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Brand New Congress

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.

Brand New Congress
Founded2016
FoundersSaikat Chakrabarti
Zack Exley
Alexandra Rojas
Corbin Trent
Dissolved2023
Executive Director
Adrienne Bell
Websitebrandnewcongress.org [dead link]

Background

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

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

The group attended the July 2016 Democratic National Convention to canvass for support in protester sites and throughout the city. By then the group had raised $85,000, about 90% of it in small donations. Its email list contained 20,000 addresses. Brand New Congress began a tour of 100 cities in mid-2016. Founding members of the group were encouraged by the success of the Sanders campaign's grassroots fundraising, which surpassed the Clinton campaign's several times in monthly income. As of October 2016, the group was accepting nominations for future candidates and openly developing its economic platform.

In March 2017, Brand New Congress announced that it had teamed up with Justice Democrats to further its goals. On March 14, 2023, it announced that it would cease operations.

Candidates

2018

In the 2018 primary season, Brand New Congress officially endorsed 30 candidates:

Candidate State Party Office Primary date Primary result % General result %
Robb Ryerse Brand New Congress  Arkansas Republican Arkansas's 3rd congressional district May 22, 2018 Lost 15.8% Did not qualify N/A
Roza Calderon Brand New Congress  California Democratic California's 4th congressional district June 5, 2018 Lost 6.2% Did not qualify N/A
Ryan Khojasteh Brand New Congress  California Democratic California's 12th congressional district June 5, 2018 Lost 4.6% Did not qualify N/A
Chardo Richardson Brand New Congress  Florida Democratic Florida's 7th congressional district August 28, 2018 Lost 13.8% Did not qualify N/A
Michael Hepburn Brand New Congress  Florida Democratic Florida's 27th congressional district August 28, 2018 Lost 6.1% Did not qualify N/A
Anthony Clark Brand New Congress  Illinois Democratic Illinois's 7th congressional district March 20, 2018 Lost 26.1% Did not qualify N/A
David Gill Brand New Congress  Illinois Democratic Illinois's 13th congressional district March 20, 2018 Lost 14.4% Did not qualify N/A
Brent Welder Brand New Congress  Kansas Democratic Kansas's 3rd congressional district August 7, 2018 Lost 33.9% Did not qualify N/A
James Thompson Brand New Congress  Kansas Democratic Kansas's 4th congressional district August 7, 2018 Won 65.3% Lost 40.2%
Zak Ringelstein Brand New Congress  Maine Democratic U.S. Senator from Maine June 12, 2018 Won 100% Lost 10.3%
Rob Davidson Brand New Congress  Michigan Democratic Michigan's 2nd congressional district August 7, 2018 Won 100% Lost 43.0%
David Benac Brand New Congress  Michigan Democratic Michigan's 6th congressional district August 7, 2018 Lost 21.3% Did not qualify N/A
Cori Bush Brand New Congress  Missouri Democratic Missouri's 1st congressional district August 7, 2018 Lost 36.9% Did not qualify N/A
John Heenan Brand New Congress  Montana Democratic Montana's at-large congressional district June 5, 2018 Lost 31.7% Did not qualify N/A
Amy Vilela Brand New Congress  Nevada Democratic Nevada's 4th congressional district June 12, 2018 Lost 9.2% Did not qualify N/A
Mindi Messmer Brand New Congress  New Hampshire Democratic New Hampshire's 1st congressional district September 11, 2018 Lost 9.7% Did not qualify N/A
Peter Jacob Brand New Congress  New Jersey Democratic New Jersey's 7th congressional district June 5, 2018 Lost 19.1% Did not qualify N/A
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Brand New Congress  New York Democratic New York's 14th congressional district June 26, 2018 Won 57.5% Won 78.0%
Richard Watkins Brand New Congress  North Carolina Democratic North Carolina's 4th congressional district May 8, 2018 Lost 6.5% Did not qualify N/A
Jenny Marshall Brand New Congress  North Carolina Democratic North Carolina's 5th congressional district May 8, 2018 Lost 45.6% Did not qualify N/A
Marc Whitmire Brand New Congress  Tennessee Independent Tennessee's 2nd congressional district N/A N/A N/A Lost 0.2%
Danielle Mitchell Brand New Congress  Tennessee Democratic Tennessee's 3rd congressional district August 2, 2018 Won 100% Lost 34.5%
J. Darnell Jones Brand New Congress  Texas Democratic Texas's 2nd congressional district March 6, 2018
First round 		Lost 22.1% Did not qualify N/A
Vanessa Adia Brand New Congress  Texas Democratic Texas's 12th congressional district March 6, 2018 Won 100% Lost 33.9%
Adrienne Bell Brand New Congress  Texas Democratic Texas's 14th congressional district March 6, 2018 Won 79.8% Lost 39.2%
Rick Treviño Brand New Congress  Texas Democratic Texas's 23rd congressional district March 6, 2018
First round 		Advanced 17.5% Runoff N/A
May 22, 2018
Runoff 		Lost 33.2% Did not qualify N/A
Linsey Fagan Brand New Congress  Texas Democratic Texas's 26th congressional district March 6, 2018 Won 52.7% Lost 39.0%
Dorothy Gasque Brand New Congress  Washington Democratic Washington's 3rd congressional district August 7, 2018 Lost 4.9% Did not qualify N/A
Sarah Smith Brand New Congress  Washington Democratic Washington's 9th congressional district August 7, 2018 Advanced 26.9% Lost 31.2%
Paula Jean Swearengin Brand New Congress  West Virginia Democratic U.S. Senator from West Virginia May 8, 2018 Lost 30.3% Did not qualify N/A

2020

Brand New Congress endorsed 46 candidates for the Senate and House. Nine House candidates and one Senate candidate made it to the general election (two incumbents, eight newcomers). Both incumbents and two newcomers won.

U.S. Senate

Candidate State Party Office Primary date Primary result % General result %
Jessica Scarane Brand New Congress  Delaware Democratic U.S. Senator from Delaware September 15, 2020 Lost 21.3% Did not qualify N/A
Kimberly Graham Brand New Congress  Iowa Democratic U.S. Senator from Iowa June 2, 2020 Lost 15% Did not qualify N/A
Charles Booker Brand New Congress  Kentucky Democratic U.S. Senator from Kentucky June 23, 2020 Lost 42.6% Did not qualify N/A
Betsy Sweet Brand New Congress  Maine Democratic U.S. Senator from Maine July 14, 2020 Lost 23.2% Did not qualify N/A
Maggie Toulouse Oliver Brand New Congress  New Mexico Democratic U.S. Senator from New Mexico June 2, 2020 Withdrew N/A Did not qualify N/A
Paula Jean Swearengin Brand New Congress  West Virginia Democratic U.S. Senator from West Virginia June 9, 2020 Won 38.8% Lost 27%

U.S. House

Candidate State Party Office Primary date Primary result % General result %
Eva Putzova Brand New Congress  Arizona Democratic Arizona's 1st congressional district August 4, 2020 Lost 41.2% Did not qualify N/A
Kimberly Williams Brand New Congress  California Democratic California's 16th congressional district March 3, 2020 Lost 5.7% Did not qualify N/A
Peter Mathews Brand New Congress  California Democratic California's 47th congressional district March 3, 2020 Lost 11% Did not qualify N/A
Jen Perelman Brand New Congress  Florida Democratic Florida's 23rd congressional district August 18, 2020 Lost 28% Did not qualify N/A
Michael Hepburn Brand New Congress  Florida Democratic Florida's 27th congressional district August 25, 2020 Withdrew N/A Did not qualify N/A
Nabilah Islam Brand New Congress  Georgia Democratic Georgia's 7th congressional district June 9, 2020 Lost 12.3% Did not qualify N/A
Michael Owens Brand New Congress  Georgia Democratic Georgia's 13th congressional district June 9, 2020 Lost 13.2% Did not qualify N/A
Robert Emmons Jr. Brand New Congress  Illinois Democratic Illinois's 1st congressional district March 17, 2020 Lost 10.3% Did not qualify N/A
Anthony Clark Brand New Congress  Illinois Democratic Illinois's 7th congressional district March 17, 2020 Lost 13.0% Did not qualify N/A
Rachel Ventura Brand New Congress  Illinois Democratic Illinois's 11th congressional district March 17, 2020 Lost 41.3% Did not qualify N/A
Jim Harper Brand New Congress  Indiana Democratic Indiana's 1st congressional district June 2, 2020 Lost 10.1% Did not qualify N/A
Shelia Bryant Brand New Congress  Maryland Democratic Maryland's 4th congressional district June 2, 2020 Lost 18.8% Did not qualify N/A
Mckayla Wilkes Brand New Congress  Maryland Democratic Maryland's 5th congressional district June 2, 2020 Lost 26.7% Did not qualify N/A
Alex Morse Brand New Congress  Massachusetts Democratic Massachusetts's 1st congressional district September 1, 2020 Lost 41.2% Did not qualify N/A
Ihssane Leckey Brand New Congress  Massachusetts Democratic Massachusetts's 4th congressional district September 1, 2020 Lost 11.1% Did not qualify N/A
Jon Hoadley Brand New Congress  Michigan Democratic Michigan's 6th congressional district August 4, 2020 Won 52.3% Lost 40.2%
Rashida Tlaib (inc.) Brand New Congress  Michigan Democratic Michigan's 13th congressional district August 4, 2020 Won 66.3% Won 78.1%
Cori Bush Brand New Congress  Missouri Democratic Missouri's 1st congressional district August 4, 2020 Won 48.6% Won 78.8%
Kara Eastman Brand New Congress  Nebraska Democratic Nebraska's 2nd congressional district May 12, 2020 Won 62.1% Lost 46.2%
Zina Spezakis Brand New Congress  New Jersey Democratic New Jersey's 9th congressional district July 7, 2020 Lost 14.9% Did not qualify N/A
Melanie D’Arrigo Brand New Congress  New York Democratic New York's 3rd congressional district June 23, 2020 Lost 25.5% Did not qualify N/A
Shaniyat Chowdhury Brand New Congress  New York Democratic New York's 5th congressional district June 23, 2020 Lost 23.1% Did not qualify N/A
Mel Gagarin Brand New Congress  New York Democratic New York's 6th congressional district June 23, 2020 Lost 21.2% Did not qualify N/A
Isiah James Brand New Congress  New York Democratic New York's 9th congressional district June 23, 2020 Lost 9.4% Did not qualify N/A
Lindsey Boylan Brand New Congress  New York Democratic New York's 10th congressional district June 23, 2020 Lost 25% Did not qualify N/A
Lauren Ashcraft Brand New Congress  New York Democratic New York's 12th congressional district June 23, 2020 Lost 13.3% Did not qualify N/A
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (inc.) Brand New Congress  New York Democratic New York's 14th congressional district June 23, 2020 Won 72.6% Won 71.6%
Tomás Ramos Brand New Congress  New York Democratic New York's 15th congressional district June 23, 2020 Lost 2.6% Did not qualify N/A
Jamaal Bowman Brand New Congress  New York Democratic New York's 16th congressional district June 23, 2020 Won 55.5% Won 84.0%
Morgan Harper Brand New Congress  Ohio Democratic Ohio's 3rd congressional district April 28, 2020 Lost 31.7% Did not qualify N/A
Nick Rubando Brand New Congress  Ohio Democratic Ohio's 5th congressional district April 28, 2020 Won 51.4% Lost 32.0%
Albert Lee Brand New Congress  Oregon Democratic Oregon's 3rd congressional district May 19, 2020 Lost 16.8% Did not qualify N/A
Doyle Canning Brand New Congress  Oregon Democratic Oregon's 4th congressional district May 19, 2020 Lost 15.4% Did not qualify N/A
Mark Gamba Brand New Congress  Oregon Democratic Oregon's 5th congressional district May 19, 2020 Lost 22.9% Did not qualify N/A
Corey Strong Brand New Congress  Tennessee Democratic Tennessee's 9th congressional district August 6, 2020 Lost 14.8% Did not qualify N/A
Michael Siegel Brand New Congress  Texas Democratic Texas's 10th congressional district March 3, 2020
First round 		Advanced 44% Runoff N/A
July 7, 2020
Runoff 		Won 54.2% Lost 45.3%
Adrienne Bell Brand New Congress  Texas Democratic Texas's 14th congressional district March 3, 2020 Won 61.8% Lost 38.4%
Peter Khalil Brand New Congress  Washington Democratic Washington's 3rd congressional district August 4, 2020 Withdrew N/A Did not qualify N/A
Chris Armitage Brand New Congress  Washington Democratic Washington's 5th congressional district August 4, 2020 Withdrew 12.1% Did not qualify N/A
Rebecca Parson Brand New Congress  Washington Democratic Washington's 6th congressional district August 4, 2020 Lost 13.5% Did not qualify N/A

2021

U.S. House

Candidate State Office Primary date Primary result % General result %
Selinda Guerrero Brand New Congress  New Mexico New Mexico's 1st congressional district March 31, 2021 Eliminated 6.53% Did not qualify N/A
Nina Turner Brand New Congress  Ohio Ohio's 11th congressional district August 3, 2021 Lost 44.5% Did not qualify N/A
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick Brand New Congress  Florida Florida's 20th congressional district November 2, 2021 Won 23.76% Won 78.98%

2022

U.S. Senate

Candidate State Office Primary date Primary result % General result %
Charles Booker Brand New Congress  Kentucky U.S. Senator from Kentucky May 17, 2022 Won 73.2% Lost 38.2%
Morgan Harper Brand New Congress  Ohio U.S. Senator from Ohio May 3, 2022 Lost 17.7% Did not qualify N/A
John Fetterman Brand New Congress  Pennsylvania U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania May 17, 2022 Won 58.6% Won 51.2%
Malcolm Kenyatta Lost 10.9% Did not qualify N/A

U.S. House

Candidate State Office Primary date Primary result % General result %
Angelica Dueñas Brand New Congress  California California's 29th congressional district June 7, 2022 Advanced 22.8% Lost 41.5%
Shervin Aazami Brand New Congress  California California's 32nd congressional district June 7, 2022 Lost 6.8% Did not qualify N/A
Katie Porter (inc.) Brand New Congress  California California's 47th congressional district June 7, 2022 Advanced 51.7% Won 51.7%
Maxwell Frost Brand New Congress  Florida Florida's 10th congressional district August 23, 2022 Won 34.8% Won 59.0%
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (inc.) Brand New Congress  Florida Florida's 20th congressional district August 23, 2022 Won 65.6% Won 72.3%
Marsha Williams Brand New Congress  Illinois Illinois's 17th congressional district June 28, 2022 Lost 6.9% Did not qualify N/A
Andy Levin (inc.) Brand New Congress  Michigan Michigan's 11th congressional district August 2, 2022 Lost 40.1% Did not qualify N/A
Rashida Tlaib (inc.) Brand New Congress  Michigan Michigan's 12th congressional district August 2, 2022 Won 63.8% Won 70.8%
Cori Bush (inc.) Brand New Congress  Missouri Missouri's 1st congressional district August 2, 2022 Won 69.5% Won 72.9%
Tom Winter Brand New Congress  Montana Montana's 1st congressional district June 7, 2022 Lost 8.2% Did not qualify N/A
Amy Vilela Brand New Congress  Nevada Nevada's 1st congressional district June 14, 2022 Lost 18.5% Did not qualify N/A
Imani Oakley Brand New Congress  New Jersey New Jersey's 10th congressional district June 7, 2022 Lost 10.2% Did not qualify N/A
Melanie D'Arrigo Brand New Congress  New York New York's 3rd congressional district August 23, 2022 Lost 15.8% Did not qualify N/A
Brittany Ramos DeBarros Brand New Congress  New York New York's 11th congressional district August 23, 2022 Lost 20.8% Did not qualify N/A
Rana Abdelhamid Brand New Congress  New York New York's 12th congressional district August 23, 2022 Withdrew N/A Did not qualify N/A
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (inc.) Brand New Congress  New York New York's 14th congressional district August 23, 2022 Won 100% Won 67.2%
Jamaal Bowman (inc.) Brand New Congress  New York New York's 16th congressional district August 23, 2022 Won 57.1% Won 60.2%
Erica Smith Brand New Congress  North Carolina North Carolina's 1st congressional district May 17, 2022 Lost 31.1% Did not qualify N/A
Nida Allam Brand New Congress  North Carolina North Carolina's 4th congressional district May 17, 2022 Lost 37.0% Did not qualify N/A
Nina Turner Brand New Congress  Ohio Ohio's 11th congressional district May 3, 2022 Lost 33.7% Did not qualify N/A
Doyle Canning Brand New Congress  Oregon Oregon's 4th congressional district May 17, 2022 Lost 16.2% Did not qualify N/A
Jerry Dickinson Brand New Congress  Pennsylvania Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district May 17, 2022 Lost 10.9% Did not qualify N/A
Odessa Kelly Brand New Congress  Tennessee Tennessee's 7th congressional district August 4, 2022 Won 100% Lost 38.1%
Michelle Vallejo Brand New Congress  Texas Texas's 15th congressional district March 1, 2022
First round 		Advanced 20.1% Runoff N/A
May 24, 2022
Runoff 		Won 50.1% Lost 44.8%
Jessica Cisneros Brand New Congress  Texas Texas's 28th congressional district March 1, 2022
First round 		Advanced 46.8% Runoff N/A
May 24, 2022
Runoff 		Lost 49.7% Did not qualify N/A
Jessica Mason Brand New Congress  Texas Texas's 30th congressional district March 1, 2022 Lost 3.4% Did not qualify N/A
Greg Casar Brand New Congress  Texas Texas's 35th congressional district March 1, 2022 Won 61.2% Won 72.6%
Becca Balint Brand New Congress  Vermont Vermont's at-large congressional district August 9, 2022 Won 61.0% Won 60.5%
Kesha Ram Hinsdale Withdrew N/A Did not qualify N/A
Rebecca Parson Brand New Congress  Washington Washington's 6th congressional district August 2, 2022 Lost 9.3% Did not qualify N/A
Stephanie Gallardo Brand New Congress  Washington Washington's 9th congressional district August 2, 2022 Lost 15.6% Did not qualify N/A

Notes

Platform

Their platform contained many progressive priorities, with the following overarching goals:

  • Rebuild the economy through infrastructure and community investment.
  • Fix the healthcare system 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 and instead support economic development as 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." These eight bills and the topics they address are:

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

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

Brand New Congress 
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Tags:

Brand New Congress BackgroundBrand New Congress CandidatesBrand New Congress PlatformBrand New Congress Summer for ProgressBrand New Congress

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