Bernie Sanders Leads in Democracy For America’s First 2020 Presidential Pulse Poll

December 18, 2018

Today, Democracy for America (DFA) released the results of its first 2020 Presidential Pulse Poll with Bernie Sanders leading with over a third of DFA members encouraging him to run for president. He is followed by Joe Biden, Beto O'Rourke, Elizabeth Warren, and Kamala Harris.

Top five results from the DFA poll (members asked to pick top three):

• Bernie Sanders, 36.14%
• Joe Biden, 14.88%
• Beto O'Rourke, 12.34%
• Elizabeth Warren,…

VICTORY: DFA celebrates Katie Porter’s (CA-45) inclusive populist win in Orange County, CA

November 15, 2018

Katie Porter just won her race for Congress in California's 45th Congressional District, delivering, over a week after election, yet another victory in the long-held Republican stronghold of Orange County.

Democracy for America endorsed Porter early in her Democratic Primary in January 2018.

DFA's Executive Director Charles Chamberlain on Katie Porters's stunning victory in California's 45th District:

"Katie Porter was counted out…

Democracy for America’s Jim Dean steps down, appoints Yvette Simpson new Chief Executive

November 14, 2018

Today, Democracy for America's (DFA) Jim Dean announced his decision to step down from his role as Chair of the national grassroots progressive group, and make former Cincinnati City Council member and history-making 2017 mayoral candidate Yvette Simpson its next Chief Executive, effective January 1, 2019.

As a part of the transition, Dean will move into the special advisor role his brother, Gov. Howard Dean, held prior to November…

A “Critical Progressive Pivot Point” for Our Country: DFA’s Top 5 Takeaways from the 2018 Election

November 9, 2018

Headlined by a night of historic "firsts" and the return of Democratic control of the U.S. House after the crushing loss of 2016, future generations will likely remember Election Night 2018 as a critical progressive pivot point in our country's political history.

Led by the people of color, women, millennials, and white progressives who make up the New American Majority, the 2018 election results delivered a clear repudiation of Donald…

VICTORY: DFA says “no one should be surprised” by Lucy McBath’s win in Georgia’s 6th

November 7, 2018

This afternoon, Lucy McBath declared victory in her race for Congress in Georgia's 6th Congressional District. McBath's win over Rep. Karen Handel comes less than two years after Handle beat Democrat Jon Ossoff in a 2017 Special Election that remains the most expensive congressional race in U.S. history.

Inspired by the surge of grassroots momentum behind her campaign, Lucy McBath was Democracy for America's final endorsement of the…

DFA: Sessions’ firing, Whitaker appointment a “transparent attempt by Trump to escape justice”

November 7, 2018

Democracy for America Executive Director Charles Chamberlain responded this evening to the news that Donald Trump has effectively fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions and temporarily replaced him with Matt Whitaker, an administration official who has openly discussed dismantling the Special Prosecutor's Trump-Russia investigation.

"The forced resignation of Attorney Jeff Sessions and the appointment of Matt Whitaker as his temporary…

VICTORY: DFA cheers as Evers, Barnes “end Wisconsin’s nearly decade-long Scott Walker nightmare”

November 7, 2018

Thanks to a final round of absentee votes in Milwaukee, Tony Evers and Mandela Barnes finally ended Wisconsin's nearly decade-long Scott Walker nightmare.

Democracy for America was an early supporter of Barnes for Lt. Governor and formally endorsed Evers in October.

DFA's Executive Director Charles Chamberlain on Scott Walker's defeat by Tony Evers and Mandela Barnes:

"Tonight, the people of Wisconsin finally ended the career of a…

VICTORY: DFA hails Mike Levin (CA-49) successful flip of Darrell Issa’s House seat

November 7, 2018

Mike Levin just won his race for Congress in California's 49th Congressional District -- a long-held Republican stronghold currently represented by longtime Democratic bête noire Darrell Issa.

Democracy for America backed Levin early in his Democratic Primary in December 2017.

DFA's Executive Director Charles Chamberlain on Mike Levin's huge victory in California's 49th District:

"From the very start, Mike Levin ran a campaign…

VICTORY: DFA celebrates as Jahana Hayes (CT-05) election as Connecticut’s first Black Congresswoman

November 6, 2018

Jahana Hayes (CT-05) just won her race for Congress in Connecticut's 5th Congressional District to become the first Black woman to represent the Nutmeg State in the U.S. House.

Democracy for America backed Hayes shortly before her primary in August 2018.

DFA Chair (and Connecticut resident) on Hayes' history-making victory in the CT-5:

"As an award-winning teacher and now Connecticut's first Black woman elected to the U.S. House, the…

VICTORY: DFA cheers as Deb Haaland (NM-1) becomes one of the first Native American women in Congress

November 6, 2018

Deb Haaland just won her race for Congress in New Mexico's 1st Congressional District and has become, along with Sharice Davids (KS-3) first Native American woman ever elected to the U.S. House.

Democracy for America endorsed Haaland in September.

DFA Chair Jim Dean on Deb Haaland's historic win in New Mexico:

"With her victory tonight, Deb Haaland not only made history as one of the first Native American women to be elected to…

VICTORY: DFA applauds as Lauren Underwood (IL-14) is elected nation’s youngest Black Congresswoman

November 6, 2018

Lauren Underwood just won her race for Congress in Illinois' 14th Congressional District making her the country's youngest Black Congresswoman and the first Black member of Congress from the IL-14.

Democracy for America endorsed Underwood in her race for Congress in August. Following its endorsement, DFA recruited 197 volunteer leaders to Underwood's campaign that helped deliver more than 54,259 targeted grassroots voter calls using…

VICTORY: DFA says Dem House flip delivers “repudiation of Trump… mandate for inclusive populism”

November 6, 2018

According to projections from multiple networks, Democrats are on pace to win the Congressional seats necessary to seize the majority of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Statement from Democracy for America's Jim Dean on Democrats taking back control of the House:

"The flip of the U.S. House to Democratic control is a direct repudiation of Donald Trump's white nationalist agenda, a clear mandate for multiracial inclusive populism,…

VICTORY: DFA cheers Veronica Escobar (TX-16) becoming Texas’ first Latina Member of Congress

November 6, 2018

This evening, Veronica Escobar won her race in Texas' 16th Congressional district, becoming the first Latina member of Congress elected in Texas

Democracy for America endorsed Escobar for Congress ahead of her primary in September 2017.

DFA Chair Jim Dean on Veronica Escobar's historic election in Texas' 16th Congressional District:

"Throughout her career, Veronica Escobar has long fought for racial and economic justice in El Paso's…

VICTORY: DFA thrilled by Joe Neguse’s trail-blazing House win in Colorado’s 2nd

November 6, 2018

Joe Neguse (CO-2) just won his race for Congress in Colorado's 2nd Congressional District, helping make him the Mile High State's first Black member of Congress.

Democracy for America endorsed Neguse for Congress ahead of his primary in September 2017.

DFA Chair Jim Dean on Joe Neguse's history-making win in Colorado's 2nd Congressional District:

"Voters in Colorado's Second District have a history of trail-blazing picks for the U.S.…

VICTORY: DFA celebrates as Ilhan Omar (MN-05) joins Tlaib as first Muslim women elected to House

November 6, 2018

Ilhan Omar (MN-05) just won her race in Minnesota's 5th Congressional District to become, alongside Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), one of the first Muslim women in Congress. She'll also be the first Somali-American in the U.S. House.

Democracy for America (DFA) endorsed Omar in mid-June 2018 just a few days after she entered the primary.

DFA's Jim Dean on Ilhan Omar's history-making victory in Minnesota's 5th congressional district:

"With…