News & Commentary written by Ellen Flenniken

Ellen Flenniken (she/her) is the Director of Policy and Government Affairs, Advocacy at the ACLU, where she leads legislative and ballot campaigns to end the war on drugs and reduce mass incarceration. She joined the ACLU in September 2022 after seven years at the Drug Policy Alliance, where she served as the Managing Director of Development and Political Strategy. Ellen’s proudest moment at DPA was partnering to build, lead, and win Oregon Measure 110—the first-in-the-nation ballot initiative that eliminated criminal penalties for drug use and expanded access to health and social services. Before joining DPA, Ellen served as finance director for Oregon’s successful campaign to regulate, legalize and tax marijuana; campaign manager for Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR); finance director for Kate Brown’s winning campaign for Oregon Secretary of State; and deputy finance director at Oregon United for Marriage. Ellen received her B.A. in political science and Mandarin Chinese from Middlebury College. She lives in Asbury Park, NJ, with her wife Kate and sons Jack and Quinn.