The prominent progressive group justice democrats laid off three more employees this week, thereby increasing the staff cuts that began in mid-July.
According to Usamah Andrabi, a spokeswoman for the group, who led a string of successful primaries against moderate Democrats including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the departing employees held either administrative roles or positions with the group’s political nonprofit arm, Organize for Justice, which marked the milestone 2018 victory in NYC.
Andrabi made no formal comment on the development and gave no further details on the layoffs or the exact day they took place. He also declined a request for an interview about the personnel changes.
In mid-July, the Justice Democrats had already laid off nine of 20 employees in the midst of fundraisers. This week’s departures bring the company’s total layoffs to 12 and reduce its full-time workforce to eight.
Justice Democrats blame their financial woes on a general decline in grassroots giving, which has hit progressive groups harder than most, and escalating spending by groups like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which opposes Justice Democrats puts. Efforts by associated lawmakers to push through tougher terms on US aid to Israel. Given the need to shore up the incumbents Primary challenges led by AIPACthe group has not yet endorsed any challengers or candidates entering open races in 2024, a contrast to this point in the last election cycle when the group had already endorsed four new candidates.
The group’s reorganization aims to deprioritize the work of Organize for Justice, which was tasked with lobbying on Capitol Hill and other non-election-related priorities, and the Justice Democrats’ original mission to elect — and re-elect — left-wing Democrats. to double congress. Seven of the nine people the Justice Democrats fired in July were employed by the Organize for Justice arm of the organization.
However, the changes have taken place Consider about the future of an institution that once inspired enough fear in the hearts of elected Democrats to noticeably tilt the party to the left. Left-wing critics of the Justice Democrats argue that the group would have fewer fundraising problems if it had managed to organize its affiliated members of Congress into a cohesive bloc capable of making concessions to President Joe Biden. Other progressives argue that the group has declined in prominence because of Biden’s liberal policy gains, including the climate-focused Inflation Reduction Act.
But Justice Democrats claim it’s as relevant as ever.
“We have pushed the Biden administration and the Democratic Party as a whole more leftward in 2020 than anyone could have imagined, but that has only been made possible by the coordinated organization of our progressive movement and the tireless advocacy of the progressives we serve in sent to Congress.” Alexandra Rojas, executive director of the Justice Democrats, told HuffPost in July. “And we will continue to push whenever the Biden administration falls short, whether it’s defending the rights of the Palestinian people, supporting workers and unions in all contract disputes, protecting abortion rights, canceling all student debt, or the… Tackling climate change with the means available.” match the scale of this crisis.”
One funder Justice Democrats can continue to count on is Way to Lead PAC, a nonprofit that serves as a vehicle for wealthy progressives to invest in campaigns and causes.
The group donated approximately $1.3 million to the Justice Democrats in the 2020 and 2022 election cycles. And there are plans to support the Justice Democrats’ Super PAC spending in the 2024 cycle as well.
“Primates are a cornerstone of our democratic process, and Way to Lead PAC will continue to participate in primaries and support candidates who work with communities fighting for an agenda that improves lives and creates democratic majorities.” Jennifer Fernandez Ancona told HuffPost in July.