ICYMI: Unelected Bureaucrats Are Undermining Red State Voters—and the Problem Runs Deeper Than You Think

Our recent article in The Federalist exposes America's "shadow government" problem.

In case you missed our recent investigation, “How Leftist Clubs For Government Employees Work Against Red State Voters”, it’s a critical exposé of how unelected bureaucrats are pushing progressive policies in red states, defying the will of conservative voters. The article reveals a troubling trend, but the issue is far more pervasive than we could cover in one piece. Below, we recap the key findings and share exciting news about a forthcoming report that will uncover the full scope of this bureaucratic overreach.

Key Findings You Need to Know

Our research details how professional associations, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), operate as a shadow government, advancing leftist agendas like Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in states where voters have rejected such policies. As we report, the NAIC has questioned whether sex-based auto insurance ratings are “unfairly discriminatory,” challenging the foundations of actuarial science for ideological gain. Similarly, AASHTO’s 2023 resolution to prioritize “race, equity, diversity, and inclusion” has led to “race-based mandates for transportation contracts” in most states, including red ones.

These groups, as our article warned, “represent what effectively amounts to a left-wing shadow government guiding states in an increasingly leftist direction.” They wield outsized influence over critical areas like insurance, transportation, and Medicaid, often bypassing the elected officials accountable to voters.

The Issue Is Even More Alarming

While our article highlighted the influence of these associations, the problem is far more entrenched than we had room to describe in one piece. These groups are part of a broader ecosystem, backed by billionaire-funded NGOs and progressive think tanks that amplify their reach. Grant funding, often tied to these progressive policy requirements, pressures red state agencies to comply, even when it contradicts the conservative mandates of their constituents. This network operates with sophistication, embedding itself in state bureaucracies and eroding the federalist principles that protect state sovereignty.

A Major Report Is Coming

SLI is committed to exposing threats to American self-governance. That’s why we’re preparing a comprehensive report that will delve deeper into this shadow government’s operations. This upcoming exposé will reveal:

• Mechanisms of Influence: How associations use trainings, resolutions, federal funding pipelines, and “best practices” to align state agencies with progressive causes, as outlined in the State Leadership Initiative’s findings: “Trainings, resolutions, federal funding pipelines, and ‘best practices’ serve to coordinate bureaucratic alignment with progressive causes.”

• Ideological Agenda: The explicit promotion of DEI, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), gender ideology, and federal expansionism as administrative defaults, with examples like the National Association of Medicaid Directors (NAMD) declaring “equity—not outcomes—as the ‘foundational principle’ of reform” and prioritizing services based on racial identity.

• Case Studies: Detailed accounts of over 20 national associations, including the National Governors Association (NGA) and National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), that have advanced progressive policies, such as NGA’s promotion of “equity-based energy planning” and NCSL’s support for “equity notes” in legislative analysis.

• Constitutional Implications: How this “shadow governance” subverts self-government by rendering “the consent of the governed functionally irrelevant,” as the State Leadership Initiative warns, and erodes federalism through “administrative convergence” across states.

• Solutions for Reform: Practical steps for governors and legislators, including auditing association memberships, banning ideological training, and creating rival conservative associations.

This report will be a vital resource for conservatives fighting to restore voter-driven governance in red states. Stay subscribed to receive it directly in your inbox upon its release in the coming months.

Why This Matters to You

From insurance rates to infrastructure projects, these associations impact nearly every facet of state governance. Red state voters deserve policies that reflect their values, not the priorities of a progressive bureaucracy. Without action, this shadow government will continue to undermine conservative victories at the ballot box.

Stay Engaged

If you haven’t read the full article, dive in now. Share it with fellow conservatives to raise awareness. We’d also like to hear from you—have you noticed this bureaucratic overreach in your state? Reply to this post with your insights.

Thank you for supporting SLI’s mission to defend liberty and accountability. Watch your inbox for our forthcoming report, which will equip you with the knowledge to fight back. Not subscribed? Join our Substack community to stay informed.