John —

If you’re going to change a country, people have to know your name. That’s why Justice Democrats Communications Director Waleed Shahid sat down with GQ to talk about what we do, where we came from, and what our plans are.

They asked us what the difference between the DCCC and Justice Democrats is. In a moment, I’m going to talk to you about that difference, and then ask you to make a small donation to help build a powerful grassroots network who are ready to launch new, progressive candidates for Congress »

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When a candidate goes to the DCCC and says that they want to run for office, the DCCC replies, “Well, how much money can you raise?” They tell you to go through your phone contacts, to talk to your family members, to call up your college roommate, and do whatever you can to raise a few hundred thousand dollars from the people you know.

Then, they put you in contact with their donor network — and everyone knows that network is far less progressive than the party at large. So, you itemize your beliefs. What can you sacrifice? Will you back down from Medicare for All to get a former healthcare exec to max out? Will you throw out a Green New Deal to get that corporate lobbyist on your side? Which values will you leave behind?

That’s how you run as a corporate-backed establishment incumbent, and that’s the formula for a Congress that’s full of millionaires. When someone comes to us and wants to run as a Justice Democrat, our first question is different: “what do you believe in and how will you inspire people to believe in you?”

When we endorse a candidate, we make sure they’re the real deal. Every Justice Democrat believes in a full progressive slate — Medicare for All, a Green New Deal, no corporate PAC money, an end to the regime of mass deportation and incarceration, and more.

When they pass that test, then we get down to the details. Which communities are you going to mobilize? How are you going to speak directly to voters and inspire them to get to the polls? Do you live your values, and are you ready to fight for the diverse working-class people of this nation?

And when they show us that they take this progressive vision to heart, we get to work — helping them find staff, mapping out a path to victory, crafting a message that will inspire voters, and perhaps most importantly, introducing them to you so they can raise critical early donations that lay the groundwork for powerful campaigns.

That’s how the DCCC and Justice Democrats differ. For us, the person running is more important than just how much money they can raise. If you want to help us build this grassroots network of nationwide progressives who stand ready to elect real leaders over corporate Democrats, please donate $3 before our end-of-month deadline:

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When the DCCC selects people who can raise money over people that want to fight for social, economic, racial, and environmental justice for all, it creates a caucus of conservative Democrats who know how to talk to rich people, but don’t believe in the policies we must pass for a just America.

Those are the same people who undermine Medicare for All, and will protect the insurance corporations. They’re the representatives who will weaken a Green New Deal, and carve out a place for fossil fuel development in our future. They’re the politicians who will hand Donald Trump millions of dollars, with no strings attached, to fund his deportation regime.

They’re the incumbents that we must replace in 2020. And we can only do it with your help.

Thanks for all that you do,

Justice Democrats