What is the Midwest Alliance of Progressives?

The Midwest Alliance of Progressives is an initiative of the Democratic Party of Evanston designed to identify, elect, and re-elect local, state, and national progressives in the Midwest through coordinated partnerships with other local Democratic parties in the region. Modeled after the mutual aid partnerships that exist between municipalities in times of crisis, MAP is a strategic network intended to share and deploy volunteers and resources to close winnable races throughout the Midwest.

MAP collaborates with other local democratic parties in the Midwest and with political organizations that are dedicated to maintaining our majority in the House, winning the majority in the Senate and taking our country back by electing a democratic President. We share resources, best practices and active volunteers.

Midwest Alliance of Progressives Charter

Adopted May 5, 2018

The Midwest Alliance of Progressives (MAP) is a collaborative group made up of local Democratic parties that are working together to elect Democrats to federal and state offices in targeted states and communities. MAP will do this through sharing volunteer and capacity-building resources, and with the support of Democratic local parties participating in a strategic and meaningful way. MAP has originated as a project of the Democratic Party of Evanston IL (DPOE).  Other local Democratic parties that reside in blue districts and wish to help fight targeted races are also eligible to join MAP, as are the local parties in areas with political races targeted by MAP for action/assistance.

MAP will be governed through a Steering Committee. Recognizing that the impetus for the formation of MAP has come from the DPOE, more than one member of the Steering Committee positions will be filled by members of the DPOE.  It was decided that each participating state should have a representative on the Steering Committee.

The appointed Steering Committee is charged with developing operating procedures and leadership positions suitable to its purposes. Other members of local democratic parties will be able to participate in all conference calls and serve on all committees. 

This charter statement launched in 2018 will govern MAP in 2020 and will be revisited after the 2020 general election.

The following local democratic parties were active in establishing MAP:

Why Midwest Alliance of Progressives?

For the last several years, Democrats have been losing ground in Midwestern states. Winning back the Midwest at both the State and Federal levels is essential to getting progressive values enacted into law and winning back the Presidency.

Coordination between local Democratic parties to support Democratic candidates is what is going to turn the Midwest blue again.

In 2018, MAP adopted three congressional candidates- Sean Casten of Illinois, Randy Bryce of Wisconsin and Matt Longjohn of Michigan and we took back the House.  In 2020, the Midwest has the winning team of candidates to flip more seats from red to blue.  Please get involved and help us grow so that we can support these fantastic progressives candidates and ensure that our democratic presidential candidate takes back our country.

Message from MAP Program Project Leader

Barb Cornew

Given the health, economic and racial justice challenges we face in our country, it is critical that we all turn our attention to the November elections. We need your political activism now.

The Democratic Party of Evanston and Midwest Alliance of Progressives allies from local democratic parties throughout Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin convened virtually in May to highlight progressive candidates running for US Congress. The Midwest Alliance of Progressives unanimously voted to direct volunteers to work on behalf of the following candidates:

  • Incumbent Congressman Sean Casten Illinois 6th CD
  • Incumbent Congresswoman Lauren Underwood Illinois14th CD
  • Challenger Jon Hoadley Michigan 6th CD
  • Challenger Betsy Londrigan Illinois 13th CD

By clicking on the interactive map above, you can connect with Midwest congressional campaigns and make phone calls to their voters.

Please commit weekly or daily to call folks about candidates across the Midwest. We will also be discussing the importance of absentee voting, vote-by- mail, and most importantly checking in with our MIdwest neighbors during these unsettling times.

We urge you, our members, volunteers and supporters, to volunteer and elect the progressive leaders we so urgently need.

An hour a day or three hours a week, it all adds up. We must take back the Midwest to take back our country and elect Joe Biden our president.

Volunteer with Midwest Alliance of Progressives