Making a difference in America’s Capital

DC’s limited self-governance — a product of Congressional controls dating from the age of slavery — traditionally featured few progressive voices or a fresh flow of new participants.

Messages and initiatives from many groups competed for voter attention, with no “honest broker” to help frame the discussion and drive change. DC’s lack of Congressional representation also kept the city from controlling its own financial fate — despite the fact its 600,000 residents pay the same Federal taxes, populate the same military, and deliver the same economic productivity as the rest of America.

In just its first few months, DC for Democracy successfully fought for new progressive leadership and higher performance standards in both District Council and DC’s political parties. Its efficient volunteer field force made contact with thousands of voters to help drive new progressive leadership in the US Congress and Senate. And its highly visible lobbying campaign helped educate dozens of progressive leaders across the country about DC’s “taxation without representation,” and win support for voting rights and self-governance.