GRASSROOTS GRAB

As the polls all over the country have shown this year, not all Republicans are the MAGA-faithful. Enter Principles First, a nationwide grassroots movement comprised of “principled Americans on the right and center-right who were concerned about the health of American democracy.” Begun in 2019 by Heath Mayo because he was concerned about the direction of the country, it has had summits in Washington D.C. every year since, with over 600 people attending to hear numerous speakers. Mayo said he wanted to “do something about the anti-democratic, authoritarian direction the (Republican) party was heading into, and it snowballed. Now we’re looking to go local.” After hearing a clamoring to bring it to the people, Principles First decided to hold a grassroots local pro-democracy dinner in metro Detroit on May 18, where over 100 people attended to hear Mayo, George Conway, podcast host at The Bulwark (and former husband of Kellyanne), Terry Virts, former Commander of the International Space Station, Tina Barton, former Rochester Hills clerk and an election expert, and Chris Roosen, Northville committee member. According to a spokesperson, membership of Principles First is primarily made up of conservatives who were formerly  members of the Republican Party, and there are some who were moderate Republicans and even some moderate Democrats. We are told that over 100 tickets had already been purchase a week ahead of the metro Detroit event.