Progressive Majority

Infobox Organization
name = Progressive Majority


image_border =
size =
caption =


msize =
mcaption =
abbreviation =
motto = "A Future Worth Fighting For"
formation = 1999
extinction =
type = PAC
status =
purpose =
headquarters = 1825 K St. NW Suite 450, Washington, DC, 20006
location =
region_served =
membership =
language =
leader_title = Executive Director
leader_name = Gloria Totten
main_organ =
parent_organization =
affiliations =
num_staff =
num_volunteers =
budget =
website = [http://www.progressivemajority.org/ www.progressivemajority.org]
remarks =

Progressive Majority is an American political group that recruits, trains, and elects progressive politicians to state and local offices. It was founded in 1999 by leaders from organized labor, members of Congress, and progressive donors as a multi-issue political action committee to enhance the political effectiveness of the progressive movement. Progressive Majority currently operates and has offices in Arizona, California, Colorado, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Wisconsin. It has elected 272 candidates so far and has already endorsed more than 75 candidates for the 2008 elections [ [http://www.progressivemajority.org/candidates/all-2008/ Progressive Majority list of 2008 endorsed candidates] . Progressive Majority.] . Progressive Majority's president is Gloria Totten and there are currently 496 people on its "farm team" of potential candidates. Progressive Majority has been credited with helping to achieve the dramatic Democratic advances that occurred in Colorado, Wisconsin, Washington, Ohio, and Pennsylvania in the 2006 election cycle [Nichols, John (December 29, 2006). [http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat?bid=1&pid=152347 "Most Valuable Progressives of 2006"] , "The Nation".] .

All potential candidates must take a questionnaire that tests their commitment to economic justice and civil rights, including gay rights, public education, universal healthcare, environmental protection, worker's rights, civil liberties and reproductive freedom before receiving any support, training or funding from Progressive Majority.

History

When founded, Progressive Majority assisted progressive candidates in both state and federal elections, raising $818,000 in 2002. Because of the lack of potential candidates for higher office at the state and local levels, the Board of Directors decided to shift the organization's focus toward the states in order to "recruit strong community leaders to run for state and local office and form the 'farm team' for the progressive movement." [http://www.progressivemajority.org/History/ Progressive Majority history] . Progressive Majority.]

Offices were opened in Washington, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania in 2004, and the organization expanded to Colorado and Arizona in 2005. [Conniff, Ruth (June 8, 2006). " [http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060626/conniff How to Build a Farm Team] ", "The Nation".] The California office opened in 2006, and offices opened in Minnesota and Ohio in 2007. The number of candidates elected has increased steadily since Progressive Majority's founding, with 41 candidates being elected in 2004, 53 elected in 2005, and 102 elected in 2006. 23 candidates have been elected so far in 2008.

Public officials elected with the help of Progressive Majority include California Secretary of State Debra Bowen, Washington House of Representatives Majority Floor Leader Larry Springer, Washington state senator and 2007 Humane Society of the United States state legislator of the year Brian Weinstein, and Arizona state senator Paula Aboud, one of Arizona's few openly gay elected officials.

Currently endorsed candidates running in 2008 include Mark Ridley-Thomas, who is vying to represent the 2nd District of the Los Angeles County as a member of its Board of Supervisors and Peter J. Goldmark, who is running for Washington Commissioner of Public Lands.

Racial Justice Campaign

In 2004, Progressive Majority created the Racial Justice Campaign with the goal of increasing the representation of minorities in government and electing a greater number of candidates of color. The RJC successfully elected three candidates in 2004, five candidates in 2005, 16 candidates in 2006, and 21 candidates in 2007. Politicians elected with the help of the Racial Justice Campaign include California State Controller John Chiang, who is the highest ranking Asian Pacific American elected state official in California, and Colorado state representative Ed Casso, who was elected deputy whip for the Colorado House Democratic Caucus. The current director of the Racial Justice Campaign is Cherese N. Williams.

References

External links

* [http://www.progressivemajority.org Progressive Majority's official website]