Progressive Majority - History

History

When founded, Progressive Majority assisted progressive candidates in both state and federal elections, raising $818,000 in 2002. Because of the lack of potential candidates for higher office at the state and local levels, the Board of Directors decided to shift the organization's focus toward the states in order to "recruit strong community leaders to run for state and local office and form the 'farm team' for the progressive movement."

Offices were opened in Washington, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania in 2004, and the organization expanded to Colorado and Arizona in 2005. The California office opened in 2006, and offices opened in Minnesota and Ohio in 2007. The number of candidates elected has increased steadily since Progressive Majority's founding, with 41 candidates being elected in 2004, 53 elected in 2005, 102 elected in 2006, 74 elected in 2007, 109 elected in 2008, and 36 elected in 2009.

Public officials elected with the help of Progressive Majority include California Secretary of State Debra Bowen, Washington House of Representatives Majority Floor Leader Larry Springer, Washington state senator and 2007 Humane Society of the United States state legislator of the year Brian Weinstein, and Arizona state senator Paula Aboud, one of Arizona's few openly gay elected officials.

Endorsed candidates who ran in 2008 included Mark Ridley-Thomas, who successfully ran for the Los Angeles County 2nd District Board of Supervisors, and Peter J. Goldmark, who successfully ran for Washington Commissioner of Public Lands.