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.SCHMIDT, PETER. "What's Next For College Students Who Backed Bernie Sanders." Chronicle Of Higher Education 62.41 (2016): A13. Education Source. Web. 21 Oct. 2016. 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."Still Feeling the Bern." CQ Magazine (July 25, 2016). http://library.cqpress.com/cqweekly/weeklyreport114-000004934438. 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,GUTTENPLAN, D. D. "The Future Of Bernie Sanders's Grassroots Army." Nation 302.25/26 (2016): 12. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 21 Oct. 2016. 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.GUTTENPLAN, D. D. "Clean Sweep." Nation 303.9/10 (2016): 22-24. Academic Search Complete. Web. 21 Oct. 2016.
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 grassrootsSMITH, DALLAS, et al. "Letters." Nation 303.15 (2016): 2-34. Academic Search Complete. Web. 21 Oct. 2016. 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, Brand New Congress announced that it would cease operations.
Candidates 2018 In the 2018 primary season, Brand New Congress officially endorsed 30 candidates: CandidateStatePartyOfficePrimary datePrimary result%General result% ArkansasRepublicanArkansas's 3rd congressional district CaliforniaCalifornia and Washington use a jungle primary system, where all candidates run on one primary ballot, regardless of party affiliation, and the top two finishers advance to the general election.DemocraticCalifornia's 4th congressional district CaliforniaDemocraticCalifornia's 12th congressional district FloridaDemocraticFlorida's 7th congressional district FloridaDemocraticFlorida's 27th congressional district IllinoisDemocraticIllinois's 7th congressional district IllinoisDemocraticIllinois's 13th congressional district KansasDemocraticKansas's 3rd congressional district KansasDemocraticKansas's 4th congressional district MaineDemocraticU.S. Senator from MaineRan unopposed MichiganDemocraticMichigan's 2nd congressional district MichiganDemocraticMichigan's 6th congressional district MissouriDemocraticMissouri's 1st congressional district MontanaDemocraticMontana's at-large congressional district NevadaDemocraticNevada's 4th congressional district New HampshireDemocraticNew Hampshire's 1st congressional district New JerseyDemocraticNew Jersey's 7th congressional district New YorkDemocraticNew York's 14th congressional district North CarolinaDemocraticNorth Carolina's 4th congressional district North CarolinaDemocraticNorth Carolina's 5th congressional district TennesseeIndependentTennessee's 2nd congressional districtN/AN/AN/A TennesseeDemocraticTennessee's 3rd congressional district TexasTexas uses a two-round primary system. If a candidate receives above 50% of the vote in the first round, they become the party's nominee; otherwise, the top two finishers advance to a second round.DemocraticTexas's 2nd congressional district TexasDemocraticTexas's 12th congressional district TexasDemocraticTexas's 14th congressional district TexasDemocraticTexas's 23rd congressional district TexasDemocraticTexas's 26th congressional district WashingtonDemocraticWashington's 3rd congressional district WashingtonDemocraticWashington's 9th congressional district West VirginiaDemocraticU.S. Senator from West Virginia
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 CandidateStatePartyOfficePrimary datePrimary result%General result% DelawareDemocraticU.S. Senator from Delaware IowaDemocraticU.S. Senator from Iowa KentuckyDemocraticU.S. Senator from Kentucky MaineDemocraticU.S. Senator from Maine New MexicoDemocraticU.S. Senator from New Mexico West VirginiaDemocraticU.S. Senator from West Virginia
U.S. House CandidateStatePartyOfficePrimary datePrimary result%General result% ArizonaDemocraticArizona's 1st congressional district CaliforniaDemocraticCalifornia's 16th congressional district CaliforniaDemocraticCalifornia's 47th congressional district FloridaDemocraticFlorida's 23rd congressional district FloridaDemocraticFlorida's 27th congressional district GeorgiaDemocraticGeorgia's 7th congressional district GeorgiaDemocraticGeorgia's 13th congressional district IllinoisDemocraticIllinois's 1st congressional district IllinoisDemocraticIllinois's 7th congressional district IllinoisDemocraticIllinois's 11th congressional district IndianaDemocraticIndiana's 1st congressional district MarylandDemocraticMaryland's 4th congressional district MarylandDemocraticMaryland's 5th congressional district MassachusettsDemocraticMassachusetts's 1st congressional district MassachusettsDemocraticMassachusetts's 4th congressional district MichiganDemocraticMichigan's 6th congressional district (inc.) MichiganDemocraticMichigan's 13th congressional district MissouriDemocraticMissouri's 1st congressional district NebraskaDemocraticNebraska's 2nd congressional district New JerseyDemocraticNew Jersey's 9th congressional district New YorkDemocraticNew York's 3rd congressional district New YorkDemocraticNew York's 5th congressional district New YorkDemocraticNew York's 6th congressional district New YorkDemocraticNew York's 9th congressional district New YorkDemocraticNew York's 10th congressional district New YorkDemocraticNew York's 12th congressional district (inc.) New YorkDemocraticNew York's 14th congressional district New YorkDemocraticNew York's 15th congressional district New YorkDemocraticNew York's 16th congressional districtMorgan Harper OhioDemocraticOhio's 3rd congressional district OhioDemocraticOhio's 5th congressional district OregonDemocraticOregon's 3rd congressional district OregonDemocraticOregon's 4th congressional district OregonDemocraticOregon's 5th congressional district TennesseeDemocraticTennessee's 9th congressional district TexasDemocraticTexas's 10th congressional district TexasDemocraticTexas's 14th congressional district WashingtonDemocraticWashington's 3rd congressional district WashingtonDemocraticWashington's 5th congressional districtWhile Armitage withdrew prior to Washington's primary election date, he still remained on the ballot, and, thus, still received votes. WashingtonDemocraticWashington's 6th congressional district
2021
U.S. House CandidateStateOfficePrimary datePrimary result%General result% New MexicoSpecial election candidates from each party in New Mexico are decided by party committee conventions, not regular primary electionsNew Mexico's 1st congressional districtSpecial election to replace Deb Haaland, who resigned on March 16, 2021 OhioOhio's 11th congressional districtSpecial election to replace Marcia Fudge, who resigned on March 10, 2021 FloridaFlorida's 20th congressional districtSpecial election to replace Alcee Hastings, who died on April 6, 2021
2022
U.S. Senate CandidateStateOfficePrimary datePrimary result%General result% KentuckyU.S. Senator from Kentucky OhioU.S. Senator from OhioReceived endorsement after Kenyatta lost the primary. PennsylvaniaU.S. Senator from PennsylvaniaSwitched endorsement to Fetterman after Kenyatta lost the primary.
U.S. House CandidateStateOfficePrimary datePrimary result%General result% CaliforniaCalifornia's 29th congressional district CaliforniaCalifornia's 32nd congressional district (inc.) CaliforniaCalifornia's 47th congressional districtPorter ran in the new 47th district after previously representing the 45th district prior to redistricting. FloridaFlorida's 10th congressional district (inc.) FloridaFlorida's 20th congressional district IllinoisIllinois's 17th congressional district (inc.) MichiganMichigan's 11th congressional districtLevin ran in the new 11th district after previously representing the 9th district prior to redistricting. (inc.) MichiganMichigan's 12th congressional districtTalib ran in the new 12th district after moving from the 13th district due to redistricting. (inc.) MissouriMissouri's 1st congressional district MontanaMontana's 1st congressional district NevadaNevada's 1st congressional district New JerseyNew Jersey's 10th congressional district New YorkNew York's 3rd congressional district New YorkNew York's 11th congressional district New YorkNew York's 12th congressional district (inc.) New YorkNew York's 14th congressional district (inc.) New YorkNew York's 16th congressional district North CarolinaNorth Carolina's 1st congressional district North CarolinaNorth Carolina's 4th congressional district OhioOhio's 11th congressional district OregonOregon's 4th congressional district PennsylvaniaPennsylvania's 12th congressional districtDickinson ran in the new 12th district, which was renumbered from the 18th district in redistricting. TennesseeTennessee's 7th congressional districtKelly ran in the new 7th district after moving from the 5th district due to redistricting. TexasTexas's 15th congressional districtMarch 1, 2022May 24, 2022 TexasTexas's 28th congressional districtMarch 1, 2022May 24, 2022 TexasTexas's 30th congressional district TexasTexas's 35th congressional districtReceived endorsement after Ram withdrew. VermontVermont's at-large congressional districtSwitched endorsement to Balint after Ram withdrew. WashingtonWashington's 6th congressional district WashingtonWashington's 9th congressional district
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.