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Country First PAC
| Country First PAC | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Location: | Ottawa, Illinois |
| Type: | 501(c)(4) |
| Founder(s): | Adam Kinzinger (R) |
| Year founded: | 2021 |
| Website: | Official website |
Country First PAC, also known as Country First, is a political action committee in Illinois created by U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R). As of November 2025, the group described itself as "home to the Reasonable Majority of Americans, from all across the political spectrum, who demand better of the leaders, parties, and media working to divide us."[1] Following its creation, the group endorsed, contributed to, and recruited Republican and Democratic candidates running in state and congressional races.[2][3][4]
Kinzinger said he created Country First in response to the breach of the U.S. capitol on January 6, 2021, and that he would support Republicans who voted to impeach U.S. President Donald Trump (R) following the event.[5] Kinzinger was one of 10 U.S. House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump on January 13, 2021. On October 29, 2021, Kinzinger announced he would not seek re-election in 2022.[6]
Background
As of November 2025, Country First's website listed the following mission statement:
| “ | Through bold public awareness campaigns and transformative civic education, we are mobilizing the Reasonable Majority to rise, reclaim their voice, and drive grassroots action that renews the very soul of our republic. This is not just a moment. It is a movement—for our children, our country, and the future we dare to believe in.[1][7] | ” |
In a 2024 video titled "County First: Relaunched," Kinzinger said, "At this critical juncture, I'm recommitting myself to our shared mission to renew America, to protect democracy, and above all, to breathe new life into country first."[8] Kinzinger told the New York Times, "We have a lot of work to do to restore the Republican Party and to turn the tide on the personality politics.”[9]
Leadership
As of November 2025, the following individual held leadership positions at Country First:
Work and activities
As of November 2025, Country First's website listed the following programs:
- Citizens First: "Join our rapidly growing movement and join a community of fellow Democracy-loving Americans participating in our trainings and grassroots efforts to reject division and take an active role in strengthening democracy."[12]
- Future Democracy Leaders: "By representing the Country First movement on your campus, you will join a network of like-minded individuals committed to defending democracy, solving pressing issues, and bridging divisions."[13]
- Dash for Democracy: "Dash for Democracy gives you the opportunity and tools to invite your friends, family, neighbors, and social media followers to donate to the cause of celebrating and advancing American democracy. Tie your personal fundraiser to your participation in our Dash for Democracy, your volunteerism, passion, or any activity related to your fight for a better democracy for us and future generations."[14]
- Days of Action: "Our Days of Action bring volunteers together to act, then keep acting. In each session, we place coordinated calls to our elected representatives, advancing a country-over-party commitment to accountability and solutions. Afterward, participants connect for peer support—sharing what worked, exchanging resources, and empowering one another to carry the same action into our communities, from neighborhoods to workplaces and faith networks."[15]
The following is a partial list of campaigns Country First had initiated since its founding:
- The Family Before Party Project
- The Family Before Party Project was designed to share the stories of those who have experienced familial strain because of political differences. Country First's website said it began the project after receiving "thousands of messages ... after members of Congressman Kinzinger's own extended family published an open letter disowning him for voting his conscience to impeach Donald Trump for inciting insurrection."[16]
- Investigating Flynn
- Country First created a petition calling on the Pentagon to investigate Gen. Michael Flynn, former National Security Advisor for Trump, over his remarks regarding political violence. [17] Below is the full petition text:
| “ | We, the undersigned, demand that the Pentagon reverse course and fully investigate General Michael Flynn's remarks and involvement in movements advocating for the violent overthrow of our republic. As a retired general, he is still subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice -- and the Department of Defense should explore all options available to ensure it ends here.[18][7] | ” |
- Demand 1/6 Commission
- Country First released the Demand 1/6 Commission petition to call for an investigation into the breach of the U.S. capitol.[19] Below is the full petition text:
| “ | We, the undersigned, demand a national commission to investigate the events surrounding the January 6th insurrection; that it will be empowered to follow the facts wherever they lead; and that our leaders put our country before party in pursuit of the truth.[20][7] | ” |
Electoral activities and influence
Country First endorsed the following candidates in races that took place in 2021:
| Candidate | Race | Incumbent? |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Wood (R)[21] | U.S. House, Texas | No |
Country First organizers said the group would focus on supporting Republican members of Congress who voted in favor of impeaching or convicting Trump in 2022.[5] Country First endorsed the following candidates in races that took place in 2022:[22][23]
| Candidate | Race | State | Incumbent? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jaime Herrera Beutler (R) | U.S. House | Washington | Yes |
| Liz Cheney (R) | U.S. House | Wyoming | Yes |
| Anthony Gonzalez (R) | U.S. House | Ohio | Yes |
| David Holt (R) | Mayor | Oklahoma | Yes |
| John Katko (R) | U.S. House | New York | Yes |
| Peter Meijer (R) | U.S. House | Michigan | Yes |
| Dan Newhouse (R) | U.S. House | Washington | Yes |
| Brad Raffensperger (R) | Secretary of State | Georgia | Yes |
| Tom Rice (R) | U.S. House | South Carolina | Yes |
| Fred Upton (R) | U.S. House | Michigan | Yes |
| David Valadao (R) | U.S. House | California | Yes |
| Lisa Murkowski (R) | U.S. Senate | Alaska | Yes |
| Evan McMullin (I) | U.S. Senate | Utah | No |
| Josh Shapiro (D) | Governor | Pennsylvania | No |
| Katie Hobbs (D) | Governor | Arizona | No |
| Adrian Fontes (D) | Secretary of State | Arizona | No |
| Cisco Aguilar (D) | Secretary of State | Nevada | No |
| Steve Simon (D) | Secretary of State | Minnesota | Yes |
| Jocelyn Benson (D) | Secretary of State | Michigan | Yes |
| Clint Smith (I) | U.S. House | Arizona | No |
| Larry Lazor (R) | U.S. House | Connecticut | No |
| Thomas Knecht (R) | Minnesota House of Representatives (HD49B) | Minnesota | No |
Finances
The following is a breakdown of Country First's revenues and expenses from 2021 to 2025. The information comes from Federal Election Commission.
| Year (coverage period) | Revenue | Expenses |
|---|---|---|
| 2021–2022 | $2,122,557.31 | $1,735,083.75 |
| 2023–2024 | $2,300,594.07 | $1,401,250.19 |
| 2025 (Jan–June) | $13,745.60 | $198,704.69 |
See also
- What is an influencer?
- Adam Kinzinger
- Breach of U.S. Capitol during electoral vote count (January 6, 2021)
- Political action committee
- National influencers
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Country First, "About," accessed November 13, 2025
- ↑ Washington Examiner, "Kinzinger-aligned group gets into candidate recruitment business," August 8, 2022
- ↑ Roll Call, "Trump critic Kinzinger wades into Utah Senate race against Lee," October 21, 2022
- ↑ OpenSecrets, "Country First (Kinzinger) PAC Contributions to Federal Candidates," accessed November 13, 2025
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Deseret News, "This Republican hoping to remake his party just tripled his fundraising numbers," April 2, 2021
- ↑ CNN, "Adam Kinzinger, outspoken GOP Trump critic, won't seek reelection for US House seat," October 29, 2021
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Country First YouTube page," Country First: Relaunched," July 10, 2024
- ↑ New York Times, "Adam Kinzinger’s Lonely Mission," February 15, 2021
- ↑ Country First PAC, "Field Guide," accessed November 13, 2025
- ↑ Federal Elections Commission, "Country First," accessed November 13, 2025
- ↑ Country First, "Citizens First," accessed November 13, 2025
- ↑ Country First, "Future Democracy Leaders," accessed November 13, 2025
- ↑ Country First, "Dash for Democracy," accessed November 13, 2025
- ↑ Country First, "Days of Action," November 13, 2025
- ↑ Country First, "The Family Before Party Project," accessed November 13, 2025
- ↑ Country First, "Stop Playing With Fire," accessed November 13, 2025
- ↑ Country First, "Stop Playing With Fire," accessed November 13, 2025
- ↑ Country First, ""The truth shall set you free"," accessed November 13, 2025
- ↑ Country First, ""The truth shall set you free"," accessed November 13, 2025
- ↑ WCMY, "Texas Congressional candidate gets Country 1st endorsement," March 24, 2021
- ↑ ‘’Country First website’’, “Endorsements,” accessed November 13, 2025
- ↑ Country First website, "Endorsements," accessed November 13, 2025
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