Liberal organization pushes anti-corporate, pro-grassroots wish list ahead of DNC elections

A major liberal coalition wants Democratic leaders to reject corporate donations to political action committees, among other changes, as the party elects new leaders as part of a reset following its disastrous 2024 cycle.

Our Revolution, which bills itself as the “largest progressive political organizing group,” said it collected 10,000 signatures on a petition seeking commitments from the party ahead of Democratic National Committee elections in February.

The petition says Democrats should ban super PAC spending in primaries. Also, it seeks to develop a 50-state strategy to empower grassroots organizers, focus on the concerns of poor and middle-class Americans while calling out GOP provisions that “prioritize corporate greed,” and direct DNC funding to grassroots organizing instead of high-priced consultants.

Our Revolution is seeking a seat at the table as Democrats do soul-searching over an election that gave Republicans the White House and Capitol Hill majorities.

“The DNC stands at a pivotal crossroads,” said Our Revolution Executive Director Joseph Geevarghese. “Will it continue catering to wealthy donors and powerful corporate interests, or will it champion the popular economic policies and progressive solutions that truly reflect the will of the people it claims to represent?”

Progressive voices say Democrats are squandering their role as a working-class party to President-elect Donald Trump’s MAGA movement.

Critics say Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost to Mr. Trump, paid Obama-era consultants to elevate celebrities on the campaign trail instead of focusing on bread-and-butter issues.

The petition also serves as a rejoinder to segments of the party that want to tack toward the center instead of taking bold stances.

DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison has opted not to run again for head of the committee, and four prominent candidates want to replace him: Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Chairman Ken Martin, New York state Sen. James Skoufis and Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairman Ben Wikler.

“Thousands of grassroots voters who signed our petition see this as a defining moment — one that will determine whether we fight for all or continue to serve the few,” Mr. Geevarghese said.