The following is an overview of Official Democratic Party structure as a force for change as well as an overview of the Progressive Caucus charter, member responsibilities, and a chronological history of our activist footprint.
This information is shared for onboarding purposes and to keep us aligned, empowered, acting with intention, and reporting with regularity & reflection.
The Progressive Caucus is a Chartered Constituency Caucus within the PA Democratic Committee.
Any Registered Democrat may run for an official Party position.
We organize as a Caucus to be able to work towards collective goals.
Each State and County Committees and any of their subgroups (Caucuses, Areas) must be organized using by-aws that align with the Democratic National Committee.
Leadership: National Chair (currently Ken Martin, elected Feb 2025), along with several Vice Chairs, a Treasurer, and a Secretary. State Rep. Malcom Kenyatta (HD 181) is one of the three Vice-Chairs.
Membership: Includes the Chair and Vice-Chair of every State Democratic Party, plus over 200 members elected by state parties based on population.
Vision for the DNC’s New Organizing Program: Organize Early, Organize Always, Organize Everywhere, and Win Anywhere -- Read Ken Martin's April 17, 2025 Memo
Economy: Gas, groceries, housing, etc. should be affordable for all.
End Corruption: No more rigging the system for the ultra-rich and their foreign investors. No more cronyism. No one is above the law.
Democracy and Rights: Protect voting access, defend the rule of law, and safeguard civil rights for all citizens.
Healthcare: Expand healthcare coverage, lower prescription drug costs, and protect reproductive freedom.
Climate and Energy: Tackle the climate crisis, lower energy costs, and move toward clean energy.
Safe Communities: We should be able to live free from violence, free from the danger of climate-driven natural disasters, and free from unnecessary wars that put Americans in harm’s way and make costs skyrocket at home.
Further details are outlined on the official Democratic Party Platform page.
To the general public: the Democratic Party should represent the defense of fundamental rights—public education, organized labor, reproductive freedom, and a fair economy.
To Insiders: We are not just an electoral apparatus; we are the infrastructure & ecosystem for political action.
The Disconnect: Too often, our internal party & campaign machinery becomes disconnected from the voters we serve.
Why we are talking about this: to ensure members are aware of and understand our party organization, mission, vision, and goals and how our infrastructure can support us as we do our work.
The DNC encourages us all to Uplift and Amplify our good works.
You can use toolkits to get started.
Governed by the Charter and Bylaws of the Democratic Party of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Operates in alignment with the Democratic National Committee.
Standing Committees: Driven by critical structural bodies including Rules and Bylaws, Credentials, Platform, and Budget & Finance.
Elected Caucus Members: Are people who have been elected to represent County voters at the State Democratic Committee level.
The Gender Parity Rule: Historically mandated that precinct-level leadership maintain a strict gender balance (traditionally one male, one female per precinct) to ensure equal voice across the Commonwealth. - This is an issue of contention for some. We follow exist through and organize according to the the Democratic National Committee Bylaws, as do each and all official Democratic Party organizing groups at state, county, and area levels.
Code of Conduct: Explicitly demands transparency, adherence to small "d" democratic principles, and formal accountability regarding unauthorized brand usage or breaches of party unity.
Resources: For the PA Dems' Bylaws, County Chair Guide, State Committeeperson Guide: https://www.padems.org/member-resources/
We meet 3 times a year.
Fall State Committee Meeting
Date: Friday, September 18 & Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026
Location: Hilton Harrisburg, One N 2nd St, Harrisburg, PA 17101
Elected members: see your email for link to make reservations at the Harrisburg Hilton.
Make your arrangements as soon as possible before the room block sells out.
Monroe County Dems Booth at West End Fair, Summer 2024.
When someone says, "The Democrats are doing....", please remind them that YOU are one of the Democrats and your voices matters!!
Precinct Committee Persons (PCP) are not just names on a ballot; they are the foundational DNA of the Democratic Party. They are block-level organizers, neighborhood captains, and the first line of defense against misinformation.
We are elected to represent our Precinct among our County-peers.
Each County has its own by-laws.
Precinct-level peers usually sub-organize in area committees that meet monthly.
All Area and County by-laws must align with and be approved by the State Committee's Rules Committee.
Summation of Charter of the Pennsylvania Democratic State Committee Progressive Caucus (2016 version), which is made available in a seperate tab.
"What Unites us as Democrats is our belief that the common good must supersede the influence of corporate greed."
Vision:
A world where government works to protect and provide for the needs of the people.
Mission:
To assist in the party building and the winning of elections by Progressive Democratic Candidates while promoting the general welfare of all the residents of Pennsylvania.
Strength:
As a party, we are strongest when we respect individual liberties, with second class status for no one. We are strongest when we embrace our diversity, united by a sense of collective responsibility, rather than allowing any differences to divide us.
Operational Mandate: To advise the PA Democratic Party on matters of strategy and policy pertaining to progressive issues.
Key Responsibilities:
Uniting and giving a voice to all Progressive Democrats statewide.
Seeking out, endorsing, and actively supporting progressive candidates.
Actively lobbying for endorsed social and economic issues.
Establishing networks for grassroots support and channeling resources to achieve results.
The Strategic Matrix: Bridging independent grassroots fire with institutional party scale.
Filling the Bench: Recruiting and training progressives to claim vacant precinct committeeperson seats, formally building local party infrastructure from the neighborhood up.
Move more progressive voters along a pathway of civic engagement from voter, to super vote, to sustained volunteer, to committee person, to candidate, etc.
The Mail-In Chase: Executing block-level relational organizing to maximize mail-in ballot request-to-return rates (targeting a 90%+ return rate).
Unified Slate Support: Transitioning primary energy into full-ticket mobilization for the general election.
Regional Strategy: Connecting people and voices from across our urban cores, suburban perimeters, and rural areas.
Longterm Strategy: Building an infrastructure of members to support races with Progressive Candidates across PA every election and to continue to hold the Party accountable to its members.
Key Responsibilities for Progressive Caucus Members:
Uniting and giving a voice to Progressive Democrats statewide.
Seeking out, endorsing, and actively supporting progressive candidates.
Actively lobbying for caucus endorsed social and economic issues.
Establishing networks for grassroots support and channeling resources to achieve results.
Register and Agree to the Code of Conduct*
We also have responsibilities....
To Ourselves: In all that we do, we commit to being honest, respectful, promoting party unity, and increasing the success of our party, our candidates, and our Democratic values.
To the Community: Eradicating racial, sexual, and economic discrimination while realizing true social equity and a respect for individual dignity.
To Elected Officials: Rigorously holding ourselves and our representatives accountable to transparent, small "d" democratic principles.
The following actions are strictly prohibited as listed in the Code of Conduct, which is found when registering as a member.
Any form of harassment, intimidation, or bullying.
Retaliation against anyone who reports a violation or participates in an investigation.
Discriminatory remarks or actions.
Disruptive, aggressive, or threatening behavior.
As summarized from the Code of Conduct found with member registration form.
You can register to join the PA Dems Progressive Caucus if you are:
1) elected member of the PA Democratic Committee as of this 2026 Primary - elected member
OR
2) registered Democrat of good standing in PA - associate member
Please use this link to register.
February 5, 2011 – The Foundation: The Progressive Caucus is formally assembled and adopts its initial governing Charter by a unanimous vote.
2015–2016 – "The People's Room" Launch: Established as an open, inclusive, and hospitable hospitality suite during State Committee weekends to anchor and connect volunteers, organizers, candidates, officials, and state committee members. This is now an annual tradition and is currently managed and funded by volunteers.
March 5, 2016 – Constitutional Update: The formal bylaws are officially revised and adopted to streamline caucus operations, officer elections, and committee rules.
Coalition Building: Regular coordinated actions and joint forums held in partnership with sister caucuses (Labor, LGBTQ+, Black Caucus) to pass progressive resolutions.
The Open Primaries Forum: Initiated and structured by Cindy Purvis, creating a critical educational space for the caucus to debate and dissect voter accessibility and closed primary mechanics.
Passage of Key Resolutions: driving structural stances into the official party platform—including the formal Resolution to Condemn the Weaponization of ICE (passed unanimously). Partial list asfollows:
Humanitarian and Fiscal Crisis in Puerto Rico, March 2016 - A formal resolution addressing the humanitarian and fiscal crisis in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, pushing the party to take a definitive stance on the issue.
Rural Pennsylvanians Deserve a Better Deal - September 2017 - An action plan and proposal explicitly framing how the PA Dems must fight for rural rights and address the structural needs of rural communities.
Unions for All - February 2020 - The "Unions for All" resolution, solidifying the caucus's commitment to organized labor. During this same window, the caucus was also actively discussing House Bills related to tax-exempt properties and school property tax relief.
Condemning the Weaponization of ICE - March 2026 - A comprehensive resolution condemning the operational patterns of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This successfully passed unanimously.
Prioritizing Rural Candidates - June 2026 - Passed by the Northeast Caucus, this resolution formally urged the Pennsylvania Democratic Party and the Shapiro campaign to prioritize structural funding for under-resourced rural candidates.
Universal Healthcare & Data Centers - 2026 (Ongoing)
Monthly meetings and talk groups occur to provide opportunities for active, ongoing legislative discussions and platform strategies surrounding the Universal Health Care bill, as well as emerging debates over data center regulations.
Action for Universal Healthcare: Member Cindy Purvis invited Rep. Greg Scott (HD-54) to promote Universal Health Care legislation for Pennsylvania.
The Launchpad: This is the the start of our long-term legislative organizing goals to push Universal Health Care all the way through in Harrisburg.
The People's Room
Submitting Resolutions to the Floor during PA Dems meeting
Hosting Dedicated Topic Panels & Educational Forums
Outreach/Merch Tables at PA Dems meetings, Demstock, & DemFest.
Partnering with another Caucus for an activity at State Committee
Partnering with a Progressive Representative of PA Legislature to promote Progressive Policies, such as universal healthcare.
Endorsing Candidates when needs be.
Fundraising
Communications
Recruit & Win
Resolutions
If you have an interest in this group, please connect to our Vice Chair.
Uniting and giving a voice to all progressive democrats statewide.
Seeking out, endorsing, and actively supporting progressive candidates.
Actively lobbying for endorsed social and economic issues. -- Like promoting the Universal Healthcare Act for PA.
Establishing networks for grassroots support and channeling resources to achieve results.
Be a trusted source of information.
Be an active listener.
Take notes, mental or otherwise.
Create or gather stories pertaining to the vision, mission, & responsibilities of Good Democrats & Progressive Caucus Members.
Report on what YOU are doing and seeing in your County for our next meeting.
A short online form is being developed for regular check-ins.
Check out MOBILIZE.US to find meetings, advocacy events, trainings, etc. both online and inperson that are close to you or any address in the U.S.
There are many top quality trainings offered by the National Democratic Training Committee.
If you are ready to take your first step toward a run for office, or want to be able to help someone who is, then take their 10-Day Challenge as your personalized on-ramp to leadership.
Here’s how it works: Every day, for 10 days, they'll send you one action item that will help prepare you to run and lay the foundation for your campaign to launch. It goes straight to your inbox, for free. No commitments required.
QUESTIONS?
Send them to pademsprogressivescomms at gmail.com