National Groups

A constellation of independent groups small and large surround each of the parties, seeking to push them in one direction or another. Some have a narrow partisan focus while others are more broadly ideological.  Some groups are organized by constituency, and some focus on electing candidates or training and building infrastructure or generating ideas. Another step removed (not shown below) are the many interest groups that tend to align with one or the other of the parties; examples include the National Rifle Association and Republicans or organized labor and the Democrats.

Ideology .

National Federation of Republican Assemblies

"a grassroots movement to take back the Republican Party for the vast and disenfranchised majority of its members:  Reagan conservatives..." (formed 1997).

Ripon Society

to promote moderate Republican principles (founded 1962).

Republican Main Street Partnership

a voice for centrist Republicans (founded 1998).

Republican Liberty Caucus

represents the G.O.P's libertarian tradition.

New Democrat Network

the political action arm of the New Democrat movement..."a progressive think tank and advocacy organization" 

Progressive Democrats of America

"working inside the Democratic Party to return it to its roots as the party that represents the workers and the less fortunate, and...building coalitions outside the Democratic Party on shared issues." (founded 2004).

Americans for Democratic Action

independent liberal political organization (founded 1947).
Third Way
"Our mission is to advance moderate policy and political ideas."



Constituency Groups
.

Republican Jewish Coalition

voice of Jewish Republicans.

Log Cabin Republicans

organization of Republicans who support fairness, freedom, and equality for gay and lesbian Americans.

Republican National Coalition for Life

works to ensure adoption of the pro-life plank in the Republican platform.

Republican Majority for Choice

(formerly Republican Pro-Choice Coalition) seeks to get abortion out of politics.

ConservAmerica

(formerly Republicans for Environmental Protection) founded in 1995, aims to restore the environmental conscience of the GOP. 

Teen Age Republicans

a national, youth-led organization challenging teens to become involved in their local, state, and national political proceses."

Irish-American Republicans

dedicated to promoting the principles of the Republican Party, building Republican support among the 45-million-strong Irish-American community, supporting worthy Irish American candidates for election, strengthening relations between Ireland and the United States, and defending the cause of justice and peace in Ireland.

Republican Indian Committee

for Indian-American Republicans to participate in the political process in the communities where we live, work, and raise our families.

Republicans for Immigration Reform

to provide political support for Republican candidates that advance common-sense solutions to address the nation’s broken immigration system.
Republicans Against Marijuana Prohibition
reforms marijuana laws by working within the GOP to educate and connect with lawmakers, party leadership, and grassroots activists.

CityGOP

The GOP fares poorly in cities – but it doesn’t have to...  Republicans can win cities by learning about the problem, finding solutions, and implementing them.

National Jewish Democratic Council

promoting Jewish values in the Democratic Party.
> Jews for Progress (PAC)

EMILY's List

electing pro-choice Democratic women candidates.

Democrats for Life of America

elect pro-life Democrats to office and support pro-life Democrats.
High School Democrats of America
the national organization for high school students involved in the Democratic Party.

Indigenous Democratic Network

dedicated to electing Native American men and women to office across America.

Irish American Democrats

a Political Action Committee providing support to Democratic candidates who promote peace, justice and prosperity in Ireland.

Democrats for Education Reform

to encourage a more productive dialogue within the Democratic Party on the need to fundamentally reform American public education.  DFER Watch






Republican and Conservative Infrastructure Democratic and Progressive Infrastructure

GOPAC

Republican training and education

Democratic GAIN

Grassroots Action Institute and Network--training, recruitment, and network

Leadership Institute

"training tomorrow's conservative leaders"

ActBlue

The online clearinghouse for Democratic action.

America Rising PAC

"a new generation of Republican research and rapid response"
> organization

American Bridge 21st Century

"a progressive research and communications organization committed to holding Republicans accountable for their words and actions and helping you ascertain when Republican candidates are pretending to be something they’re not."
> organization

American Conservative Union

"an umbrella organization harnessing the collective strength of conservative organizations fighting for Americans who are concerned with liberty, personal responsibility, traditional values, and strong national defense."

America Votes

"a permanent advocacy and campaign infrastructure that provides coordination, data and targeting services to progressive organizations"

Young America's Foundation

"providing essential conferences, seminars, educational materials, internships, and speakers to young people across the country"

Democracy Alliance

"an investment partnership of business and philanthropic leaders committed to achieving a hopeful and healthy democracy that improves our lives and those of the next generation."

American Legislative Exchange Council

"advance the fundamental principles of free-market enterprise, limited government, and federalism at the state level through a nonpartisan public-private partnership of America’s state legislators, members of the private sector and the general public."

State Innovation Exchange

"Building the legislative wing of the progressive movement." (merger of PSN, CSI and ALICE).


The Atlas Project

"founded after the 2004 election...to help build the institutional memory of the progressive movement. The Atlas Project’s mission is to arm the progressive community with historical elections data, sophisticated analysis and real time updates for all 50 states."

i360
"the leading data and technology resource for the pro-free-market political and advocacy community."

Catalist

"To help progressive organizations realize measurable increases in civic participation and electoraliv success by building and operating a robust national voter database of every voting-age American; by offering tools and expertise that allow clients to use that data to improve fundraising, organizing and communications; and by updating and refining that data on a continuous basis."

Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust

a non-partisan government and political accountability organization formerd Feb. 2015, led by former U.S. Attorney Matthew G. Whitaker

American Democracy Legal Fund

"a group established to hold candidates for office accountable for possible ethics and/or legal violations."



Grassroots Campaigns Inc.

face-to-face canvassing and fundraising

Club for Growth

elect candidates who support the Reagan vision of limited government and lower taxes.

Progressive Majority

electing progressives at the federal and state levels


21st Century Democrats 

recruiting and electing progressive candidates


Blue Dog PAC


Democratic Strategist



Think Tanks

Heritage Foundation
"...formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense. "

Center for for American Progress

"an independent nonpartisan educational institute dedicated to improving the lives of Americans through progressive ideas and action."

American Action Network

"‘action tank’ that will create, encourage and promote center-right policies based on the principles of freedom, limited government, American exceptionalism, and strong national security."

Progressive Policy Institute

"promoting break-the-mold ideas aimed at economic growth, national security and modern, performance-based government."


Polling

Resurgent Republic

"...makes survey and focus group results publicly available. We promote conservative free market principles such as lower taxes and economic growth, and support strong national defense policies."

Democracy Corps

"provides free public opinion research and strategic advice to those dedicated to a more responsive Congress and Presidency."

Online

RedState Gathering

"like minded conservative activists gather to support small government conservatives and meet face to face"

Netroots Nation

"We amplify progressive voices by providing an online and in-person campus..."


Democratic Underground



Additional Conservative Groups
Additional Progressive Groups

American Crossroads

"a new kind of non-profit political organization dedicated to renewing America’s commitment to individual liberty, limited government, free enterprise and a strong national defense—through informed and effective political action by citizens like you."

Organizing for Action

"Organizing for Action is a nonprofit organization established to support President Obama in achieving enactment of the national agenda Americans voted for on Election Day 2012."

Americans for Prosperity
"an organization of grassroots leaders who engage citizens in the name of limited government and free markets on the local, state, and federal levels."

MoveOn.org

"a community of more than 8 million Americans from all walks of life who use innovative technology to lead, participate in, and win campaigns for progressive change."

Freedomworks

"recruits, educates, trains and mobilizes millions of volunteer activists to fight for less government, lower taxes, and more freedom."

Democracy for America

"We recruit and train progressive candidates to run for all levels of public office, and we mobilize citizen organizers to make a real difference on issues."

Family Research Council

Family Research Council's mission is to advance faith, family and freedom in public policy and the culture from a Christian worldview.

Progressive Change Campaign Committee

"...fighting for bold progressive change."

Tea Party Patriots

"to restore America's founding principles of
Fiscal Responsibility, Constitutionally Limited Government and Free Markets."

Campaign for America's Future

"a center for ideas and action that works to build an enduring majority for progressive change."




appear inactive...

Republicans for Choice PAC

seeks to remove the anti-choice plank in the Republican platform.

The WISH List

raises funds for Republican pro-choice women candidates.

Republican Youth Majority

working to develop a new generation of pro-choice, pro-environment, fiscally conservative Republican leaders to build a long-term Republican majority for the 21st Century.

National Organization of Republican Armenians


National Stonewall Democrats

federation which links clubs of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Democrats.


Democratic Leadership Council

New Democrats. 

Grassroots Democrats

Section 527 organization focused on funding state party operations




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