The 2026 Summit: America 250
February 20-22, 2026
About The Summit
Principles First will hold its sixth annual grassroots Summit at the National Harbor from Friday, February 20 through Sunday, February 22, showcasing the nation’s leading voices in defense of classical liberalism and principled, common-sense solutions to America’s problems.
We will bring together principled public officials, thought leaders, and grassroots activists for three days of discussion, strategy, and fellowship. We will address how we can preserve America’s classical liberal tradition in times of crisis, the urgent need for competent, solutions-driven leadership today, and the future of our movement.
If you are a member of the press, please complete this form to request a media credential.
For questions, contact [email protected].
Videos
Principles First: Our Obligation
Too many people forget how special America is. We all have an obligation to work to keep her strong. Help us meet that obligation by putting principles first.
Photo Gallery
Speakers
Chris Christie
Pat McCrory
Chuck Todd
Adam Kinzinger
George Conway
Michael Steele
Charlie Sykes
Joe Walsh
Sarah Longwell
Justin Wolfers
Michael Beck
Holly Berkley Fletcher
Anna Bower
Diana Brown
Louis Caldera
Mona Charen
Barbara Comstock
RADM (ret.) Scott Deitchman
Andrew Eastmond
Michael Feinberg
Dr. Laura K. Field
Maj. Gen. (ret.) Paul Friedrichs
Adrian Fontes
David Frum
John Giles
Francis Fukuyama
Nate Gowdy
Judge Thomas Griffith
Dr. Steven Hassan
Lieutenant General Mark Hertling
Reed Howard
Jennifer Huddleston
Dr. Manisha Juthani
Melissa Kannard
Bill Kristol
Conor Lamb
Rich Logis
Michael McNulty
Sophia Nelson
Maureen O'Connor
Emma Petty Addams
Andrew Regalado
Lisa D. T. Rice
Jessica Riedl
Will Rinehart
Aaron Rupar
Kori Schake
Wyatt Sharpe
Will Sommer
Dr. Maria J. Stephan
Miles Taylor
Rory Riley-Topping
Chris Roosen
Mark Tooley
Brenna Trout Frey
Justin Vail
Alexander Williams
Ben Wittes
Heath Mayo
Brittany Martinez
Uriel Epshtein
Amit Agarwal
Agenda
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Day 1: FridayFebruary 20th
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Day 2: SaturdayFebruary 21st
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Day 3: SundayFebruary 22nd
Friday, February 20th
Summit attendees will be sent information on how to RSVP. This event will be in National Harbor near the Gaylord.
Saturday, February 21st
Pledge of Allegiance
Featuring Principles First Founder, Heath Mayo
Featuring Chuck Todd, Host of The Chuck ToddCast; 74th Governor of North Carolina and Host of Unspun, Pat McCrory; and Bill Kristol of Defending Democracy Together
Featuring Reed Howard, Democracy Fellow at UVA’s Karsh Institute of Democracy; Diana Brown, Resident Minister, Georgetown University; and Mark Tooley, President, Institute on Religion and Democracy
Featuring Will Rinehart, Senior Fellow at AEI; Jessica Riedl of the Brookings Institute; Francis Fukuyama of Stanford University; and Justin Wolfers, Professor of Economics and Public Policy at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan
Featuring Brittany Martinez, Executive Director of Principles First; and Principles First volunteers Michael Beck, Melissa Kannard, Chris Roosen, and Andy Eastmond
Featuring Lieutenant General Mark Hertling (ret.)
Summit attendees get a sneak peak and opportunity to purchase Mark Hertling‘s new, unreleased book: If I Don’t Return: A Father’s Wartime Journal
Featuring 55th Governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie, and Principles First Founder, Heath Mayo
Featuring Andrew Regalado, Senior Organizer, Horizons Project; Aaron Rupar Independent Journalist and Publisher of the Public Notice Newsletter; Wyatt Sharpe, Host of The Wyatt Sharpe Show; and Sophia Nelson, Founder and CEO of the “Redefining Freedom Center of Virginia
Featuring Mona Charen of the Bulwark; John Giles, former Mayor of Mesa, Arizona; former Congresswoman Barbara Comstock; and former Congressman Conor Lamb
Featuring Will Sommer, The Bulwark; Dr. Steven Hassan Founder and Director, Freedom of Mind Resource Center; Laura K. Field, author of Furious Minds: The Making of the New MAGA Right; Rich Logis of Leaving MAGA; and Dr. Maria J. Stephan, Co-Lead Horizons Project
Featuring former Congressman and Host of The Social Contract, Joe Walsh
Featuring Sarah Longwell, Publisher, The Bulwark
Sunday, February 22nd
Featuring Connor Reed of Country First Academy
Featuring Principles First Founder Heath Mayo and Executive Director Brittany Martinez
Featuring Michael Steele, former Lt. Governor of Maryland, RNC Chairman, and Host of The Weeknight on MS NOW; and Charlie Sykes, Host of To the Contrary
Featuring Brenna Trout Frey, Pro-democracy Legal Strategy Analyst; Maureen O’Connor, former Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice; Thomas Griffith, former United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit; and Alexander Williams, former United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland
Featuring author and legal analyst, Rory Topping; Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes; Lisa D. T. Rice, Co-founder and CEO, Grow Democracy DC; Michael McNulty, Policy Director, Issue One; and Amit Agarwal, Protect Democracy
Featuring Kori Schake of AEI; Louis Caldera, 17th Secretary of the Army; Admiral Steve Abbot; and Lieutenant General Mark Hertling
Featuring Adam Kinzinger and Emma Petty Adams
Featuring Scott Deitchman of National Security Leaders for America (NSL4A); Maj Gen (Dr.) Paul Friedrichs, Command Surgeon of the Joint Staff (ret.) and NSL4A; and Dr. Manisha Juthani, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health and President of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
Featuring Justin Vail, Protect Democracy; Anna Bower, Lawfare; Nate Gowdy, Independent Photojournalist and Author of INSURRECTION; and Jennifer Huddleston, Senior Fellow in Technology Policy, Cato Institute
Featuring David Frum, The Atlantic
Featuring Miles Taylor, DEFIANCE.ORG; Ben Wittes, Lawfare; Holly Berkley Fletcher, former CIA Analyst and Author; and Lawfare Senior Editor and Former FBI Asst. Special Agent In Charge, Mike Feinberg; and Uriel Epshtein, Renew Democracy Initiative
Featuring Heath Mayo, Founder of Principles First
Participating Organizations
We are grateful to all organizations who share our commitment to preserving truth, democracy, and the rule of law. If you'd like to join us as an exhibitor during the Summit, please review our exhibitor information page. Sponsorship information available upon request to [email protected].Hotel Information
Our room block at the Gaylord is sold out. You can still book rooms at the Gaylord through the hotel’s general link here. Many attendees are also staying at local the Hampton Inn. If you need ADA accommodations, please contact [email protected].
The 2026 Principles First Summit is hosted by both Principles First for America Foundation, Inc. (501c3) and Principles First for America, Ltd (501c4). The amount of your ticket price that is tax-deductible as a charitable contribution for federal income tax purposes is limited to 60%, as this is the portion of the Summit related to 501(c)3 activities. See tax-deductible amounts by ticket tier below. The remaining 40% of your ticket sale is NOT tax-deductible.