Justice Democrats

Justice Democrats is a political action committee (PAC) in the United States that was founded on January 23, 2017. The organization seeks to reform the Democratic Party by supporting progressive candidates to run in primary elections against incumbent Democrats who they view as too conservative or out of touch with the party's base. Justice Democrats is known for its progressive stances on various issues, including healthcare, climate change, and economic inequality.

History

Justice Democrats was established in the wake of the 2016 presidential election, by media personalities associated with The Young Turks, along with former staff members from the 2016 Bernie Sanders presidential campaign. The founders aimed to address what they perceived as a disconnect between the Democratic Party leadership and the progressive base of the party.

Platform

The platform of Justice Democrats includes a wide range of progressive policies:

• Medicare for All, which aims to establish a single-payer health care system in the United States.
• The Green New Deal, a proposal to address climate change and economic inequality through investment in green jobs and infrastructure.
• Comprehensive campaign finance reform to reduce the influence of money in politics.
• Support for a living wage, affordable housing, and free public college education.

Impact

Justice Democrats has been influential in the political landscape by endorsing and supporting candidates who have successfully challenged incumbent Democrats. Notable successes include the election of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in 2018, who defeated a high-ranking incumbent in New York's 14th congressional district primary. This victory brought significant attention to the organization and its goals.

Criticism and Controversy

The approach of Justice Democrats has been met with both support and criticism. Critics argue that their strategy of challenging incumbent Democrats could weaken the party by creating divisions and potentially losing seats to Republicans. Supporters, however, contend that revitalizing the party with new, progressive ideas is necessary to address the needs of the American people and to strengthen the party in the long term.

See Also

• Progressive Democrats of America
• Our Revolution
• Democratic Socialists of America