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.
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, 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 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 | % |
Date table sorting|2018|5|22No|LostNo|15.8%No|Did not qualifyNo|N/Asortname|Roza|Calderon2020Brand New Congress endorsed 46 candidates for the Senate and House. Nine House candidates and one Senate candidate made it to the general election. Both incumbents and two newcomers won.U.S. SenateU.S. House2021U.S. House2022U.S. SenateU.S. HousePlatformTheir platform contained many progressive priorities, with the following overarching goals:
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Date table sorting|2018|5|22No|LostNo|15.8%No|Did not qualifyNo|N/Asortname|Roza|Calderon