Democracy for America

Last updated
Democracy for America
Founded2004
Defunct2022
Headquarters Burlington, Vermont
Membership
1 million+
Chair
Charles R. Chamberlain
Chief Executive
Yvette Simpson
Key people
Howard Dean, Jim Dean
Website democracyforamerica.com

Democracy for America(DFA) was a progressive political action committee headquartered in Burlington, Vermont. Founded by former Democratic National Committee Chair Howard Dean in 2004, DFA led public awareness campaigns on a variety of public policy issues, trains activists, and provided funding directly to candidates for office, until it ended operations in 2022. [1] [2] At its peak, the organization had dozens of local chapters and more than a million members in the United States and internationally.

Contents

History

Foundation and early history (2001–2004)

Dean created the PAC Fund for a Healthy America in 2001 in Montpelier in advance of a planned campaign for president. [3] [4] In March 2004, following the conclusion of Dean's presidential campaign, the organization was renamed "Democracy for America." [5]

Following his unsuccessful run for the Democratic nomination in the 2004 presidential election, Dean used the organization to build on the grassroots momentum for Democratic candidates around the country and for his successful campaign to become chair of the Democratic National Committee. [6] DFA used the Internet-based, grassroots organizing that Dean had created for his presidential campaign to help like-minded Democrats get elected. [7] In 2004 the organization endorsed and supported Democrats (known as the Dean Dozen) on the federal, state, and county levels.

2005–2022

In 2005, Dean turned over control of the organization to his brother, Jim Dean, when he became DNC Chair. [8] Since then, Democracy for America has helped elect over 600 progressives into office, including President Barack Obama, while building their membership to over a million like-minded progressives across all fifty states. In 2007, DFA became the first carbon-neutral political action committee in the United States. [9]

Arshad Hasan served as executive director from 2007 to 2013, after which Charles R. Chamberlain became executive director. [10] Effective January 1, 2019, Chamberlain was named chair, while Yvette Simpson was named chief executive. [11] Fundraising efforts collapsed under Simpson. In December 2022, Simpson announced she would step down from the organization, which was no longer solvent and was dissolved. The associated 501(c)4, Democracy for America Advocacy Fund, also known as DFA Advocacy Fund, continued limited operations. [12] [2]

DFA-List

First DFA logo DFA Logo.png
First DFA logo

DFA focused on endorsing candidates at all levels of office, both local and national. DFA's endorsements were often orchestrated by members of local groups, and they provided resources, such as funds and addresses, to the endorsed campaign. According to their records, the group endorsed over 578 candidates. [13] Candidates wishing for an endorsement may apply on the organization's website.

DFA initially endorsed Bernie Sanders in the 2016 presidential race after earning a record-breaking 87.9% of the vote in their online poll.

The organization switched its endorsement in July 2016 "...to stand with Bernie Sanders by joining him in formally endorsing Hillary Clinton for President." [14] Sanders has since formed his own group Our Revolution.

Notable past DFA endorsements have included:

Political positions

Democracy for America's status on various social and economic issues places the organization strongly on the left of the American political spectrum. Although they often endorse and advocate for Democratic Party candidates, DFA is also to the left of many national and state Democratic lawmakers.

In 2006, the group supported Ned Lamont over Sen. Joseph Lieberman in Connecticut's primary and general elections. [19] DFA also supported Carol Shea-Porter in her Democratic primary and general election victory [20] in New Hampshire's 1st congressional district. In 2008, the group supported Donna Edwards of Maryland's 4th congressional district. [21]

During the 2008 Minnesota Senate election between Norm Coleman and Al Franken, Democracy for America aligned themselves with the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and called their campaign "Donate a Dollar a Day to Make Norm Go Away." [22] Coleman lost to Franken following an official state-wide recount. [23]

Domestic issues

Before creating this PAC, the group's founder, Howard Dean, who already possessed a considerable platform, had strongly campaigned in favor of universal health care. Therefore, the DFA's first major campaign after the 2008 presidential election focused mainly on this issue, standing in support of universal healthcare.

In 2011, DFA's main issue of interest was the rights of company employees, which was campaigned for, among other things, by promoting unions. DFA, Progressive Change Campaign Committee (or PCCC), and several other organizations with lesser contribution levels, combined funds to spend $2.2 million canvassing about these issues, including phone calls, door-to-door campaigning, and TV ads.

DFA has also campaigned to oppose legislation that requires voters to present government-issued identification cards, birth certificates, or passports before voting. [24] The organization has at various times deemed the laws "excessive" and "Draconian," and has argued that the laws inhibit ordinary citizens from being able to enter the polling stations. [25]

Additionally, DFA's Advocacy Fund has cosponsored a digital sign-on action for universal Pre-K alongside Democratic Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici and a number of other groups, including Saphron Initiative and Daily Kos. [26]

Furthermore, the DFA campaigns on behalf of legislation to benefit homosexual Americans, to guard the rights afforded to them through the legalization of same-sex marriage in the United States. The organization sent volunteers to Maine to campaign against 2009 Maine Question 1, which nullified a same-sex marriage law passed by the state's legislature. In a related issue, DFA pushed for the repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" laws in regard to the U.S. military.

DFA has also run anti-Wall Street campaigns and a "Boycott BP" campaign in response to a leaky oil pipe in the Gulf of Mexico that was owned by BP.

Foreign policy issues

Democracy for America supported the withdrawal of the United States from the Iraq War. [27]

Endorsed presidential candidates

In 2008, Democracy for America endorsed Barack Obama, who was then an outspoken critic of the Iraq War. In February 2009, President Obama stated unequivocally that American occupation in Iraq will end no later than August 31, 2010. DFA did not withdraw its support for Obama after he failed to do this.

In 2016, DFA endorsed Bernie Sanders in the 2016 United States presidential election, in accordance with the results of a poll of their supporters conducted on the DFA website. [28]

In 2020, DFA endorsed Bernie Sanders, also in accordance with a website poll. [29]

Training and scholarships

DFA members at both the national and local levels have participated in numerous training programs, intended to instruct prospective candidates on running a successful political campaign. DFA's main training initiative, called the Campaign Academy, consists of 16 hours of interactive workshops that bring hundreds of local activists, campaign staff, and candidates together for 2 days of intensive campaign training. [30] Topics have included; online organizing, shutting down a campaign, canvassing, phone banking, recruiting volunteers, how to increase voter turnout, developing a finance plan, sustaining your media presence, winning with social networks and building a grassroots army: volunteer recruitment. [30]

"DFA Night School" is the organization's online training program. Each session is an hour-long interactive conference call and web presentation where trainees participate and ask questions. [31]

Netroots Nation Scholarship competition

DFA also awards scholarships to progressive or liberal bloggers, known as the "Netroots Nation Scholarship." [32] In 2010, DFA sent 60 online activists to Netroots Nation, held in Las Vegas, NV, from July 22–25. [33] Other sites for the Netroots Nation Convention have included Austin, Texas, in 2008 [34] and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 2009. [35]

Dean Corps

In 2010, DFA sent field organizers to progressive campaigns for a program called Dean Corps. Similar to Russ Feingold's Progressive Patriot Corps, organizers represented an in-kind contribution to the recipient campaign. The goal is to hire, train and place field organizers on key progressive campaigns to get more progressive Democrats elected.

See also

Notes

  1. Gillespie, Elizabeth (for the AP) (March 18, 2004), Dean promises his group will raise money, recruit candidates, USA Today, retrieved 2009-07-12
  2. 1 2 Lippman, Daniel (18 December 2022). "Wine tasting in Napa and a staff revolt: How a progressive powerhouse went kaput". Politico. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  3. The Buying of the President 2004: Center for Public Integrity http://projects.publicintegrity.org/bop2004/candidate.aspx?cid=8 Archived 2009-04-03 at the Wayback Machine
  4. Clift, Eleanor (January 4, 2002), Howard Who?, Newsweek, retrieved 2009-07-12
  5. FEC Amended Statement of Organization, Org. # C00370007, March 18, 2004 available at "Reports Image Index for Committee Id C00370007". Archived from the original on 2012-07-09. Retrieved 2009-08-12.
  6. Keil, Richard (February 12, 2005), Dean becomes Chairman of Democratic Party, Bloomberg.com, retrieved 2009-07-12
  7. Mercurio, John (May 6, 2004), Democracy (Dean) for America, CNN.com Morning Grind, retrieved 2009-07-12
  8. Hagen, Lisa (2016-11-11). "Howard Dean leaves role with progressive group he founded". The Hill. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
  9. "Carbon Offsets: What Democracy for America is doing". www.energyrefuge.com. Archived from the original on 2019-06-17. Retrieved 2019-06-17.
  10. Celock, John (13 June 2013). "Top Progressive Staffer Joins Dean Group". HuffPost.
  11. "Democracy for America's Jim Dean steps down, appoints Yvette Simpson new Chief Executive". Democracy for America. November 14, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  12. "Democracy for America on track to shut down". POLITICO. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
  13. "Democracy for America : Past Endorsements". democracyforamerica.com.
  14. "Democracy for America endorses Hillary Clinton for President, praises Bernie Sanders run". Democracy for America – July 12th 2016 Press Release. 12 July 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  15. Ballhaus, Rebecca (December 17, 2015). "Progressive Group Democracy for America Endorses Bernie Sanders". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  16. "Democracy for America : Julie Gunnigle – Maricopa County Attorney, AZ".
  17. "Home". improvforleaders.com.
  18. Democracy for America. "DFA backs Paulette Jordan for Governor of Idaho", Democracy for America, Vermont, 15 March 2018. Retrieved on 15 March 2018.
  19. Nichols, John (April 20, 2006), No to Pro-War Democrats, The Nation, retrieved 2009-07-13
  20. Alarkon, Walter (November 8, 2006), Shea-Porter Beats Bradley, Concord Monitor, archived from the original on November 5, 2012, retrieved 2009-07-13
  21. Merida, Kevin (February 13, 2008), "On an Icy Day A Challenger Wins Her Heated Contest", Washington Post, retrieved 2009-07-13
  22. BoldProgressives (18 May 2009). "Norm Meets "Dollar a Day" Campaign" via YouTube.
  23. "Status". services.myngp.com.
  24. "Indiana Secretary of State :: Todd Rokita". Archived from the original on 2009-06-17. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
  25. "Democracy for America : Home". democracyforamerica.com.
  26. "Sign on: support universal pre-K!". 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  27. Boyer, Dave (September 10, 2014). "Obama: Offensive against Islamic State 'will be different' from Iraq, Afghanistan". The Washington Times. Retrieved 2016-05-20.
  28. Wolfgang, Ben (December 17, 2015). "Powerful liberal group endorses Bernie Sanders, promises to push for 'revolution'". Washington Times. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  29. Siders, David (3 March 2020). "Democracy for America endorses Bernie Sanders" . Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  30. 1 2 "FXで為替の仕組みを知ろう". progressivespirit.com.
  31. "Democracy for America". www.democracyforamerica.com.
  32. "Democracy for America : Home". democracyforamerica.com.
  33. "Netroots Nation 2010: July 22-25 in las Vegas! | Netroots Nation". Archived from the original on 2009-11-01. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
  34. "Netroots Nation 2008... Texas Style! | Netroots Nation". Archived from the original on 2009-02-23. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
  35. "Netroots Nation 2009: Pittsburgh, Aug. 13-16 | Netroots Nation". Archived from the original on 2008-08-20. Retrieved 2009-06-23.


Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bernie Sanders</span> American politician and activist (born 1941)

Bernard Sanders is an American politician and activist who is the senior United States senator from Vermont. Sanders is the longest-serving independent in U.S. congressional history but has a close relationship with the Democratic Party, having caucused with House and Senate Democrats for most of his congressional career and sought the party's presidential nomination in 2016 and 2020, coming second in both campaigns. He is often seen as a leader of the U.S. progressive movement.

In American politics, a superdelegate is a delegate to a presidential nominating convention who is seated automatically.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MyDD</span> American Politics Blog

MyDD was the first large collaborative politically progressive American politics blog. It was established by Jerome Armstrong in 2001. Its name was originally short for "My Due Diligence." In 2005, MyDD was profiled in Campaigns and Elections magazine, crediting the site with being "the first major liberal blog." In January 2006, the name was changed to "My Direct Democracy" as part of a site redesign, with the new tagline "Direct Democracy for People-Powered Politics."

Netroots is a term coined in 2002 by Jerome Armstrong to describe political activism organized through blogs and other online media, including wikis and social network services. The word is a portmanteau of Internet and grassroots, reflecting the technological innovations that set netroots techniques apart from other forms of political participation. In the United States, the term is used mainly in left-leaning circles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 United States Senate election in Vermont</span>

The 2006 United States Senate election in Vermont was held November 7, 2006. Incumbent independent Senator Jim Jeffords decided to retire rather than seek reelection to a fourth term, and Bernie Sanders was elected to succeed him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerome Armstrong</span> American political strategist (born 1964)

Jerome Armstrong is an American political strategist. In 2001, he founded MyDD, a blog which covered politics, making him one of the first political bloggers. Armstrong coined the term netroots, and was referred to as "The Blogfather" for having mentored many other famous bloggers such as Markos Moulitsas in their early years. He is credited as one of the architects of Howard Dean's 2004 grassroots presidential campaign, and bringing those tactics to campaigns globally. In 2005, Armstrong co-founded Vox Media with Markos Moulitsas and Tyler Bleszinski.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Dean (activist)</span> American political activist

James H. Dean is an American political operative who previously served as chair of Democracy for America (DFA), the nation's largest political action committee. The brother of former Vermont governor Howard Dean, DFA was founded in 2004 following the conclusion of his brother's presidential campaign.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Howard Dean</span> American politician (born 1948)

Howard Brush Dean III is an American physician, author, consultant, and retired politician who served as the 79th governor of Vermont from 1991 to 2003 and chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) from 2005 to 2009. Dean was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 2004 presidential election. Later, his implementation of the fifty-state strategy as head of the DNC is credited with the Democratic victories in the 2006 and 2008 elections. Afterward, he became a political commentator and consultant to McKenna Long & Aldridge, a law and lobbying firm.

Netroots Nation is a political convention for American progressive political activists. Originally organized by readers and writers of Daily Kos, a liberal political blog, it was previously called YearlyKos and rebranded as Netroots Nation in 2007. The new name was chosen to reflect the participation of a broader audience of grassroots activists, campaign workers and volunteers, thought leaders, messaging technology innovators as well as local, state, and national elected officials. The convention offers three days of programming: panel discussions on emerging issues in politics and society; training sessions to support more effective activism; keynote addresses from speakers of national stature; an exhibit hall; networking and social events. The event draws roughly 3000 attendees.

Ilya Sheyman is a community organizer, formerly Executive Director of MoveOn Political Action, a candidate for Illinois's 10th congressional district for the United States House of Representatives elections, 2012, and is currently the CEO of The Good Food Institute.

Arshad Hasan was the executive director of ProgressNow. He was previously executive director for Democracy for America.

Charles Robert Chamberlain is an American political leader. He is the executive director at Democracy for America (DFA), a progressive political action committee, headquartered in Burlington, Vermont.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 United States Senate election in Vermont</span>

The 2018 United States Senate election in Vermont was held November 6, 2018, alongside a gubernatorial election, U.S. House election, and other state and local elections. Incumbent independent Senator Bernie Sanders won re-election to a third term, defeating Republican nominee Lawrence Zupan. The primaries were held on August 14. This was one of two independent-held Senate seats up for election in a state that Hillary Clinton won in the 2016 presidential election.

Brand New Congress was an American political action committee with the mission to elect hundreds of new progressive congressional representatives in line with the campaign's political platform.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Our Revolution</span> American progressive 501(c)(4) political organization

Our Revolution is an American progressive political action organization spun out of Senator Bernie Sanders's 2016 presidential campaign to continue its work. The organization's mission is to educate voters about issues, get people involved in the political process, and work to organize and elect progressive candidates. Our Revolution is also the title of a book by Sanders released in November 2016.

Veterans for Bernie Sanders was the national grassroots association of military veterans organized on behalf of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders during his 2016 presidential campaign. Vets for Bernie was independent from the official campaign and largely organized via social media, with more than 50,000 military members and over 100,000 followers on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Founded by veterans of the Iraq war and Afghanistan war, Vets for Bernie became a key organizing force for progressives and military voters for the Sanders campaign.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Vermont gubernatorial election</span>

The 2020 Vermont gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 2020, to elect the Governor of Vermont. As Vermont does not impose term limits upon its governors, incumbent Republican Governor Phil Scott was eligible to run for re-election to a third two-year term in office. On November 18, 2019, he confirmed that he was running for reelection, but did not yet publicly announce his campaign. On May 28, 2020, he officially announced his candidacy but stated that he would not campaign, maintain a campaign staff, or fundraise because of the state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Vermont. The primary was held on August 11. Scott won re-election to a third term in a landslide, defeating Progressive and Democratic nominee, Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 United States Senate election in Kentucky</span>

The 2022 United States Senate election in Kentucky was held on November 8, 2022, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent Kentucky. Incumbent Republican Rand Paul won re-election to a third term, defeating Democratic nominee Charles Booker with 61.8% of the vote.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont</span>

The 2022 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont was held on November 8, 2022, to elect the U.S. representative from Vermont's at-large congressional district. The election coincided with other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the U.S. Senate, as well as various other state and local elections.