrad
Senator (D-ND 1987-2013)
Rep. Sam Coppersmith
Congressman (D-AZ 1993-1995)
Rep. Jerry Costello
Congressman (D-IL 1988-2013)
Rep Carlos Curbelo
Congressman (R-FL 2015-2019)

D

Amb. John Danforth
United States Ambassador to the United Nations (2004-2005), Senator (R-MO 1976-1995)
Rep. George Darden
Congressman (D-GA 1983-1995)
Sen. Tom Daschle
Senator (D-SD 1987-2005); Senate Majority Leader (2001-2003), Congressman (D-SD 1979-1987)
Rep. Hal Daub
Congressman (R-NE 1981-1989)
Rep. Susan Davis
Congresswoman (D-CA 2001-2021)
Rep. Jim Davis
Congressman (D-FL 1997-2007)
Rep. Lincoln Davis
Congressman (D-TN 2003-2011)
Rep. Tom Davis
Congressman (R-VA 1995-2008)
Rep Charlie Dent
Congressman (R-PA 2005-2018)
Rep. Charles Djou
Congressman (R-HI 2010-2011)
Sen. Chris Dodd
Senator (D-CT 1981-2011); Congressman (D-CT 1975-1981)
Sen. Joe Donnelly
Senator (D-IN 2013-2019); Congressman (D-IN 2007-2013)
Sen. Byron Dorgan
Senator (D-ND 1992-2011), Congressman (D-ND 1981-1992)
Rep. Tom Downey
Congressman (D-NY 1975-1993)
Gov. Michael Dukakis
Governor (D-MA 1983-1991, 1975-1979)

E

Rep. Donna Edwards
Congresswoman (D-MD 2008-2017)
Rep. David Emery
Congressman (R-ME 1975-1983)
Rep. Karan English
Congresswoman (D-AZ 1993-1995)
Rep. Elizabeth Esty
Congresswoman (D-CT 2013-2019)
Rep. Thomas Evans, Jr.
Congressman (R-DE 1977-1983)

F

Sen. Russ Feingold
Senator (D-WI 1993-2011)
Rep. Stephen Fincher
Congressman (R-TN 2011-2017)
Rep. Harold Ford, Jr.
Congressman (D-TN 1997-2007)
Amb. Wyche Fowler
United States Ambassador to Saudi Arabia (1996-2001); Senator (D-GA 1987-1993); Congressman (D-GA 1977-1987)
Rep. Martin Frost
Congressman (D-TX 1979-2005)

G

Rep. Richard Gephardt
Congressman (D-MO 1977-2005)
Rep. Jim Gerlach
Congressman (R-PA 2003-2015)
Rep. Wayne Gilchrest
Congressman (R-MD 1991-2009)
Rep. Phil Gingrey
Congressman (R-GA 2003-2015)
Sec. Dan Glickman
Secretary of Agriculture (1995-2001); Congressman (D-KS 1977-1995)
Rep. Bart Gordon
Congressman (D-TN 1985-2011)
Dir. Porter Goss
Director of the CIA (2004-2006); Congressman (R-FL 1989-2004)
Rep. Gene Green
Congressman (D-TX 1993-2019)
Rep. Jim Greenwood
Congressman (R-PA 1993-2005)
Rep. Steve Gunderson
Congressman (R-WI 1981-1997)

H

Sec. Chuck Hagel
Secretary of Defense (2013-2015); Senator (R-NE 1997-2009)
Rep. Lee Hamilton
Congressman (D-IN 1965-1999); Member, 9/11 Commission (2002-2004)
Rep. Jane Harman
Congresswoman (D-CA 1993-1999, 2001-2011)
Rep. Michael Harrington
Congressman (D-MA 1969-1979)
Sen. Gary Hart
Senator (D-CO 1975-1987)
Rep. Joseph Heck
Congressman (R-NV 2011-2017)
Rep. Joel Hefley
Congressman (R-CO 1987-2007)
Rep. Dennis Hertel
Congressman (D-MI 1981-1993)
Rep. Paul Hodes
Congressman (D-NH 2007-2011)
Rep. Joseph Hoeffel
Congressman (D-PA 1999-2005)
Rep. Rush Holt, Jr.
Congressman (D-NJ 1999-2015)
Rep. Elizabeth Holtzman
Congresswoman (D-NY 1973-1981)
Rep. Darlene Hooley
Congresswomen (D-OR 1997-2009)
Rep. Jerry Huckaby
Congressman (D-LA 1977-1993)
Rep. Randy Hultgren
Congressman (R-IL 2011-2019)
Gov. Jim Hunt
Governor (D-NC 1977-1985, 1993-2001)
Sen. Tim Hutchinson
Senator (R-AR 1997-2003); Congressman (R-Ar 1993-1997)

I

Rep. Robert Inglis, Sr.
Congressman (R-SC 1993-1999, 2005-2011)
Rep. Steve Israel
Congressman (D-NY 2001-2017)

J

Sen. J. Bennett Johnston
Senator (D-LA 1972-1997)
Rep. David Jolly
Congressman (R-FL 2014-2017)
Amb. Jim Jones
United States Ambassador to Mexico (1993-1997); Congressman (D-OK 1973-1987)

K

Sen. Nancy Kassebaum Baker
Senator (R-KS 1978-1997)
Rep. John Katko
Congressman (R-NY 2015-2023)
Gov. Thomas Kean, Sr.
Governor (R-NJ 1982-1990); Chairman, 9/11 Commission (2002-2004)
Rep. Barbara Kennelly
Congresswoman (D-CT 1982-1999)
Sen. Bob Kerrey
Senator (D-NE 1989-2001); Governor (D-NE 1983-1987); Member, 9/11 Commission (2002-2004)
Rep. Ron Kind
Congressman (D-WI 1997-2023)
Rep. Ron Klein
Congressman (D-FL 2007-2011)
Rep. Mike Kopetski
Congressman (D-OR 1991-1995)
Rep. Peter Kostmayer
Congressman (D-PA 1977-1981, 1983-1993)
Amb. Madeleine Kunin
U.S. Ambassador To Switzerland (1996-1999); Governor (D-VT 1985-1991)

L

Sec. Ray LaHood
Secretary of Transportation (2009-2013); Congressman (R-IL 1995-2009)
Rep. Martin Lancaster
Congressman (D-NC 1987-1995)
Sen. Mary Landrieu
Senator (D-LA 1997-2015)
Rep. Larry LaRocco
Congressman (D-ID 1991-1995)
Rep Rick Lazio
Congressman (R-NY 1993-2001)
Rep. Jim Leach
Congressman (R-IA 1977-2007)
Rep. John LeBoutillier
Congressman (R-NY 1981-1983)
Rep. Sandy Levin
Congressman (D-MI 1983-2019)
Rep. Mel Levine
Congressman (D-CA 1983-1993)
Sen. Blanche Lincoln
Senator (D-AR 1999-2011); Congresswoman (D-AR 1993-1997)
Rep. Bob Livingston
Congressman (R-LA 1977-1999)
Sen. Trent Lott
Senator (R-MS 1989-2007); Senate Majority Leader (1996-2001); Senate Minority Leader (2001-2003); Congressman (R-MS 1973-1989)
Rep. Dan Lungren
Congressman (R-CA 1979-1989, 2005-2013)
Rep. Elaine Luria
Congresswoman (D-VA 2019-2023)

M

Rep. Dan Maffei
Congressman (D-NY 2009-2011, 2013-2015)
Rep. Andrew Maguire
Congressman (D-NJ 1975-1981)
Rep. Marjorie Margolies
Congresswoman (D-PA 1993-1995)
Sec. John McHugh
Secretary of the Army (2009-2015); Congressman (R-NY 1993-2009)
Rep. Matthew McHugh
Congressman (D-NY 1975-1993)
Gov. John McKernan
Governor (R-ME 1987-1995); Congressman (R-ME 1983-1987)
Rep. Tom McMillen
Congressman (D-MD 1987-1993)
Rep. Brad Miller
Congressman (D-NC 2003-2013)
Rep. George Miller
Congressman (D-CA 1975-2015)
Rep. Susan Molinari
Congresswoman (I-NY 1990-1997)
Rep. Jim Moran
Congressman (D-VA 1991-2015)
Amb. Connie Morella
Ambassador to OECD (2003-2007); Congresswoman (R-MD 1987-2003)
Amb. Carol Moseley-Braun
Ambassador to New Zealand (1999-2001); Ambassador to Samoa (2000-2001); Senator (D-IL 1993-1999)
Rep. Patrick Murphy
Congressman (D-FL 2013-2017)
Rep. Patrick J. Murphy
Congressman (D-PA 2007-2011); Under Secretary of the Army (2016-2017); Acting Secretary of the Army (January 2016-May 2016)
Rep. Sue Myrick
Congresswoman (R-NC 1995-2013); Mayor, Charlotte, NC (1987-1991)

N

Rep. Glenn Nye
Congressman (D-VA 2009-2011)

O

Rep. Tom Osborne
Congressman (R-NE 2001-2007)
Rep. Richard Ottinger
Congressman (D-NY 1965-1971, 1975-1985)

P

Sec. Leon Panetta
Secretary of Defense (2011-2013); Director of the CIA (2009-2011); Congressman (D-CA 1977-1993)
Gov. Deval Patrick
Governor (D-MA 2007-2015); Assistant Attorney General (1994-1997)
Rep. Tom Petri
Congressman (R-WI 1979-2015)
Rep. Todd Platts
Congressman (R-PA 2001-2013)
Rep. Earl Pomeroy
Congressman (D-ND 1993-2011)
Rep. Jon Porter
Congressman (R-NV 2003-2009)
Sen. Larry Pressler
Senator (R-SD 1979-1997); Congressman (R-SD 1975-1979)
Rep. Deborah Pryce
Congresswoman (R-OH 1993-2009)
Sen. Mark Pryor
Senator (D-AR 2003-2015)

Q

Rep. Jack Quinn
Congressman (R-NY 1993-2005)

R

Rep. Reid Ribble
Congressman (R-WI 2011-2017)
Rep. Kathleen Rice
Congresswoman (D-NY 2015-2023)
Gov. Tom Ridge
Secretary of Homeland Security (2003-2005); Governor (R-PA 1995-2001); Congressman (R-PA 1983-1995)
Gov. Bill Ritter
Governor (D-CO 2007-2011)
Amb. Tim Roemer
Congressman (D-IN 1991-2003); U.S. Ambassador to India (2009-2011); Member, 9/11 Commission (2002-2004)
Gov. Roy Romer
Governor (D-CO 1987-1999)

S

Rep. Bill Sarpalius
Congressman (D-TX 1989-1995)
Rep. Claudine Schneider
Congresswoman (R-RI 1981-1991)
Rep. Joe Schwarz
Congressman (R-MI 2005-2007)
Rep. Philip Sharp
Congressman (D-IN 1975-1995)
Rep. Chris Shays
Congressman (R-CT 1987-2009)
Rep. Karen Shepherd
Congresswoman (D-UT 1993-1995)
Rep. Gerry Sikorski
Congressman (D-MN 1983-1993)
Rep. David Skaggs
Congressman (D-CO 1987-1999)
Rep. Jim Slattery
Congressman (D-KS 1983-1995)
Rep. Peter Smith
Congressman (R-VT 1989-1991)
Sen. Olympia Snowe
Senator (R-ME 1995-2013); Congresswoman (R-ME 1979-1995)
Rep. John Spratt, Jr.
Congressman (D-SC 1983-2011)
Rep. Cliff Stearns
Congressman (R-FL 1989-2013)
Rep. Charles Stenholm
Congressman (D-TX 1979-2005)
Rep. Bart Stupak
Congressman (D-MI 1993-2011)
Amb. Richard Swett
U.S. Ambassador to Denmark (1998-2001); Congressman (D-NH 1991-1995)

T

Gov. Bob Taft
Governor (R-OH 1999-2007)
Rep. Robin Tallon
Congressman (D-SC 1983-1993)
Rep. John Tanner
Congressman (D-TN 1989-2011)
Rep. Lee Terry
Congressman (R-NE 1999-2015)
Rep. Karen Thurman
Congresswoman (D-FL 1993-2003)
Rep. Todd Tiahrt
Congressman (R-KS 1995-2011)
Rep. John Tierney
Congressman (D-MA 1997-2015)

U

Sen. Mark Udall
Senator (D-CO 2009-2015); Congressman (D-CO 1999-2009)

W

Rep. Bob Walker
Congressman (R-PA 1977-1997)
Rep. Jim Walsh
Congressman (R-NY 1989-2009)
Rep. Zach Wamp
Congressman (R-TN 1995-2011)
Rep. Henry Waxman
Congressman (D-CA 1975-2015)
Gov. Christine Todd Whitman
Governor (R-NJ 1994-2001); Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency (2001-2003)
Rep. Pat Williams
Congressman (D-MT 1979-1997)
Sen. Tim Wirth
Senator (D-CO 1987-1993); Congressman (D-CO 1975-1987)
Gov. Robert Wise
Governor (D-WV 2001-2005); Congressman (D-WV 1983-2001)
Rep. Lynn Woolsey
Congresswoman (D-CA 1993-2013)

Featured Press

See All

NOTUS: Trump Critics Play the 1776 Card in The Wall Street Journal

ReFormers Caucus letter sent to Congress and new Issue One campaign cited...

Raw Story: ‘Aren’t we a little more grown up than that?’: Ex-lawmaker rips Congress for ‘dog ate my homework’ excuses

ReFormers Caucus member Brian Baird quoted...

Washington Examiner: Don’t delay — update the Electoral Count Act now

Op-ed by ReFormers Caucus Co-chairs former Amb. Tim Roemer (D-IN) and former Rep. Zach Wamp (R-TN)...

Insider: Ban federal lawmakers and their family members from trading stocks, 37 former lawmakers tell Congress

The Latest

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Feb 02, 2022

In the media

Issue One in the news: January 2022 media mentions recap

It was a busy start to the year for Issue One. Press highlights included the release of our congressional staff pay report, which was covered exclusively by Roll Call and also reported on by CNN, Politico, NBC…

Jan 25, 2022

Op-eds

Washington Examiner: Elections should be decided by voters, not partisan politicians

Op-ed by ReFormers Caucus Co-chairs Amb. Tim Roemer (D-IN) and Rep. Zach Wamp (R-TN)calling for bipartisan updates to the Electoral Count Act

Jan 24, 2022

In the media

NPR: 1 Republican argues for a narrower approach to changing a 19th century voting law

Interview with ReFormers Caucus Co-chair Rep. Zach Wamp (R-TN) on the need to reform the Electoral Count Act

See All