Brand New Congress

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Brand New Congress
File:Brand New Congress logo.png
Founded 2016
Website brandnewcongress.org

Brand New Congress is an American political action committee formed by former staffers and supporters of the 2016 Bernie Sanders presidential campaign to elect hundreds of new Congressional representatives in line with the campaign's political platform.[1][2][3][4][5]

Background

Brand New Congress is a volunteer-led American political organization that intends to run campaigns for over 400 United States Congresspeople with candidates of the organization's choosing[6] by the 2018 midterm elections, regardless of party affiliation.[7] The organization plans to make staffing and fundraising decisions for all of its candidates at once.[8] About 20 volunteers from Senator Bernie Sanders's 2016 presidential campaign formed the group in April 2016 as Sanders conceded the primary to Hillary Clinton.[9] They planned the organization to support Sanders's platform and carry its supporters' momentum into policymaking.[10] Brand New Congress planned to announce 50 candidates by March 2017 and over 400 by July 2017.[8][11] Of the 535 total seats in the United States Congress (House and Senate), 468 will be up for reelection in 2018. The group intends to run both Democratic and Republican candidates,[12] depending on regional demographics, as well as independents when an incumbent wins the primary. Brand New Congress requires candidates to align on Bernie Sander’s presidential platform, regardless of party affiliation. While there are large differences in Republican and Democratic policy beliefs, the Brand New Congress hopes that people will unify under the goal of reforming Congress.[13]

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The grassroots are better qualified to run electoral campaigns than Democratic party operatives ... They just need to be given the tools, the data, the offices and the structure to succeed.

Zack Exley, former Sanders advisor and a founding member of Brand New Congress[14]

The group attended the July 2016 Democratic National Convention to canvass for support in protestor sites and throughout the city. As of that time, the group had raised $85,000, about 90 percent of which were small donations. Its email list contained 20,000 addresses. Brand New Congress was beginning a tour of 100 cities in mid-2016.[8] Founding members of the group were encouraged by the successful role of grassroots[15] fundraising in the Sanders campaign, which surpassed the Clinton campaign several times in monthly income.[14] As of October 2016, the group is accepting nominations for future candidates and is openly developing its economic platform.[16]

In March 2017, Brand New Congress announced that they teamed up with Justice Democrats to further their goals.[17]

Candidates

As of June 9, 2017, there are twelve candidates officially endorsed by Brand New Congress and ten by Justice Democrats, plus incumbent Ro Khanna.[18][19]

Candidate State Party District or Senate
Cori Bush[20] Missouri Democrat Missouri's 1st congressional district
Paula Jean Swearengin[21] West Virginia Democrat U.S. Senator of West Virginia
Anthony Clark[22][23] Illinois Democrat Illinois's 7th congressional district
Robb Ryerse[24][25] Arkansas Republican Arkansas's 3rd congressional district
Adrienne Bell[26] Texas Democrat Texas's 14th congressional district
Michael A. Hepburn [27] Florida Democrat Florida's 27th congressional district
Alexandria Ocasio New York Democrat New York's 14th congressional district
Sarah Smith Washington Democrat Washington's 9th congressional district
Danny Ellyson Georgia Republican Georgia's 8th congressional district
Ryan Stone Texas Democrat Texas's 10th congressional district
Letitia Plummer Texas Democrat Texas's 22nd congressional district
Chardo Richardson Florida Democrat Florida's 7th congressional district

Platform

Their platform contains many progressive priorities, with the following overarching goals:[28]

  • Rebuild the economy through infrastructure and community investment.
  • Fix the healthcare mess with Medicare for All and increased access to medical services.
  • End mass incarceration by ending the War on Drugs and demilitarizing police.
  • Fight for families through fixing schools and family leave.
  • Clean up Washington D.C. by cutting taxes for middle and low income people and removing money from politics.
  • Reform our immigration system with employment verification systems and global legal immigration centers.
  • Stop fighting reckless wars yet support economic development like with the Marshall Plan.
  • Address climate change through building a green economy and a 100% renewable energy system.

Summer for Progress

Several progressive organizations, including Our Revolution, Justice Democrats, Democratic Socialists of America, National Nurses United, Working Families Party, and Fight for 15, announced in July 2017 a push to encourage House Democrats to sign on to a #PeoplesPlatform, which consists of supporting "eight bills currently in the House of Representatives that will address the concerns of everyday Americans."[29] These eight bills and the topics they address are:

  1. Medicare for All: H.R. 676 Medicare For All Act[30]
  2. Free College Tuition: H.R. 1880 College for All Act of 2017[31]
  3. Worker Rights: H.R.15 - Raise the Wage Act [32]
  4. Women’s Rights: H.R.771 - Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance (EACH Woman) Act of 2017 [33]
  5. Voting Rights: H.R. 2840 - Automatic Voter Registration Act[34]
  6. Environmental Justice: Climate Change Bill - TBD
  7. Criminal Justice and Immigrant Rights: H.R. 3227 - Justice is Not For Sale Act of 2017[35]
  8. Taxing Wall Street: H.R. 1144 - Inclusive Prosperity Act[36]

See also

  • Our Revolution – the official political action organization spun out of the 2016 Bernie Sanders presidential campaign
  • Justice Democrats – a PAC dedicated to replacing corporate-backed Democratic Congressional representatives

References

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External links

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