As genuine progressive candidates announce their run for election, they’re added to this list: “The REAL Progressive Candidates of 2021-2022.” These are the special men and women we want to elect, for a progressive Congress and for a civilized progressive nation.
LAST UPDATED: January 16, 2021
What qualities make a candidate REAL-ly progressive? There are two main criteria:
- Real progressive candidates reject corporate money.
- Real progressive candidates fight for the progressive trinity:
- Universal Healthcare
- The Green New Deal
- Free Public Higher Education (including student loan debt forgiveness).
Yes. REAL progressive candidates fight for all three: your health, your climate, and your education — and, most likely, ALL OTHER progressive policies! REAL progressive candidates advocate for life-affirming and future-proofing policies.
Share the list of “Real Progressive Candidates” with your friends and family. Use it to inform, and to spur constructive political discussion that talks about real progressive candidates and their progressive policies.
Help the list grow. Tell me about the real progressive candidates running for office in your local area — so I can add as many down-ticket real progressive candidates to the list, as possible. (Use the Comment Section below.) Thanks for the help! #NotMeUs ❤️
Table of Contents
REAL Progressive Candidates, State-by-State
Alabama’s REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
None, so far.
Alaska’s REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
Nada, so far.
Arkansas’s REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
Zip, so far.
California’s REAL Progressive Candidates
Stay tuned for updates.
U.S. Representative, CA-12 – Shahid Buttar (D) – Currently exploring a run in the 2022 Election
Colorado’s REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
None, so far.
Connecticut’s REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
Nada, so far.
Delaware’s REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
Zip, so far.
Florida’s REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
Zero, so far.
Georgia’s REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
None, so far.
Hawaii’s REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
Nada, so far.
Idaho’s REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
Zip, so far.
Illinois’s REAL Progressive Candidates
Check back later for updates.
Mayor, Evanston, IL – Daniel Biss (D) – Primary Election on February 23, 2021 & regular Election on April 6, 2021
Indiana’s REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
Zilch, so far.
Iowa’s REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
None, so far.
Kansas’s REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
Nada, so far.
Kentucky’s REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
Zip, so far.
Louisiana’s REAL Progressive Candidates
Stay tuned for updates.
U.S. Representative, LA-02 – Gary Chambers (D) – Special Election in March, 2021 (presumably)
Maine’s REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
Nil, so far.
Maryland’s REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
None, so far.
Massachusetts’ REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
Nada, so far.
Michigan’s REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
Zip, so far.
Minnesota’s REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
Zero, so far.
Missouri’s REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
None, so far.
Montana’s REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
Nada, so far.
Nebraska’s REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
Zip, so far.
Nevada’s REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
Zero, so far.
New Hampshire’s REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
Zilch, so far.
New Jersey’s REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
None, so far.
New Mexico’s REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
Nada, so far.
New York’s REAL Progressive Candidates
Stay turned for more updates.
NYC Council, 38th District – Jacui Painter (D) – Election on June 2, 2021
This is a grassroots, people powered campaign that’s only possible because of small community donations. We do not accept any money from corporate PACs, corporate lobbyists, real estate developers, fossil fuel companies, Police unions, racist, sexist, anti-LGBTQ or xenophobic organizations, and any for-profit entity.
~ Jacui Painter
North Carolina’s REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
Zero, so far.
North Dakota’s REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
None, so far.
Ohio’s REAL Progressive Candidates
Stay tuned for updates.
OH-11 – Nina Turner (D) – Special Election in February, 2021 (presumably)
The Democratic Party can’t just whisper sweet nothings anymore.
~ Nina Turner
Oklahoma’s REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
Nada, so far.
Oregon’s REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
Zip, so far.
Pennsylvania’s REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
Zero, so far.
Rhode Island’s REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
Zilch, so far.
South Carolina’s REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
None, so far.
South Dakota’s REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
Nada, so far.
Tennessee’s REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
Nil, so far.
Texas’ REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
Zip, so far.
Utah’s REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
Zero, so far.
Vermont’s REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
Zilch, so far.
Virginia’s REAL Progressive Candidates
Stay tuned for updates.
Governor – Lee Carter (D) – Election on November 2, 2021
State House, 49th District – Karishma Mehta (D)
Washington’s REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
Nada, so far.
West Virginia’s REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
Nil, so far.
Wisconsin’s REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
Zip, so far.
Wyoming’s REAL-ly Progressive Candidates
Zero, so far.
Giving: For a REAL Progressive Country
REAL progressive candidates are doing their part. They expend personal time, energy, and financial resources in order to run for office — so they may represent us. We must do our part…
To help elect a REAL progressive to Congress, please make a small donation to all the REAL progressive candidates on the list, who are running for national office. Give extra to your favorite REAL progressive candidates, whether they’re running in your state or not. And, most generously support your local REAL progressive candidates. ❤️
Official Endorsements of REAL Progressive Candidates
Being listed on “REAL Progressive Candidates” is not an endorsement. But the following progressive organizations DO make official political endorsements — for national candidates, down-ballot candidates, even some decent Democratic candidates (for when REAL progressive candidates are not available), and local ballot initiatives.
- 350 Action (strong climate policy)
- Bold Progressives
- Brand New Congress
- Congressional Progressive Caucus
- Courage to Change PAC
- Democracy for America
- Democratic Socialists of America
- Flip the Senate
- Friends of the Earth (strong climate policy)
- Green Party US
- Indivisible
- Justice Democrats
- Move On
- National Nurses United
- Our Revolution
- Peace Action (diplomatic foreign policy)
- Planned Parenthood (women’s rights)
- Progressive Democrats of America
- Progressive Rising
- Progressive Turnout Project
- Progressive Voters Guide
- Run for Something
- Warren Democrats
- Working Families Party
Check out the super progressives who won office in 2020.
Thank you for reading about REAL progressive candidates. Please share this “Progressive Graffiti” discovery tool with your friends and social networks. Sharing quality information, from the Left point of view, helps to advance the Progressive Justice Movement.
Trump could do a lot of damage in two weeks. He could start a war with Iran. He needs to be removed from office immediately. Inciting mob violence is more than sufficient cause.
Under either the 25th Amendment (which really was intended to apply to situations where the president is physically incapacitated) or impeachment, removal requires a 2/3rds vote in the Senate. Are there enough decent Republicans in the Senate who would vote for removal?
You know someone is taking a head count in the Senate now. I wish we knew which Republicans would vote in favor of removal.
Impeachment and removal could be done in a day if the Senate votes were there.
Forceful repercussions need to be applied.
I followed #ForceTheVote fairly closely. It was Jimmy Dore’s idea, and because he yells a lot when he’s triggered, some people don’t like him. When he first pitched the idea, he invited The Squad and other progressives to join him, including people who don’t like him personally. Most of the progressive commentators with YouTube shows and their viewers jumped onboard. Unfortunately, most elected progressives including The Squad wouldn’t respond, or if they did, like AOC and Mark Pocan, they gave unsatisfying or even evasive responses. AOC wouldn’t even give Jimmy a direct response. She was happy to be on his show when she was running, but now she won’t even answer him on Twitter. Of course this triggered Jimmy, and the vitriol started.
As a monthly contributor to some Squad members and to the Justice Democrats, I think I am owed the real explanation for why they didn’t want to condition their votes for Pelosi on her commitment to bring M4All to the floor for a vote. It’s obvious they don’t want to say what it is. Why? Because they bargained their votes away on something less important to us? What happened to transparency?
I am confident The Squad wants M4All. I don’t think they have sold out like Pelosi did many years ago, but maybe they aren’t as brave as they said they were. Maybe they don’t want to put their careers on the line for this issue. The thing is, most of their supporters want them to. We sent them there. They should do something we want. We haven’t been very demanding before this.
The most important thing about forcing the vote is that a vote would put M4All on the front burner and force a national conversation. We need that.
I don’t want to send money to politicians and political organizations that don’t think I’m worth a response to my questions and concerns. Therefore, I have cancelled my monthly donations to Justice Democrats and to individual JD candidates and incumbents. I am now donating that money to the Movement for a People’s Party on a monthly basis. They promise to actually do what the JDs said they were going to do: fight for our policies. If they don’t, I think they will at least have the courtesy to tell me why.
Heaven knows, we need a major 3rd party. I’ll look forward to seeing People’s Party candidates. Have you heard anything about who will be running under the PP banner? BTW, is it now officially a registered party?
Last I heard, the People’s Party is registered in Maine so far, but they are working on registration in all 50 states. They don’t have any announced candidates yet that I know of, but the hope is that Nina Turner will join at some point.
So they’re an official party, now. Good. Nina Turner would be a great candidate. Fingers-crossed for PP’s success.
Nina Turner joined up with Justice Democrats, for her present campaign. I imagine she’ll continue on with them and Democratic Party in the future.
The Movement for a People’s Party is the most exciting new progressive organization IMO. I am really disappointed in the elected Justice Dems. They just voted for Pelosi without demanding that she bring Medicare for All to the floor for a vote.
What the use of supporting and voting for progressive candidates if they demand nothing and vote with the neoliberal establishment when they get in office?
https://peoplesparty.org/
I think the pressure of movements like #ForceTheVote can give The Squad power to act effectively — the #NotMeUs idea. However, I’d like to see the vitriol aimed at the Corporate Dems, as they’re the ones who need to fear political loss.
Maybe the lesson is that you don’t change the Democratic Party, the Democratic Party changes you.
We cannot underestimate the power of corruption in the Democratic Party. As the Progressive Movement, we keep forgetting that our first priority needs to be: Get Big Money Out of Politics. Until then, we can’t achieve anything.
Yes, another aspect of corruption is the loss of good men and women who enter politics. They get consumed, or they get ejected. (I suspect Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama started out good.) They take the carrot, or they get the stick. They’re not so much “turncoats,” as they’re vulnerable human beings. Either they fall into temptation (or fear), or they’re outmaneuvered. Anyone else, including you and me, would also be gravely tempted. Most of US would fall. (One of the reasons Bernie Sanders is so exceptional.)
I think #ForceTheVote was a brilliant idea. Except, it was initiated with accusations of “turncoats” and threats to “primary” our progressive representatives, even the ones who were stepping into Congress on their first day. It was demeaning to our political leaders and allies, and the DNC clearly saw that. If M4A had been brought to a vote, no one expected it to be passed. The only victory of #ForceTheVote would have been to show the DNC the amplifying People Power behind The Squad — to scare them, to start putting them into their place, on the first of the year.
We already know which Democratic Reps are hypocrites on healthcare. It’s an “open secret,” anyone can get in on, at OpenSecrets.org. The most interesting info is in the “PACs” tabs, to see who is taking corporate money.
AOC – https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/pacs?cid=N00041162&cycle=2020
Pelosi – https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/nancy-pelosi/pacs?cid=N00007360&cycle=2020
A major 3rd party has a big advantage: it’s not part of the Democratic Party.
I admire People’s Party. But I wonder how their candidates can be elected to national office without a fair voting system like RCV. Otherwise, voters are caught in the lesser-evil dilemma. PP and the Greens know this.
I’m joining a conference call next week for FL Green Party members — to talk about RCV. I’m sure this is happening around the country, and hope many people get involved.
Absolutely. RCV is a must-have electoral reform, along with multi-winner districts. Both reforms should be on the platforms of all parties.
The Democrats never mention it. No surprise there.
Can’t believe the Capitol insurrection today. I’m stunned and crying. Biden had weak response.
The People’s Party Advisory Council includes Dr. Cornel West, Susan Sarandon, Justin Jackson, Jimmy Dore, and Medea Benjamin.