Nonpartisan Watchdog Deepens Nationwide Expertise as Unprecedented Challenges to Our Democracy Have Voters Ready for Bold, Systemic Reform

(Washington, DC and Boston, MA) – The nonpartisan good government watchdog Common Cause is promoting long-time Common Cause Massachusetts Executive Director Pam Wilmot to be Vice President of State Operations. In her new nationwide role, Wilmot will draw on her 23 years of experience as one of the most effective legislative advocates in the Bay State as she oversees a nationwide network of 30 state offices and advisory boards. In Massachusetts Wilmot built broad coalitions, worked with legislators and other state officials, and employed grassroots organizing techniques to win dozens of ground-breaking reforms. She is a widely recognized expert on the Electoral College, campaign finance, ethics, elections, and transparency laws.

Wilmot will continue to work from Boston and oversee Common Cause’s Massachusetts operations in addition to her national responsibilities. Wilmot leads a coalition in Massachusetts and helped draft a recent law to secure elections in November 2020, given the concerns about traditional in-person voting as we deal with COVID19. She is monitoring similar debates in states around the country in her new role. She will also continue to serve as the democracy organization’s Director of the National Popular Vote Initiative, an effort to ensure the winner of the popular vote receives 270 Electoral Votes and becomes president through the National Popular Vote Compact.

“Pam’s record of success in Massachusetts exemplifies the best of Common Cause. She is a natural leader with tenacity, integrity, and the highest ethical standards that she puts to work every day strengthening the people’s voice in our democracy,” said Karen Hobert Flynn, Common Cause President. “Pam’s expertise in every aspect of elections and governing is deep and has long made her a go-to person within the organization. In these times of unprecedented challenge and genuine opportunity for our democracy, Pam’s national leadership role makes every part of Common Cause stronger,” Hobert Flynn added. 

Peter Sturges, the outgoing chair of the Common Cause Massachusetts Advisory Board pointed to Wilmot’s ability to see democracy as an ongoing conversation about perfecting our union. “Among Pam’s many wins for the people of Massachusetts include expanding and updating the state’s ethics and lobbying laws, passing National Popular Vote, strengthening our campaign finance laws, and establishing many, many election reforms. That continuum of improvement and innovation is the work Pam and Common Cause do every single day,” Sturges said. 

Wilmot also led the successful effort to pass landmark legislation on voting rights with early voting, online voter registrations, pre-registration of 16 years-olds, and election audits. She also helped pass one of the toughest laws in the country to stop secret money in political campaigns as well as a huge update of the Massachusetts public records laws, bringing a new level of transparency to government. 

“I’m honored by the trust and responsibility I’ve been given in a moment we all agree requires the urgent attention of every American. Our democracy – and we as Americans— are being tested right now,” said Pam Wilmot, Vice President for State Operations, “and we must respond with bold, comprehensive solutions to make our democracy more fair, representative, open, transparent, accessible, and competent,” Wilmot added. “Working together, we the people will create the democracy we all deserve.” 

“Every day in my work I see regular people making an enormous difference. Every day I see the importance of strong state leaders who understand coalitions, complex public policy, and are trusted allies and spokespeople. I’m thrilled to be working with the most passionate and dedicated democracy advocates coast-to-coast.” 

In 2017 Pam was awarded the John Gardner Public Service Award for her many Achievements and those who know her work best had said: 

• “We have lots of great advocates in the Commonwealth, and Pam is one of our best. In the advocacy business, persistence is the name of the game, and persistence is her middle name. Right now, part of her focus is on the National Popular Vote campaign– a major effort to do something we should have done two hundred years ago– and that is to get rid of the Electoral College. Let’s make sure we give her all the help we can in that effort.”
  Governor Michael Dukakis, 2017
• “The remarkable thing about Pam is that she manages to be both a politically sharp, dogged and successful advocate and a genuine — and genuinely nice — human being. She pursues government integrity with great personal integrity, and a terrific sense of humor. It’s always my pleasure and honor to work with her.”
  Gavi Wolfe, Legislative Director, ACLU of Massachusetts, 2017 

Wilmot has her Juris Doctor from Northeastern University, a master’s in social work from Smith College, and bachelor’s degree from Brown University.  In addition to her passion for democracy Wilmot is an avid climber and hiker, leading hikes in New England and around the world for the Appalachian Mountain Club.