About Principles First - Principles First

In 2019, principled Americans on the right and center-right who were concerned about the health of American democracy organized a series of meet-ups around the country to serve as an alternative to the Conservative Political Action Conference. Today, that movement has grown into Principles First.

We are a nationwide grassroots movement of people who share a love of American democracy and concern for the direction of our existing conservative leadership. We’ve watched as institutions on the right have been hijacked or co-opted by bad-faith actors willing to put politics and personality over principle. And we’ve seen those in positions of leadership compromise themselves out of cynical self-interest.

We believe good-faith Americans deserve something better.

We’re building an alternative to the partisan doom-loop. Principles First holds an annual Summit in Washington, D.C. to serve as an alternative to CPAC. We convene local chapters to effect change at the community level. We elevate principled leaders around the country. And we speak out as a voice of clarity at a time when cheap partisan tribalism has become the norm.

Leadership

Heath Mayo

Founder

Heath started Principles First in 2019 as a small, grassroots gathering of principled Americans concerned about the direction of the country. Since then, the organization has grown into a nationwide movement with volunteers across the country. Heath is a corporate associate at the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and previously was a manager at Bain & Company. He earned his J.D. from Yale Law School, and M.A. and B.A. from Brown University.

David Thul

National Leadership Chair

David has been a grassroots leader for Principles First since 2019, and has been a volunteer at all Principles First Summits. He is a retired Army National Guard staff sergeant who deployed to Kosovo and Iraq. A former co-Chair of the Steele County Republican Party, David resigned in 2016 when Donald Trump became the presumptive Republican nominee. David lives in Owatonna, Minnesota where he is a supply chain professional for Bosch Automotive.

Michael Beck

Secretary

An active volunteer since 2020, Michael is the Leadership Committee Secretary of Principles First. He is responsible for organization communications, meeting logistics, and coordination of the various grassroots volunteer committees. Michael is a Managing Director at Ernst & Young, LLP and has his Bachelors in Science from Rutgers University.

Ravi Kamble

Events Committee Chair

Ravi first attended the Summit in 2023, volunteered in 2024, and soon became Events Chair. He initiated P1@1, a daily virtual office hour, and P-Corps, a community service project to improve the public image of American conservatism. He also advises Principles First Academy, a civic education website created by his son. Ravi earned his B.A. in Economics from Cornell University, and his podiatric medical degree from the New York College of Podiatric Medicine. He's also an aspiring screenwriter.

Elaine Stephen

Partnerships Committee Chair

Elaine has volunteered with Principles First since 2020. She chairs our Partnerships Committee which develops and maintains relationships between Principles First and allied organizations. A graduate of Vanderbilt University, Elaine lives in Wichita, Kansas where she leads Wichita Hearts for Healers and Rank the Vote Kansas.

Charlie Sutkamp

Outreach Committee Chair

Charlie has been an active member of Principles First since 2021. He is the chair of the Outreach Committee which is responsible for welcoming new and potential members and exploring ways they may get involved. Charlie received his Masters in Education from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he lives, and enjoys spending his time volunteering for organizations like Principles First.