New Democrat Network (NDN) is a left-of-center think tank and advocacy group. Originally associated the moderate “New Democrat” wing of the party, it has shifted toward supporting more-liberal candidates and policy positions.
History and Work
New Democrat Network is a self-described liberal think tank and advocacy organization. [1] NDN has an 501(c)(3) educational and research non-profit affiliate, the New Policy Institute, sponsored by the left-center Tides Foundation. [2]
NDN was founded in 1996 as a political action committee by Simon Rosenberg, the current president of the organization. [3] The organization was initially similar to the left-of-center Democratic Leadership Council (DLC), an ally of the Clinton administration. [4] By 2004, Al From, the long-time head of the DLC, noted a rift between the two groups, suggesting that NDN backed then-Vermont Gov. Howard Dean (D) in his presidential run as opposed to candidates supported by the more moderate DLC. [5] Rosenberg has denied supporting Dean, but noted his appreciation for Dean’s actions in developing a small donor base and reaching out to various left-of-center constituencies. [6]
In 2005, Rosenberg ran for chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and lost to Dean. [7] The New Democrat Network had transformed from a direct candidate-funding committee into its current inception as a lobbying and electoral advocacy group while still giving money to candidates through its political action committee, New Democrat Network Political Action Committee (PAC), and a 527 campaign organization. [8] NDN closed NDNPAC in 2006. [9] New Democrat Network’s non-federal campaign 527 arm closed in 2014. [10]
Issues
New Democrat Network issues most of its policy advocacy through postings from its president, Simon Rosenberg. It opposed former President Donald Trump and advocates for most left-of-center positions including opposing cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency, opposing cutting Obamacare, opposing conventional energy use, supporting a carbon tax, and opposing any freeze or cut to social programs. [11]
International Relations and Trade
Rosenberg called the Trump administration’s withdrawal from negotiations over the Iran nuclear deal an “arrogant disdain for well-intentioned policies.” [12] Rosenberg criticized Trump over negotiating a new North American Free Trade Agreement, withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accords, imposing new trade tariffs, and claimed Trump “repeatedly appeased (and even aided) Vladimir Putin’s efforts to undermine the West.” [13]
U.S. Economy
New Democrat Network and Rosenberg have argued that economic growth in the first two years of the Biden administration was the greatest since 1989 while ignoring the 2020 national COVID shutdowns, which had depressed economic growth. [14] NDN criticized the Trump administration for weak economic growth and heavy jobs losses during the 2020 COVID pandemic. [15] Rosenberg has argued in favor of the 2021 infrastructure law to “help the collective” in the U.S. and the larger Build Back Better bill. [16] During the COVID pandemic, NDN called for a massive stimulus spending bill that included providing everyone in the U.S. with $1,000 to $2,000 a month throughout the pandemic. [17] NDN has criticized tax cuts, claiming they do not spur economic growth but only grow the federal deficit. [18] Rosenberg has sided with labor unions arguing against pay freezes for federal workers. [19]
Immigration
Throughout the Trump administration, Rosenberg and NDN argued that the administration’s immigration policies were fueled by xenophobia and racial fear, and accused the administration of putting kids in cages. [20] In 2021, NDN claimed the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border was not an emergency, and that any crisis was due to Trump and not Biden administration policies. [21] Rosenberg opposes abolishing federal agencies such as ICE and DHS, but said the U.S. should consider legalizing illegal immigrants already in the country. [22] Rosenberg has argued that defending the border and building a border wall have helped Democrats and hurt Republican electoral chances in the southwest U.S. [23]
2020 Election and Political Analysis
Rosenberg stated prior to the 2020 presidential election that Trump was being coached by Russian dictator Vladimir Putin to seize power and wasn’t trying to win the election but attempting to steal it and crack down on anyone who opposed him. [24] NDN stated in 2020 that “Trump is struggling to win a traditional free and fair election and has begun cheating/law breaking/ignoring the Constitution at a level never seen before in an American election.” [25] NDN claims Trump’s 2016 election victory and impeachment trial became “a moment when the US was no longer a functioning democracy.” [26]
NDC has claimed that Republicans suppressed votes throughout the 2010s, stole a Supreme Court nomination in 2016-2017, that Trump won the 2016 election due to help from the Russians, and the FBI worked in concert with the Republican Party in 2016 to expose Hillary Clinton’s secret email server and throw the election to the Republicans. [27]
NDN publishes posts under the title, “With Democrats things get better.” [28]
Battling Disinformation
NDN also claims to be taking the lead to combat election disinformation while continuing to claim Russia played a role in the 2016 and 2020 elections. [29] NDN has stated Republican Party officials are behind Russian-style disinformation campaigns on social media and has called on social media platforms to block such disinformation. [30] While working for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Rosenberg initiated a social media instant response team to report or contradict what it perceived as disinformation. [31]
Finances
New Democrat Network has total assets of $4,700. [32] According to the organization’s tax returns from 2019, NDN recorded $285,023 in revenue and $323,111 in expenses. [33] In 2018, New Democrat Network had $350,945 in revenue and $341,268 in expenses. [34]
Leadership
Simon Rosenberg was president and founder of New Democrat Network PAC. [35] He began his career working for ABC News before taking time off in 1987-88 to work on the presidential campaign of Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis (D). [36] He returned to working for ABC News until 1992 when he left to join the presidential campaign of Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton (D) prior to the New Hampshire primary. [37]
After working for the Clinton Administration, Rosenberg founded NDN and its associated organizations in 1996. [38] After his run for DNC chair in 2005, Rosenberg began teaching at Tufts University. [39] In 2018, Rosenberg was a senior advisor for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and continues running the 501(c)(4) New Democrat Network and consults for Democratic candidates, party officials, and left-of-center causes. [40]