RePower (sometimes written Re:Power), formerly Wellstone Action, is a radical political training organization based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Formed in 2003 as tribute to the life and legacy of late U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN), RePower is one of the biggest left-wing training organizations in the United States. 1 Although officially deemed nonpartisan for tax reasons, it is openly far-left in its ideological views. 2
The mission of RePower is advancing radical political ideals in public policy. It works to achieve that mission through a means of advocacy, recruitment, and training individuals to become political candidates and operatives. 3
RePower Fund (formerly the Wellstone Action Fund) is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit affiliate of RePower. 3
Background
Wellstone Action was created to continue the political work of late Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone (D) and his wife, Sheila. 4 Considered a torchbearer of the “Progressive” movement, Senator Wellstone, along with his wife and daughter, died in a plane crash on October 25, 2002. 2 Three months after his death, in January 2003, Wellstone Action was founded by Sen. Wellstone’s former campaign manager, Jeff Blodgett, along with the senator’s two sons, Mark and David Wellstone. 5
Activities
The cornerstone of RePower is training individuals to become far-left political leaders. In 2016 alone the organization conducted 96 trainings throughout the country, including almost 5,300 people who received training. 6 Since its founding, the organization has trained over 90,000 people, and more than 850 of its former students have been elected to political offices. 7 8 Those whom became elected officeholders have served at various levels of government, including local, state, and federal. 9 Current federal officeholders trained by Wellstone Action include U.S. Representative Dave Loebsack (D-IA), Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison (D), and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D). 9 10
Camp Wellstone
Camp Wellstone is a community educational program that provides training for volunteers, activists, and campaign staff during a three-day seminar. 7 The camp provided courses in three areas: candidates, campaign operatives, and issue organizers. These seminars have taken place in different states across the United States. 11 12 Attendees of Camp Wellstone, based on their political aspirations, choose from one of its three-course options: political candidacy, working as a campaign staffer, and community organizing. 13
According to a 2024 article by Politico, several listed trainers with the camp have included Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), Minnesota Attorney General (AG) Keith Ellison, Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter. The article also indicates that activists which attended the camp included Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, former MN secretary of state Mark Ritchie, former MN AG Andy Luger, and former MN state Rep. Jeremy Kalin 12
RePower Fund
RePower has a sister organization called RePower Fund (formerly Wellstone Action Fund). Also created in 2003, the organization sponsors the philanthropic activities and objectives of Wellstone Action. 14
Funding
In 2016, the organizaiton, when it was Wellstone Action, reported nearly $1.7 million in annual revenues. Registration fees collected at training events accounts for a portion of its annual income, while the rest comes from grants and contributions. 4 There are a few outside groups which have given donations to Wellstone Action, including the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), both left-wing labor unions. 15 16
However, a large amount of the organization’s income is initially channeled into its charitable arm, RePower Fund (formerly the Wellstone Action Fund). Contributions received by the RePower Fund are partially transferred to RePower. 14 In 2016, the Foundation to Promote Open Society, run by left-of-center donor George Soros, contributed $537,000 to the RePower Fund. 17 The Ford Foundation gave $3 million in 2017. 18
According to its 2015 tax records, the RePower Fund transferred over 30 percent of its revenue to RePower, funds exceeding $1 million. According to the organization, the RePower Fund is responsible for “the charitable purposes and functions of [RePower].” Its biggest “charitable” expense, however, is paying for RePower’s leadership trainings. 19
Democracy Alliance
Democracy Alliance is a collective of wealthy left-progressive donors that meet at semi-annual conferences for the purpose of providing a list of recommended recipients to major donors. RePower is on Democracy Alliance’s list because it embodies the politics of Paul Wellstone. 20
Leadership
Karundi Williams is the executive director of RePower, serving in the role since 2019. Prior to RePower, Williams was the Director of State & Local Programs for Government Relations with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) from 2011-2019 and previously worked in several positions within the office of then-Ohio Governor Ted Strickland from 2008 to 2011. 21
References
- “Legacy Giving.” Wellstone Action. Accessed December 27, 2018. https://www.wellstone.org/legacy-giving.
- Wilgoren, Jodi. “Save Those Popsicle Sticks, This Camp Builds Politicos.” The New York Times. June 30, 2003. Accessed December 27, 2018. https://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/30/us/save-those-popsicle-sticks-this-camp-builds-politicos.html.
- “We Believe.” Wellstone Action. Accessed December 27, 2018. https://www.wellstone.org/about.
- Wellstone Action, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). 2016.
- Snyder, Emily. “Founding Director of Wellstone Action, Jeff Blodgett, to Deliver Carleton College Convocation.” West Africa – Ghana, Mali, and Nigeria | World Ceramics | Carleton College. February 4, 2011. Accessed December 29, 2018. https://apps.carleton.edu/media_relations/press_releases/?story_id=706705.
- Weeks, Rachel. “2016 in Review: Building Power in the States.” Wellstone Action. December 05, 2016. Accessed December 27, 2018. https://www.wellstone.org/blog/2016/12/2016-review-building-power-states.
- Potter, Kyle, and Mark Zdechlik. “Wellstone Action Pushing out Senator’s Sons.” Minnesota Public Radio News. February 14, 2018. Accessed December 27, 2018. https://www.mprnews.org/story/2018/02/14/wellstone-action-pushing-out-senators-sons.
- “Alumni.” Wellstone Action. Archived from the original October 13, 2017. Accessed December 27, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20171013164701/https://www.wellstone.org/alumni.
- Siders, David. “Wellstone Legacy ‘goes Dormant’ after Family Ousted in Democratic Feud.” POLITICO. May 13, 2018. Accessed December 27, 2018. https://www.politico.com/story/2018/05/13/wellstone-family-legacy-feud-minnesota-democrats-584205.
- “Alumni Candidates: 2012.” Wellstone Action. Archived from the original August 17, 2017. Accessed December 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20160817191029/http://www.wellstone.org/sites/default/files/attachments/2012%20alumni%20candidates_2.pdf.
- “Camp Wellstone.” Wellstone Action. Accessed December 27, 2018. https://www.wellstone.org/programs/camp-wellstone.
- Demko, Paul. “Inside the Three-Day Bootcamp that Launched Tim Walz’s Political Career.” Politico, January 10, 2024. https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/08/10/tim-walz-camp-wellstone-bootcamp-minnesota-00173480
- “Camp Wellstone Sessions by Track.” Wellstone Action. Accessed December 29, 2018. https://www.wellstone.org/camp-wellstone-sessions-track.
- Wellstone Action Fund, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). 2016.
- “Service Employees International Union (SEIU).” Influence Watch. Accessed December 30, 2018. https://www.influencewatch.org/labor-union/service-employees-international-union-seiu/.
- “American Federation of Teachers (AFT).” Influence Watch. Accessed December 30, 2018. https://www.influencewatch.org/labor-union/american-federation-of-teachers/.
- Foundation to Promote Open Society, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF). 2016.
- “Grants Database.” Ford Foundation. April 06, 2018. Accessed December 27, 2018. https://www.fordfoundation.org/work/our-grants/grants-database/grants-all?search=&SearchText=wellstone&page=NaN&minyear=2006&maxyear=2018.
- Wellstone Action Fund, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). 2015.
- “Organizations Archive.” Democracy Alliance. Accessed January 25, 2021. http://democracyalliance.org/investments/.
- “Karundi Williams.” LinkedIn, Accessed February 3, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/karundi-a-williams-34924625