21st Century Democrats

Background

21st Century Democrats started out relatively small, surpassing $1 million in contributions for the first time in the 1996 election cycle. By the 2004 election cycle, according to the Political Money Line, it was the 13th largest political action committee (PAC) in the United States, raising nearly $7M. Among progressive ideological PACs, it ranked fourth behind America Coming Together, EMILY's List, and MoveOn.org. However, since 2004 its contributions gradually fell, to under $2.2M in 2010 and under $1.2M in 2014.

Unlike traditional PACs, 21st Century Democrats focused on recruiting, training, and hiring field organizers to organize grassroots campaigns on behalf of candidates for local offices, statewide office, and even targeted presidential swing states. The group had ties to Democracy for America, which grew out of Howard Dean's presidential campaign.

Partner organizations

In 2009, 21st Century Democrats joined Service Employees International Union, MoveOn.org, and Daily Kos in a new effort called Accountability Now PAC. This new political action committee promised to use party primaries to challenge Democratic incumbents that PAC members do not support.

References

References

1. Beckman, Michael. (May 19, 2023). "TERMINATION REPORT".
2. Attlesey, Sam. (January 23, 1996). "New Group Seeks to Re-Focus Democratic Message". [[Dallas Morning News]].
3. "21st Century Democrats Summary - OpenSecrets".
4. Garofoli, Joe. (September 22, 2004). "Attention overwhelms tiny slice of swing state". [[San Francisco Chronicle]].
5. (2008). "About us". [[Democracy for America]].
6. Robert Schlesinger. (February 27, 2009). "Progressive Accountability Now PAC Will Target Wayward Democrats in Primaries". [[U.S. News & World Report]].