Our Leadership

Dan McMillan is a writer, historian, and former prosecutor on a mission to fix American democracy.

Since he turned 20 in 1980, our founder, Dan McMillan, has watched the political system grow increasingly dysfunctional—while the voices of everyday Americans have been drowned out in Washington. Drawing on his background in history and law, Dan set out to understand the root cause of America’s decline—and identified money in politics as Public Enemy #1.

Dan left his job at the Brooklyn DA’s office to become a writer. In 2014, he published his first book, the acclaimed “How Could This Happen: Explaining the Holocaust.” It explains, in an engaging journalistic style, what scholars like Dan have discovered about why the Holocaust happened. Learn more at Dan’s personal website: www.drdanmcmillan.com.

Dan later began researching and writing a book about money in politics, then turned to direct action in 2020. He saw that Voter Dollars is the best solution, and made it his life’s purpose to make it law. He established Save Democracy in America because he believes change is possible, but only if voters understand the problem and unite behind real solutions. That’s why Save Democracy in America focuses on public education, coalition building, and common-sense reform that transcends partisanship.

In his youth Dan was a dedicated rock climber. He has made three ascents of El Capitan in Yosemite Valley – the highest rock wall in North America.