THE PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS: A NEW DAWN
LEADERSHIP
Leadership comes in a variety of strengths, articulated by our experiences and knowledge, leading to a mixture of successes and failures. If a leader makes a mistake, they’re human. If they learn from their mistakes, they’re leaders. The structure of the caucus allows us to work as a team while fulfilling our individual mandates and responsibilities.
The chair presides at meetings and will always be the focal point for criticism and occasional praise from both within and without the organization. The chair’s leadership rides that fine line between managing and dictating. The leader should consider their role to support, advocate, and assign responsibilities to board members as secondary to the mission of the caucus: to promote and adhere to our principles in order to accomplish our goals, among them: $15 minimum wage, Medicare4All, the Green New Deal, etc.
The board of the Progressive Caucus should be as diverse as possible in every way possible: religion, geography, color, age, culture, race and sexual preference. We represent these communities individually to ensure their inclusion and to see their issues addressed, but we ALL represent these communities and, as Mother Jones once said, “An injury to one is an injury to all.”
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
The Democratic Party has produced a set of planks in the Party’s platform that includes among others, honoring labor, giving everyone a voice, not accepting money from tobacco or the fossil fuel industry. The Progressive Caucus is here to remind the rest of the Party that we have stated principles that we must adhere to. In that sense, the Progressive Caucus is the Party’s conscience.
It is for that reason that we must be well-represented in the administration of this Party, to enforce those principles that define the finest aspirations of the Party and, to show that we can win elections without the dark money that threatens to compromise our principles and corrupt our souls.
We are encouraged by the success of Nevada progressives in their takeover of the Nevada State Democratic Party. The obvious question: in a solidly blue state with every state elected official a Democrat, how can we achieve similar results?
The way for us will be difficult. The only way to accomplish a change of this magnitude is by sheer numbers established in a strategic manner. Don’t think there won’t be pushback and opposition of the strongest kind. Some may lose positions on committees, but in order to effect a change that will be felt for generations, we must be willing to educate, agitate, and organize!
ACTION ITEMS
As one of the largest caucuses in the state party, the Progressive Caucus leadership should include one or more individuals from the labor caucus. The Labor Caucus, like the Progressive Caucus, draws its membership from the general community. We are teachers, plumbers, drivers, writers, etc. We wear many hats; we’re not just Latino, not just labor, or progressive, gay, and senior. We are all some combination of interests and cultures but our principles and life experiences determine whether we are Republican or Democrat, moderate or progressive. I have made phone calls and walked precincts on issues and for candidates that labor supports. We are respected by the party because we put boots on the ground.
RECRUITMENT
Each board member should be responsible for outreach to several designated committees and caucuses. Members of the progressive caucus are activists; they like to be busy. Give them something significant to contribute that’s not overwhelming and they will attack the job with gusto. This list is not a definitive one; it’s meant as an example:
Board Member 1 Board Member 2 Board Member 3
Senior gay and lesbian Irish American
African American computer and internet Business
Environmental Native American Labor
Then there are the standing committees:
Board Member 1 Board Member 2 Board Member 3
Rules Platform Legislation
Step 1: Use Mail Chimp to survey Progressives about other caucuses and committees on which they serve. We will find new members in each of these groups. Rather than calling ourselves troublemakers, we should ally ourselves with these other groups. Branding ourselves as idealogues and mischief-makers alienate some who may become our strongest supporters. MAKE NO MISTAKE. This is not about compromising our principles or not demanding accountability. This is about winning hearts and minds.
Step 2: Outreach. One person, of course, cannot be everywhere. One Progressive could attend and even run for office with another caucus. We should hold joint caucus meetings, help them advertise events, offer them our officers as guest speakers, etc. Look for progressives on standing committees. The progressive caucus could endear ourselves to other caucuses by reporting on their events and inviting them to ours.
Step 3: Seeking endorsements: The Progressive Caucus would meet with the constituents of other caucuses and committees to promote progressive candidates and issues. In return we can show our support for their issues while not compromising on our principles.
Step 4: Recruit activists, candidates, caucus leadership. The caucus effort will be to build the largest pool of progressives in the country. The membership chair will engage every progressive who wants to play an active role in pushing the party to be more grassroots in its appeal and bolder in its pursuits for the little people it has promised to serve and protect.
Step 5: Rinse and repeat. We invite all progressive caucus members to join us in building these essential coalitions to ensure our caucus is truly representative of every culture and every interest group as we move the party left together. At some point of saturation, the Progressive Caucus becomes the California Party.
Step 6: Build at the grassroots level. Run progressives for ADEM, County committees, franchise clubs. Visit Young Dems, college clubs. Build coalitions. At 60-65 percent saturation of the state party, we have effectively made our case to the party at large and represent a plurality of the party’s delegates. The people’s issues are moved to become our top priorities.
BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT.
Step 7: Find the next Bernie.
SHIFTING PRIORITIES
The Democratic Party must target at least three challenging races each election cycle to support in a big way. These include red districts that have been left to Republicans simply based on demographics or voter history. We can make a case why voters should vote Democratic. We should see a Democratic headquarters in every county.
NO MORE LITMUS TEST
Our principles are what make us stand apart. We should continue to educate members on the issues. Our principles guide our endorsements and our diverse board will reflect and honor those principles when representing the caucus.
This document will continue to grow and adapt to changing politics but remains rooted in our principles.