Joanna Lydgate is cofounder and chief executive officer of the States United Democracy Center, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to preserving the rule of law and free, fair, secure elections. Since 2020, States United has provided legal and research support to state officials. Before launching States United, Joanna served as Chief Deputy Attorney General of Massachusetts, where she coordinated multistate litigation, oversaw criminal enforcement, and worked with colleagues to defend the rule of law. She served in the Civil Rights Division of the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office and worked in nonprofit legal services. She graduated from Yale University and Berkeley Law.