The Democratic Coalition
The Democratic Coalition, formerly known as the Democratic Coalition Against Trump, is an American Super PAC founded in 2016 by Nathan Lerner, Scott Dworkin, and Jon Cooper for the purpose of opposing Donald Trump, with a fundraising goal of $20 million by Election Day. It was originally known as the Keep America Great PAC. Formation. The organization was co-founded by Scott Dworkin and Jon Cooper in 2016, along with Nathan Lerner, Chuck Westover, and Jarad Geldner. Dworkin serves as the Coalition's current executive director, as well as host of the Dworkin Report podcast, Series  Editor of Meet the Candidates 2020: A voter's guide, and former Deputy Director for the 2009 Presidential Inaugural Committee and the 2012 DNC in Charlotte. Dworkin is the group's current custodian of record. Jon Cooper was the Founding Chairman, former Democratic majority leader of the Suffolk County (NY) Legislature and the Long Island campaign chairman for President Barack Obama. Cooper left the Coalition in early 2020 to take a position on the Joe Biden for President campaign. Political activism. FBI complaint against Roger Stone In October 2016, the group filed a complaint with the US Federal Bureau of  Investigation against Trump adviser Roger Stone for colluding with Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections. They asked the FBI to look into connections between Stone, the Trump campaign, and the hacking of the Podesta emails. Complaint on Flynn In November 18, 2016, the Democratic Coalition accused Michael Flynn of violating federal law by failing to register with the Justice Department as a “foreign agent” under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). The Coalition said Flynn signed a contract in September to lobby on behalf of a Dutch company with close ties to the Erdogan government. Boycott Trump app  In November 28, 2016, immediately following Trump's election, the group created an app as part of a larger Boycott Trump campaign. It offered a searchable, alphabetical list of companies and businesses with ties to Trump's business empire, offering a brief description for each. Devin Nunes billboard In May 2017, the Democratic Coalition paid for a billboard in Devin Nunes' district, as a direct challenge to GOP members largely avoiding town hall meetings during the height of the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections. The billboard read, “Devin Nunes. Hold a town hall. Let's  talk about Russia.” First Impeachment of Donald Trump In October, 2019, the Coalition launched an Impeachment Task Force in direct response to Trump's impeachment defense task force. With a cast of celebrities, the group aimed to amplify breaking news and accounts related to impeachment and counter disinformation using paid advertising. Members included actors Tom Arnold, Ron Perlman and George Takei; and actresses Debra Messing and Alyssa Milano. Other confirmed famous task force members were musician Stefan Lessard, authors Grant Stern and Lea Black and former tennis player Martina Navratilova, former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti, former FBI assistant director Frank  Figliuzzi, former Tallahassee mayor Andrew Gillum, former congressman David Jolly, gun control activist Fred Guttenberg, patient advocate Peter Morley and progressive activist and lawyer Ady Barkan. Marjorie Taylor Greene investigation In Feb 2021, the Coalition began an investigation into Marjorie Taylor Greene, accusing her of threatening and intimidating another Republican Member of Congress who indicated they may vote for impeachment. Remove Abbott campaign In September 23, 2021, the Democratic Coalition launched a campaign called "#RemoveAbbott" to remove Texas governor Greg Abbott from office. They alleged that Abbott was ignoring scientists and doctors in regards to COVID-19 measures, and that he  was signing reckless gun measures that endangered public safety and introducing racist vote suppression bills. The Coalition also cited his Texas Heartbeat Act, which banned abortions after about six-weeks gestation except to save the mother's life. Fundraising controversy. In 2017 and 2018, following Trump's election to the presidency in the 2016 United States presidential election, the group raised more than $754,000, and spent only 0.3 percent of this amount supporting Democratic Party candidates or targeting Republican Party candidates, a percentage criticized as too low by several Democratic Party activists. Specifically, the Coalition and Dworkin personally have  been accused of spending an unusually high percentage of the money on advertising to raise even more funds.