Congressional Progressive Caucus
|
|
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Co-Chairs | Keith Ellison and Raúl Grijalva |
First Vice Chair | Mark Pocan |
Whip | Matt Cartwright |
Vice Chairs | David Cicilline, Ruben Gallego, Ro Khanna, Barbara Lee, Sheila Jackson Lee, Pramila Jayapal, Jamie Raskin, Jan Schakowsky and Mark Takano |
Founded | 1991 |
Ideology |
Progressivism Liberalism Social Democracy |
Political position | Left-wing |
National affiliation | Democratic Party |
Colors | Blue |
Seats in the Senate |
1 / 100
|
Seats in the House |
74 / 435
|
Website | |
Official Website | |
The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) is the largest membership organization within the Democratic congressional caucus in the United States Congress with 75 members. The CPC is a left-leaning organization that works to advance progressive and liberal issues and positions.
The CPC is currently co-chaired by U.S. Representatives Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) and Keith Ellison (D-MN). It was founded in 1991 and has grown steadily since then, having more recently added 20 members since 2005 and having hired its first full-time Executive Director, Bill Goold, in May of that year. Subsequent Executive Directors have included Andrea Miller (2009–2011) and Brad Bauman (2011–2014). The current Executive Director is Mike Darner. Of the 20 standing committees of the House in the 111th Congress, 10 were chaired by members of the CPC. Those chairmen were replaced when the Republicans took control of the House in the 112th Congress.
The CPC was established in 1991 by six members of the United States House of Representatives: U.S. Representatives Ron Dellums (D-CA), Lane Evans (D-IL), Thomas Andrews (D-ME), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Maxine Waters (D-CA), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT). Additional House Members joined soon thereafter, including Major Owens (D-NY), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), David Bonior (D-MI), Bob Filner (D-CA), Barney Frank (D-MA), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Jim McDermott (D-WA), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Patsy Mink (D-HI), George Miller (D-CA), Pete Stark (D-CA), John Olver (D-MA), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), and Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). Sanders was the convener and first CPC Chairman. Bill Goold served as Staff Coordinator for the Progressive Caucus in its early years until 1998.