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[7] by the 2018 midterm elections, regardless of party affiliation.[8] The organization planned to make staffing and fundraising decisions for all its candidates at once.[9] About 20 volunteers from Bernie Sanders's 2016 presidential campaign formed the group in April 2016 as Sanders conceded the primary to Hillary Clinton.[10] They planned the organization to support Sanders's platform and carry its supporters' momentum into policymaking.[11] Brand New Congress planned to announce 50 candidates by March 2017 and over 400 by July 2017.[9][12] 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,[13] 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.[14]
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[15]
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.[9] Founding members of the group were encouraged by the success of the Sanders campaign's grassroots[16] fundraising, which surpassed the Clinton campaign's several times in monthly income.[15] As of October 2016, the group was accepting nominations for future candidates and openly developing its economic platform.[17]
In March 2017, Brand New Congress announced that it had teamed up with Justice Democrats to further its goals.[18] On March 14, 2023, it announced that it would cease operations.[19]
Candidates
2018
In the 2018 primary season, Brand New Congress officially endorsed 30 candidates:[20]
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.
^ abcdefghijklmnCalifornia 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.
^ abcdefghijkTexas 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.
^While Armitage withdrew prior to Washington's primary election date, he still remained on the ballot, and, thus, still received votes.
^Special election candidates from each party in New Mexico are decided by party committee conventions, not regular primary elections
^Special election to replace Deb Haaland, who resigned on March 16, 2021
^Special election to replace Marcia Fudge, who resigned on March 10, 2021
^Special election to replace Alcee Hastings, who died on April 6, 2021
^Received endorsement after Kenyatta lost the primary.
^Switched endorsement to Fetterman after Kenyatta lost the primary.
^Porter ran in the new 47th district after previously representing the 45th district prior to redistricting.
^Levin ran in the new 11th district after previously representing the 9th district prior to redistricting.
^Talib ran in the new 12th district after moving from the 13th district due to redistricting.
^Dickinson ran in the new 12th district, which was renumbered from the 18th district in redistricting.
^Kelly ran in the new 7th district after moving from the 5th district due to redistricting.
^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.
^Sanders also announced his own organization to run progressive candidates, Our Revolution.[9]
^115th Congress (2017) (January 24, 2017). "H.R. 676 (115th)". Legislation. GovTrack.us. Retrieved July 23, 2017. Expanded & Improved Medicare For All Act{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^115th Congress (2017) (April 4, 2017). "H.R. 1880 (115th)". Legislation. GovTrack.us. Retrieved July 23, 2017. College for All Act of 2017{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^115th Congress (2017) (May 25, 2017). "H.R. 15 (115th)". Legislation. GovTrack.us. Retrieved July 23, 2017. Raise the Wage Act{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^115th Congress (2017) (January 31, 2017). "H.R. 771 (115th)". Legislation. GovTrack.us. Retrieved July 23, 2017. Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance (EACH Woman) Act of 2017{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^115th Congress (2017) (June 8, 2017). "H.R. 2840 (115th)". Legislation. GovTrack.us. Retrieved July 23, 2017. Automatic Voter Registration Act{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^115th Congress (2017) (July 13, 2017). "H.R. 3227 (115th)". Legislation. GovTrack.us. Retrieved July 23, 2017. To improve Federal sentencing and corrections practices, and for other purposes.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^115th Congress (2017) (February 16, 2017). "H.R. 1144 (115th)". Legislation. GovTrack.us. Retrieved July 23, 2017. Inclusive Prosperity Act of 2017{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
