History of Progressive Majority
Dec. 1999
Progressive Majority PAC incorporates as a federal political action committee.
2000
Board of Directors, progressive Members of Congress, leaders from organized Labor, and a core group of progressive donors determine the need for Progressive Majority to transform into a fully operational organization. Name is changed to Progressive Majority.
2001
Board of Directors recruits Gloria Totten to turn Progressive Majority into a multi-issue political organization dedicated to raising money for progressives running for the U.S. Congress and statewide offices. Organization launches publicly in September 2001.
2002
Progressive Majority raises $818,000 and provides $279,000 in direct candidate contributions to candidates by building a network of more than 20,000 small donors. Progressive Majority helps win three of seven targeted federal races and six of eight targeted statewide races.
2003
Board of Directors and staff decide that Progressive Majority needs to shift focus to the states - to recruit strong community leaders to run for state and local office and form the "farm team" for the progressive movement. The Candidate Recruitment and Development Program is launched.
2004
Offices open in Washington, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. Progressive Majority fields 100 candidates for state legislative offices - 41 are elected. These wins help take over the Washington State Senate, which goes on to pass the second highest number of progressive bills in the country.,/p>
Progressive Majority identifies new divide and launches the Racial Justice Campaign Fund to prioritize the election of candidates of color as part of its winning political strategy.,
2005
Offices open in Arizona and Colorado. 75 candidates are fielded, of which 53 are elected. These wins help take over the Snohomish County Council, Shoreline City Council and Clark County Commission in Washington State; the Tucson City Council in Arizona; and the Steamboat Springs City Council and Colorado Springs District 11 School Board in Colorado.
Racial Justice Campaign Fund name is changed to the Racial Justice Campaign.
2006
Office opens in California. 169 candidates fielded for state and local offices - 102 are elected. These wins help take over the Wisconsin State Senate and the Pennsylvania State House and bolster Democratic majorities in the Colorado and Washington legislatures. In addition, we elect six county commissioners in some of the toughest counties in the country, flip control of the fifth largest school district in the country, and protect Democratic majorities on two critical Wisconsin county boards.
In anticipation of opening offices in Minnesota and Ohio, Progressive Majority contributes to the take-over of the Minnesota State House and the election of the Ohio Secretary of State.
2007
Progressive Majority begins the year with 330 candidates in its farm team. In spring and fall elections, Progressive Majority elects 74 candidates and flips 13 local governments.
2008
Progressive Majority opens an office in the bellwether state of Ohio and begins 2008 with 463 candidates in its farm team.