Roaonke DFA Democrats

DFA Training

Democracy for America conducts trainings across the nation for candidates, campaign staff and campaign volunteers.

The DFA Campaign Academy mission is to focus, network, and train grassroots activists in the skills and strategies to take back our country, manage successful campaigns or run for office themselves.

Our Campaign Academy weekends are 16 hours of interactive workshops that bring hundreds of local activists, campaign staff and candidates together for 2 days of intensive campaign training. Experienced campaign professionals lead sessions in voter contact, fundraising, communications, on-line organizing and much more to empower progressive activists with the skills to win in November and beyond. Attendees also meet with dozens of local progressive candidates and learn about exciting job and volunteer opportunities in their area. And of course, everyone receives their own copy of DFA's 180-page Campaign Training Manual.

Year after year, the DFA Campaign Academy is building a grassroots infrastructure of skilled progressive activists in all 50 states.

Next Training Academy: January 29-30, Montgomery County PA

10 Reasons to attend a Democracy for America Campaign Academy in Montgomery County on January 29-30:

1. Learn how to plan and run a winning grassroots campaign
2. Meet and hear from local progressive candidates
3. Learn from trainers with decades of experience
4. Mingle with other local progressive activists at social events
5. Get a copy of our 180 page Grassroots Campaign Training Manual
6. Set goals and make plans to pass progressive legislation
7. Re-connect with old friends from the campaign
8. Help elect progressive candidates in 2010
9. Learn to organize your neighborhood or precinct
10. Look for a new job or volunteer opportunity

Howard Dean Weighs in on Tax Cuts

"This [the Obama-GOP deal to extend Bush-era tax cuts for two years] is a short-term Washington fix," former DNC head and founder of Democracy for America Howard Dean declared on CBS's "Face the Nation recently." "It does nothing about this biggest long-term threat to America, which is the deficit. I don't hear Republicans or Democrats talking about the deficit. There is no pain in this agreement. This is the easy way out for everybody, much as everybody is complaining, hooting and hollering, this is an inside-the-beltway fuss and somebody needs to do something about the long-term problems to this country. It is not in this bill."

"The thing that bothers me about it is we have yet to deal with the biggest problem that is facing this country, which is the size of the deficit, and nobody is doing anything about it," Dean added. "It is easy to promise everybody tax cuts all the time. You have got to make some cuts if you are going to do that."

DFA's Position on Reforming the Democratic Party

DFA members are working everyday to build a stronger, more progressive Democratic Party. We believe the Democratic Party must be driven by people-power and responsive to the needs of everyday Americans.

DFA’s Founder, Governor Howard Dean, led the DNC’s 50 State Strategy that resulted in big victories in 2006 and 2008, and the Democratic Party’s current Congressional majority. However, simply having a Democratic majority in Congress, or a Democrat in the White House, doesn’t ensure that the best interests of the people are always being represented.

Too often, once leaders from any party get elected, they get tied to a culture of incumbency and insular thinking that is dominated by special interests. DFA members fight for a culture of activism and rebuild policies and platforms for grassroots empowerment. It is our mission to constantly revitalize the Democratic Party with new members, progressive ideas, and effective actions.

Democracy for America members and endorsed candidates continue to work and run for all levels of political office, from precinct captains and county and statewide party chairs, to Representatives, Senators, and the United States Presidency.

DFA regularly organizes letter writing campaigns and phone drives to call Congress, all in the name of guaranteeing that the Democratic Party doesn’t forget that it works for the people. Starting in 2007, DFA launched its “Primaries Matter” campaign, pushing to earn the nomination of grassroots, progressive Democrats over entrenched, conservative Democrats. With the primary and then general election victory of progressives like Donna Edwards in Maryland’s 4th District against Republican-Lite Democrat Al Wynn, we sent a clear message to Washington that the people will be heard.

At Democracy for America, we don’t just talk the talk. DFA members do the work it takes to make change happen. Join us in our mission to reform the Democratic Party.