1. Progressive Electoral Politics Organizations
- 1.1. Progressive Political Parties
- 1.2. Progressive State and Local Legislation Groups
- 1.3. Progressive Lobbying and Electoral Action Groups
- 1.4. Progressive Democratic Party Election Groups
- 1.5. Progressive Voter Engagement Groups
- 1.6. Election Reform Groups
- 1.7. Government Accountability Groups
1.1. Progressive Political Parties
- Democratic Party
- Works for job creation, equal pay, education, health care, and clean energy.
- Working Families Party (WF)
- A progressive political organization that sponsors candidates in 16 states and fights nationwide for an economy that works for all and a democracy in which every voice matters.
- Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)
- The largest socialist organization in the United States, and the principal U.S. affiliate of the Socialist International, committed not only to extending political democracy but to demanding democratic empowerment in the economy, in gender relations, and in culture. They believe that working people should run both the economy and society democratically to meet human needs, not to make profits for a few.
- Green Party of the United States
- A federation of state Green Parties committed to environmentalism, non-violence, social justice and grassroots organizing.
- Socialist Party USA
- A political party of, by, and for working people, founded in June 1996 by delegates from hundreds of local and international unions as well as individual activists. It strives to establish a radical democracy that places people’s lives under their own control — a non-racist, classless, feminist, socialist society in which people cooperate at work, at home, and in the community.
1.2. Progressive State and Local Legislation Groups
- Ballot Initiative Strategy Center (BISC)
- Brings together state and national groups committed to strategic grassroots ballot initiative campaigns in order to strengthen progressive politics and policies across the states and build an effective response to the right-wing’s damaging initiative strategy.
- State Innovation Exchange (SIX)
- A national resource and strategy center that supports 1,500 state legislators in advancing and defending progressive policies across the country.
- ProgressNow
- Works with state partners to promote progressive ideas and causes through creative earned media strategies, targeted email campaigns, and cutting-edge new media.
1.3. Progressive Lobbying and Electoral Action Groups
Also see 6.7. Community Organizing Groups
- MoveOn
- An on-line organization that works to realize the progressive vision of our country’s founders by providing a way for its busy but concerned 3.3 million members across America to find their political voice in a system dominated by big money and big media.
- Indivisible
- A network of 5,800 local groups in every Congressional District that lobby for progressive change.
- Daily Kos
- A news organization with over 18 million readers, a community of 3 million people, and an activist hub working for electoral and policy change.
- Our Revolution
- Built upon the success of Bernie Sanders’ presidential 2016 campaign, it organizes grassroots action to elect progressive candidates to political office, from school boards to congressional seats.
- Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL)
- A Quaker lobby that works with people from many different races, religions, and cultures to advocate social and economic justice, peace, and good government.
- Congressional Progressive Caucus Center
- Brings together progressive members of Congress, community leaders, organizers, advocates, unions, and policy experts to advance racial, economic, and gender justice as well as peace, energy independence, environmental sustainability, and human rights.
- Data for Progress
- A multidisciplinary group of experts using state-of-the-art techniques in data science (polling, voter analysis) to support progressive activists and causes.
- Demand Progress
- Seeks to protect the democratic character of the internet (Net Neutrality). Through Rootstrikers.org, works to eliminate the corrupting influence of big money in politics and reform the financial system. Also, works to win progressive policy changes for ordinary people through organizing and grassroots lobbying on issues of civil liberties, civil rights, and government reform.
- RootsAction
- An online initiative dedicated to galvanizing people who are committed to economic fairness, equal rights for all, civil liberties, environmental protection, and defunding endless wars.
- Faithful America
- An online community of citizens motivated by faith to take action to end poverty and promote economic security for all, promote peace and restore America’s commitment to human rights and diplomacy, prevent the catastrophic effects of climate change, counter hate speech and misinformation in the media pertaining to people of faith, and create welcoming communities where immigrants and people of all faiths are welcome.
- End Citizens United
- Seeks to fix our democracy by getting big money out of politics and protecting the right to vote by electing reform champions, passing meaningful legislative reforms, and elevating these issues in the national conversation. Includes Let America Vote (voting rights) and Fight for Reform (state-level reform).
- Stand Up America
- An online effort to provide its network of 2 million people with the information they need to take timely, impactful action on stopping corruption and increasing voter participation, restoring voting rights, and reducing the influence of big money in politics.
- Demand Justice
- Works to build a progressive movement to restore ideological balance and legitimacy to our nation’s courts by reforming the Supreme Court, expanding the circuit and district courts, and championing new judges with experience as public defenders, civil rights lawyers, legal aid lawyers, and labor lawyers who represent working people.
- Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC)
- Endorses bold progressive candidates, helps them run efficient and effective campaigns, raises money for them, and gives volunteers the opportunity to help these campaigns succeed.
- Progressive Democrats of America (PDA)
- A large group of progressive grassroots activists from across the country who want to support other activists locally and carry the progressive agenda from the American grassroots to Congress to guide the development of progressive legislation, fight for its passage into law, and support the realization of progressive policies at the state and local levels.
- Democracy for America (DFA)
- A political action committee inspired by the presidential campaign of Howard Dean, and now dedicated to supporting fiscally responsible, socially progressive candidates at all levels of government — from school board to the presidency.
- Progressive Turnout Project (PTP)
- Dedicated to mobilizing Democratic Party voters and defending democracy.
- Sister District
- Aims to build enduring progressive power in state legislatures across the country, to improve people’s lives and support Democrats by filling critical gaps at every point in the political life cycle.
- Public Leadership Institute / Progressive Majority Action Fund
- Hosts the largest network of progressive lawmakers at the state and local level, the Progressive Leaders Network.
- Blue Future
- Works to continuously engage, mobilize, and connect young people across race and place to progressive political campaigns, equipping them with the resources, tools, skills, and network to be effective volunteers, organizers, and community leaders.
- Young Democrats of America (YDA)
- Mobilizes young people under the age of 36 to participate in the electoral process, influences the ideals of the Democratic Party, and develops the skills of the youth generation to serve as leaders at the local and national level.
- Americans For Democratic Action (ADA)
- America’s oldest independent liberal lobbying organization, dedicated to individual liberty and building economic and social justice at home and abroad.
- National Committee for an Effective Congress (NCEC)
- A political action committee (PAC) supporting progressive candidates who fight for freedom of choice, separation of church and state, gun control, equal rights, and environmental protection.
- Emerge America
- Recruits, trains, and provides a powerful network for Democratic women running for political office.
- EMILY’s List
- ‘Early Money is Like Yeast’ (it makes the dough rise), EMILY’s List identifies and supports viable pro-choice Democratic women candidates for key federal, state, and local offices.
- American Family Voices (AFV)
- Serves as an umbrella group that helps foster a broad network of organizations — including civil rights, environmental, women&squo;s rights, consumer advocacy, and health care organizations, and multi-issue think tanks — and build their infrastructure, both in the field and in communications; also conducts research and provides strategic messaging and public relations work.
- Justice Democrats
- Fights for bold, progressive solutions to our current crises.
- Run for Something
- Provides a safety net for new and exciting progressive leaders — at all stages of their journey &mdash helping them run efficient, strategic, grassroots-driven political campaigns while feeling supported throughout the process.
- Advancement Project
- Using law, public policy and strategic communications, acts in partnership with local communities to build a fair and just multi-racial democracy and to advance universal opportunity, equity, and access.
- Project Vote
- Provides professional training, management, evaluation, and technical services to support voter mobilization in thousands of low-income and minority communities.
- America Votes
- A coalition of many of the largest membership-based groups in the country — representing more than 20 million Americans — who have come together to increase voter registration, education, and participation in electoral politics.
- Rock the Vote
- Engages youth in the political process — voter registration drives, get-out-the-vote events, and voter education efforts by incorporating the entertainment community and youth culture into its activities.
- NextGen America
- Works to turn out young voters (age 18-35) who are less likely to vote or who are not currently registered.
- New Voters Project
- A nonpartisan project of the Student PIRGs (Public Interest Research Groups) that works to register young people and get them to the polls on Election Day.
- TurnUp
- A coalition of youth turnout advocates, powered by a diverse team of over 3,000 youth organizers, 20,000+ young volunteers, hundreds of partner organizations, and thousands of individual donors from every corner of the country.
- The Civics Center
- Helps to build the foundations of youth civic engagement and voter participation in high schools by supporting student-led, peer-to-peer voter registration and pre-registration efforts in high school communities.
- Civic Influencers
- Works to increase youth civic power and youth voting, giving emphasis to Black, Indigenous, and Youth of Color.
- Voter Participation Center
- Dedicated to increasing the participation and amplifying the voices of unmarried women (women who are single, widowed, divorced or separated), people of color, 18–29 year olds, and other historically underrepresented groups in our democracy. Formerly, Women’s Voices. Women Vote.
- League of Women Voters (LWV)
- Fights to improve our systems of government and to impact public policies through citizen education and advocacy.
- Voto Latino (VL)
- By educating and empowering a new generation of Latinx voters, as well as creating a more robust and inclusive democracy, shepherds the Latinx community towards full realization of its political power.
- Mi Familia Vota
- Unites Latino, immigrant, and allied communities to promote social and economic justice through citizenship workshops, voter registration, and voter participation.
- When We All Vote
- Founded by Michelle Obama, brings together individuals, institutions, brands, and organizations to register new voters across the country and advance civic education for the entire family and voters of every age to build an informed and engaged electorate.
- Movement Voter Project (MVP)
- Provides a service for progressive donors: an annotated list of the best local voter organizing groups and key national resistance networks.
- Blue Wave Postcard Movement
- Works to turn out millions of advocates, constituents, and voters in local and national elections, as well as bring awareness to social and environmental justice issues through peer-to-peer postcard outreach.
- Democracy Initiative
- A coalition of 58 organizations working to enhance voting rights and blunt the huge influence of corporate money flooding our political system.
- Democracy 21
- Works to eliminate the undue influence of big money in American politics, prevent government corruption, empower citizens in the political process, and ensure the integrity and fairness of government decisions and elections by promoting campaign finance reform and other related political reforms.
- Democracy Matters
- Informs and engages college students and communities in efforts to strengthen our democracy, focussing on removing private money from politics and other pro-democracy reforms.
- FairVote
- Seeks elections that promote voter turnout, fair representation, inclusive policy, and meaningful choices through electoral reforms such as instant runoff voting, proportional voting, direct election of the president, and automatic voter registration.
- Fair Elections Center
- A national, nonpartisan voting rights and legal support organization whose mission is to remove barriers to registration and voting for traditionally underrepresented constituencies and improve overall election administration through administrative, legal, and legislative reform as well as provide legal and technical assistance to voter mobilization organizations.
- VerifiedVoting.org
- Works to make sure that our election systems are reliable and publicly verifiable.
- Free Speech for People
- Advocates for a constitutional amendment to limit campaign spending and to repeal the doctrine of corporate personhood.
- Common Cause
- Works for honest, open, and accountable government, encourages citizen participation in democracy, and fights against corruption in government and big money special interests.
- Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW)
- Sues government officials who sacrifice the common good to special interests.
- OpenSecrets
- Tracks money in politics and its effect on elections and public policy. Formerly, the Center for Responsive Politics.
- Project On Government Oversight (POGO)
- Investigates and exposes cases of waste, fraud, and abuse in federal agencies and exposes the role of special interest money in politics.
- Center for Effective Government
- Works to build an open, accountable government that invests in the common good, protects people and the environment, and advances the national priorities defined by an active, informed citizenry. Formerly, OMB Watch.
- National Security Archive
- An independent non-governmental research institute and library located at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. that collects and publishes declassified documents acquired through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
- Government Accountability Project (GAP)
- Promotes government and corporate accountability by advancing occupational free speech, defending whistleblowers, and empowering citizen activists.
- National Whistleblowers Center
- Works to ensure that disclosures about government or industry actions that violate the law or harm the environment are fully heard, and that the whistleblowers who risk their careers to expose wrongdoing are defended.
- Fund for Constitutional Government (FCG)
- Works to expose and correct corruption in the federal government and other major national institutions through research and public education.
- American Constitution Society for Law and Policy (ACS)
- An organization of lawyers, law students, scholars, judges, policymakers, and activists that works to ensure that our country’s founding values of human dignity, individual rights and liberties, genuine equality, and access to justice enjoy their rightful, central place in American law.
- Center for Progressive Reform (CPR)
- An organization of university-affiliated academics with expertise in the legal, economic, and scientific issues related to regulation of health, safety, and the environment that seeks to inform policy debates, critique anti-regulatory research, enhance public understanding of the issues, and open the regulatory process to public scrutiny.