I wanted to share a conversation that I’m having with both a lot of grassroots activists behind the scenes here, and more explicitly with the Blue Jersey community. That is a discussion about the best strategy for progressive activists to deal with local party structures with mixed records on supporting progressives. 

That’s a hard conversation to have — many of the negotiations that happen between progressives (groups and individuals) happen behind closed doors, and there’s enough of a reputation for retaliation that folks don’t want their name out there. But almost every progressive and progressive organization I’ve talked to is having some version of this conversation — asking, what progressive strategy ultimately strengthens the Democratic Party? Or strengthens the position of progressives to see progressive values and policies enacted? 

Here’s a bit of the debate from my post at Blue Jersey: 

1. Party members (and there are plenty of progressives who are party members) often make the case that the time of Trump requires virtually unlimited loyalty. They argue that Democrats are already progressive enough — and the true work is in managing imagine and convincing progressives to join the party.
2. Other progressives have trouble embracing that attitude — in part because it led to the South Jersey Democratic Party partnering extensively with Gov. Christie to enact conservative reforms on everything from pensions to police to education. They argue that the prudent, progressive path is to do both — to stand in opposition to Trump, and to be consistent and push the Democratic Party to be better on issues like immigration, minimum wage, education, pension reform and environmental issues such as pipelines. And that this consistency is where grassroots energy comes from, is a beacon about our values that resonates with independents, and is a better strategy for both the party and Trump opposition.

No matter your answer, much of the work for progressives is happening in these gray areas. South Jersey progressive groups are working in a narrow space, some choosing to partner directly with Democrats and learning that such a partnership may come with subtle pressure to moderate progressive values. Some choose outright opposition, and the potential retaliation that comes with it. And still others are renegotiating this space around each individual issue, choosing to partner on policy initiatives when possible, and to oppose when the Democratic Party ignores progressive values. But all local progressives face these choices of how to work with a local party and the compromises that come with doing so.

That post dives into a couple of examples of choices progressive groups are making, talks a little bit about subtle ways that progressive groups feel pressure to conform, and more.

It’s a difficult subject to talk about but the conversation is one that I increasingly think both the Democratic Party and the progressive community needs to take seriously and talk about openly. 

Would love to hear your thoughts!