fbpx
Wikipedia

Blue Dog Coalition

The Blue Dog Coalition, commonly known as the Blue Dogs or Blue Dog Democrats, is a caucus of centrist and moderate members from the Democratic Party in the United States House of Representatives.[5][4][6] Most Blue Dogs are elected in competitive, Republican-leaning districts and broadly adopt socially liberal and fiscally conservative policies while promoting fiscal restraint.[1][4]

Blue Dog Coalition
Co-ChairsJared Golden
Mary Peltola
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez
FoundedFebruary 14, 1995
Ideology
Political positionCentre[4]
National affiliationDemocratic Party
Colors  Blue
Seats in the House
10 / 435
Seats in the House Democratic Caucus
10 / 212
Website
bluedogcaucus-golden.house.gov

The caucus was founded as a group of conservative Democrats in 1995 in response to defeats in the 1994 elections. Historically, the Blue Dog Coalition has been fiscally and socially conservative, representing the center-right in the Democratic Party.[7][8][9] The modern Blue Dog Coalition remains the most conservative grouping of Democrats in the House. At its peak in 2009, the number of members of the assembly grew to up to 54.[10]

The caucus currently has ten members.[11] The co-chairs of the Blue Dog Coalition for the 118th Congress are U.S. representatives Jared Golden, Mary Peltola, and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez.[12]

Electoral results edit

House of Representatives edit

Congress Seats Democratic seats ±
104th (1994)
29 / 435
29 / 204
 
105th (1996)
28 / 435
28 / 207
  1
106th (1998)
34 / 435
34 / 211
  6
107th (2000)
35 / 435
35 / 212
  1
108th (2002)
38 / 435
38 / 205
  3
109th (2004)
38 / 435
38 / 202
 
110th (2006)
56 / 435
56 / 233
  18
111th (2008)
64 / 435
64 / 257
  8
112th (2010)
28 / 435
28 / 193
  36
113th (2012)
19 / 435
19 / 201
  9
114th (2014)
15 / 435
15 / 188
  4
115th (2016)
18 / 435
18 / 193
  3
116th (2018)
27 / 435
27 / 235
  9
117th (2020)
19 / 435
19 / 222
  8
118th (2022)
10 / 435
10 / 213
  9

Overview and history edit

 
President Barack Obama meets with Blue Dog Democrats on February 10, 2009

The Blue Dog Coalition was formed in 1995[13][14][15] during the 104th Congress to give members from the Democratic Party representing conservative-leaning districts a unified voice after the Democrats' loss of Congress in the 1994 Republican Revolution.[16]

The term "Blue Dog Democrat" is credited to Texas Democratic Representative Pete Geren (who later joined the George W. Bush administration). Geren opined that the members had been "choked blue" by Democrats on the left.[17] It is related to the political term "Yellow Dog Democrat", a reference to Southern Democrats said to be "so loyal they would even vote for a yellow dog before they would vote for any Republican". The term also refers to the "Blue Dog" paintings of Cajun artist George Rodrigue of Lafayette, Louisiana as the original members of the coalition would regularly meet in the offices of Louisiana representatives Billy Tauzin and Jimmy Hayes, both of whom later joined the Republican Party – both also had Rodrigue's paintings on their walls.[18][19] An additional explanation for the term cited by members is "when dogs are not let into the house, they stay outside in the cold and turn blue", a reference to the Blue Dogs' belief they had been left out of a party that they believed had shifted to the political left.[20] At one time, first-term Blue Dogs were nicknamed 'Blue Pups'.[18] Starting in the twenty-first century, the caucus began shifting its ideology and began adopting more socially liberal stances in order align more closely with mainstream Democratic Party political values.[2]

Disputes within the Democratic Party edit

In 2007, 15 Blue Dogs in safe seats rebelled, and refused to contribute party dues to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. An additional 16 Blue Dogs did not pay any money to the DCCC, but were exempt from party-mandated contributions because they were top GOP targets for defeat in 2008. One reason for the party-dues boycott was contained in remarks made by Rep. Lynn Woolsey of California, encouraging leaders of anti-war groups to field primary challenges to any Democrat who did not vote to end the war in Iraq. Woolsey later stated that she was misunderstood, but the Blue Dogs continued the boycott. Donations to party congressional committees are an important source of funding for the party committees, permitting millions of dollars to be funneled back into close races.[21]

Role in the passage of the ACA edit

In the summer of 2009, The Economist said the following regarding the Blue Dog Coalition: "The debate over health care ... may be the pinnacle of the group's power so far." The Economist quoted Charlie Stenholm, a founding Blue Dog, as stating that "This is the first year for the new kennel in which their votes are really going to make a difference."[22] In July 2009, Blue Dog members who were committee members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee successfully delayed the House vote on the Health Insurance Reform Bill (HR3200) until after the Summer Recess.[23][24] It was during this recess that the term 'Obamacare' was first derisively adopted by Republicans on Capitol Hill[25] It is widely proposed that Blue Dog opposition to the "public option" and this recess, with that summer's contentious Town Hall meetings, provided the healthcare law's Republican opponents the opportunity to attack and subsequently get the public option dropped from the original, pre-recess bill.[26][27][28]

The Washington Post noted the most influential U.S. House of Representatives voting bloc was the conservative Democrat Blue Dog Coalition, having over 50 members.[29]

2010s decline edit

The Blue Dog Coalition suffered serious losses in the 2010 midterm elections, losing over half of its seats to Republican challengers. Its members, who were roughly one quarter of the Democratic Party's caucus in the 111th Congress, accounted for half of the party's midterm election losses.[30] Including retirements, Blue Dog numbers in the House were reduced from 59 members in 2009 to 26 members in 2011.[31] Two of the Coalition's four leaders (Stephanie Herseth Sandlin and Baron Hill) failed to secure re-election.[32][33]

The caucus shrank even more in the 2012 House of Representatives elections, decreasing in size from 27 to 14 members. Speculation ensued that the centrist New Democrat Coalition would fill the power vacuum created by the Blue Dog Coalition's decline.[34] Opposition to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and climate change legislation are believed to have contributed to the defeat of two conservative Democrats in the 2012 House elections in Pennsylvania by more liberal opponents.[35]

In the 2016 elections, future Blue Dogs accounted for over half of the Democrats' gains in the House.[36] In 2018, for the first time since 2006, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee partnered with the Blue Dog PAC (the Blue Dog Coalition's political organization) to recruit candidates in competitive districts across the country.[37] After the 2018 House of Representatives elections, the caucus grew from 18 members to 24.[31] All incumbents were re-elected and Rep. Kyrsten Sinema was elected to the U.S. Senate from Arizona.[38] The caucus also added 11 new members who defeated Republican incumbents in the 2018 election in districts that had voted for Donald Trump in 2016.[39] Congressional Democrats gained more seats than in any single election since the post-Watergate congressional elections.[40]

Biden presidency edit

As of July 2023, during the 118th Congress the caucus has 10 members, lower than any prior Congress.[41]

Failed renaming edit

At the start of the 118th congress in January 2023, six of the expected 15 members of the caucus left after a failed attempt to rename the group to the Common Sense Coalition. Freshman representative Don Davis, who was expected to join the Blue Dogs, also chose not to do so.[11]

The six members were who left the caucus were: Lou Correa, Representative from California (CA-46); David Scott, Representative from Georgia (GA-13); Ed Case, Representative from Hawaii (HI-01); Brad Schneider, Representative from Illinois (IL-10); Mikie Sherrill, Representative from New Jersey (NJ-11); and Abigail Spanberger, Representative from Virginia (VA-07).

Resurgence and influence edit

Following the reorganization necessitated by the group’s split, the remaining members initiated an effort to stabilize and rebuild the group, while maintaining influence on key policy proposals in the divided 118th Congress.[42] The effort included a recruitment drive which was successful in prompting members including Mary Peltola and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez to join. They, along with Wiley Nickel, brought the number of members back up to 10.[43]

Ideology edit

The Blue Dog Coalition is the most conservative grouping of Democrats in the House.[1] It "advocates for fiscal responsibility, a strong national defense and bipartisan consensus rather than conflict with Republicans". It acts as a check on legislation that its members perceive to be too far to the right or to the left on the political spectrum.[44] It broadly supports socially liberal and fiscally conservative policies and promoting fiscal restraint.[1] The caucus has shifted left in recent years, adopting more liberal stances on social issues and aligning more closely with Democratic Party policies.[2]

The Blue Dog Coalition is nonetheless often involved in searching for a compromise between liberal and conservative positions.[45] Though its members have evolved on social issues over time,[31] the group has never taken a position on social issues as a caucus.[46] There is no mention of social issues in the official Blue Dog materials.[47]

Membership edit

 
Blue Dog Coalition in the 118th United States Congress

In the early years of the caucus, the Blue Dogs were viewed by some as the political successors to Southern Democratic groups known such as the Boll Weevils or conservative coalition.[48][49] The Boll Weevils may, in turn, be considered the descendants of the Dixiecrats and the "states' rights" Democrats of the 1940s through the 1960s, and even the Bourbon Democrats of the late 19th century.[50]

The founding members of the Blue Dog Coalition were: Glen Browder and Bud Cramer of Alabama; Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas; Gary Condit of California; Nathan Deal of Georgia; William Lipinski of Illinois; Scotty Baesler of Kentucky; Billy Tauzin and Jimmy Hayes of Louisiana; Collin Peterson and David Minge of Minnesota; Michael Parker and Gene Taylor of Mississippi; Pat Danner of Missouri; William K. Brewster of Oklahoma; John S. Tanner of Tennessee; Ralph Hall, Charles Stenholm, Pete Geren and Greg Laughlin of Texas, Bill Orton of Utah; and Lewis F. Payne, Jr. and Owen Pickett of Virginia. Condit (Administration), Peterson (Policy) and Tanner (Communications) were co-chairs (Deal was initially the chair for Policy before he switched parties shortly after the caucus's founding). Browder headed the group's budget task force.[51]

In January 2019, McClatchy reported a transformation of the Blue Dogs from a coalition of 'southern white men' to 'a multi-regional, multicultural group.' At that time, the coalition included two African-American members, one Vietnamese-American, one Mexican-American, and only five members from Southern states.[31]

As of July 2023, during the 118th Congress the caucus included 10 members, lower than any prior Congress.[11][52]

Co-chairs edit

The co-chairs of the Blue Dog Coalition for the 118th Congress are U.S. Representatives Jared Golden, Mary Peltola, and Marie Gluesenkamp Pérez.[53]

Chairs of the Blue Dog Coalition
Term start Term end Chair for Administration Chair for Communications Chair for Policy
February 1995 April 1995 Gary Condit John S. Tanner Nathan Deal
April 1995 January 1999 Collin Peterson
January 1999 January 2001 Robert E. Cramer Chris John Charles Stenholm
January 2001 January 2003 Chris John Jim Turner Allen Boyd
January 2003 January 2005 Jim Turner Baron Hill Charles Stenholm
January 2005 January 2007 Jim Matheson Dennis Cardoza Jim Cooper
January 2007 January 2009 Allen Boyd Mike Ross Dennis Moore
January 2009 October 2009 Stephanie Herseth Sandlin Charlie Melancon Baron Hill
October 2009 January 2011 Jim Matheson
January 2011 January 2013 Heath Shuler Mike Ross John Barrow
January 2013 January 2015 John Barrow Kurt Schrader Jim Cooper
January 2015 January 2017 Kurt Schrader Jim Costa
January 2017 January 2019 Jim Costa Henry Cuellar Dan Lipinski
January 2019 January 2021 Stephanie Murphy Lou Correa Tom O'Halleran
January 2021 January 2023 Tom O'Halleran Ed Case
January 2023 May 2023 Jared Golden Jim Costa
May 2023 present Jared Golden Marie Gluesenkamp Pérez Mary Peltola

Current members edit

Alaska

California

Georgia

Maine

New Jersey

North Carolina

Texas

Washington

See also edit

Notes edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f Kane, Paul (February 19, 2020). "Blue Dog Democrats celebrate a milestone but stand alone on a core issue — fiscal restraint". The Washington Post.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Mendoza, Jessica (June 4, 2019). "Centrist Democrats are back. But these are not your father's Blue Dogs". Christian Science Monitor.
  3. ^ Blake, Aaron (April 25, 2012). "Why the Blue Dogs' decline was inevitable". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  4. ^ a b c Ruth Bloch Rubin, ed. (2017). Building the Bloc: Intraparty Organization in the US Congress. Cambridge University Press. p. 188. ISBN 9781316510421. In contrast to the halting mobilization of Insurgent Republicans and southern Democrats, the Blue Dogs' adoption of ... ideological bonafides, the Coalition worked to establish a Blue Dog brand and associate it with support for centrist policies.
  5. ^ Davis, Susan. . USA Today. Archived from the original on December 4, 2014. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  6. ^ "Lobbying from the center". The Hill. January 26, 2021.
  7. ^ Duncan, Philip P.; Nutting, Brian (1999). CQ's politics in America: 2000, the 106th Congress. Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly, Inc. p. 18. ISBN 9781568024714.
  8. ^ Solomon, Norman (May 24, 2010). "When the Leaders Lead, the People Have Sorrow". HuffPost. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  9. ^ Elections A to Z. SAGE. 2012. ISBN 9780872897694. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  10. ^ Miller, Jonathan (May 23, 2018). "The Blue Dogs Are Barking Again". Roll Call. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  11. ^ a b c Mutnick, Ally; Ferris, Sarah (January 24, 2023). "Rebranding rift guts Blue Dog Dem ranks". POLITICO. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  12. ^ Ferris, Sarah (May 24, 2023). "The Blue Dog Coalition is adding a new member to their centrist ranks, alongside a fresh "fishing states" leadership group". POLITICO. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  13. ^ Dumain, Emma (May 12, 2015). "20 years in, Blue Dogs not ready to roll over". rollcall.com.
  14. ^ "History". BlueDogCaucus-Schrader.house.gov. Blue Dog Coalition. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
  15. ^ "History". ross.house.gov/BlueDog/. Blue Dog Coalition. Archived from the original on April 5, 2012. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
  16. ^ Bendavid, Naftali (July 28, 2009). "'Blue Dog' Democrats hold health care overhaul at bay". The Wall Street Journal.
  17. ^ "Wordcraft Archives, November 2004". Wordcraft.infopop.cc. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  18. ^ a b Suddath, Claire (July 28, 2009). . Time. Archived from the original on July 31, 2009. Retrieved September 7, 2009.
  19. ^ Safire, William (April 23, 1995). "On Language; Blue Dog Demo". The New York Times. Retrieved September 7, 2009.
  20. ^ . Bluedogs.us. November 4, 2008. Archived from the original on July 14, 2009. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
  21. ^ Bresnahan, John (October 24, 2007). . The Politico. Archived from the original on October 26, 2007. Retrieved November 1, 2007.
  22. ^ "The Democratic Party's centrists: Blue Dog days". The Economist. July 30, 2009.
  23. ^ "Are the Blue Dogs really working for you?". Silverbuzzcafe.com. Silver Buzz Cafe. August 20, 2009. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
  24. ^ . Child Welfare League of America. July 27, 2009. Archived from the original on June 16, 2010. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
  25. ^ Wallace, Gregory (June 25, 2012). . CNN. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
  26. ^ Ball, Molly (November 16, 2012). . The Atlantic. Archived from the original on April 13, 2013. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
  27. ^ Stolberg, Sheryl Gay (August 17, 2009). "'Public Option' in Health Plan may be dropped". The New York Times. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
  28. ^ "Blue Dogs And The Health Care Debate" NPR: Talk of the Nation, August 4, 2009.
  29. ^ Kane, Paul (January 15, 2014). "Blue Dog Democrats, whittled down in number, are trying to regroup". The Washington Post. from the original on January 16, 2014. Retrieved July 23, 2014. Four years ago, they were the most influential voting bloc on Capitol Hill, more than 50 House Democrats pulling their liberal colleagues to a more centrist, fiscally conservative vision on issues such as health care and Wall Street reforms.
  30. ^ . Fox Nation. Fox News. November 3, 2010. Archived from the original on July 26, 2011.
  31. ^ a b c d "Shutdown, health care, budget: How moderate House Democrats will influence the party". mcclatchydc.
  32. ^ Allen, Jonathan. "Blue Dog wipeout: Half of caucus gone". Politico. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  33. ^ "A vanishing breed: Blue Dogs". Los Angeles Times. November 3, 2010.
  34. ^ "New Dems hope to be a force in 113th Congress". The Hill. November 17, 2012.
  35. ^ "Why the Blue Dogs' decline was inevitable". The Washington Post. April 25, 2012.
  36. ^ "The Blue Dog map is changing. It may even help Democrats win Republican districts". The Politico. 2017.
  37. ^ "Blue Dogs eye comeback in 2018". The Politico. 2017.
  38. ^ "House Democratic Factions All See Gains After Midterms". Roll Call. November 13, 2018.
  39. ^ Rogin, Josh (December 13, 2018). "Blue Dog Democrats are poised to play a crucial role in the next Congress". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  40. ^ "It was a big, blue wave: Democrats pick up most House seats in a generation". NPR.org. National Public Radio News.
  41. ^ Ferris, Sarah (May 24, 2023). "The Blue Dog Coalition is adding a new member to their centrist ranks, alongside a fresh "fishing states" leadership group" – via POLITICO.
  42. ^ Mariana Sotomayor (August 8, 2023). "Dwindling Blue Dog Democrats look to stage a comeback for moderates in Congress". Washington Post.
  43. ^ Meyer, Theodoric; Caldwell, Leigh Ann (August 8, 2023). "Analysis | Meet the new Blue Dogs". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  44. ^ Weiner, Mark (February 1, 2019). "Anthony Brindisi to co-chair Blue Dogs, caucus of moderate House Democrats". syracuse.com.
  45. ^ Mariana Sotomayor (August 8, 2023). "Dwindling Blue Dog Democrats look to stage a comeback for moderates in Congress". Washington Post.
  46. ^ "Centrist Democrats are back. But these are not your father's Blue Dogs". The Christian Science Monitor. June 4, 2019. ISSN 0882-7729. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  47. ^ Parton, Heather Digby (November 12, 2014). "Bye-bye, blue dog "Democrats": What the end of conservative Dems means for America". Salon. Retrieved December 24, 2016.
  48. ^ Parties, Rules, and the Evolution of Congressional Budgeting, Lance T. LeLoup, 2005, pp. 185
  49. ^ Encyclopedia of American Parties, Campaigns, and Elections, William C. Binning et al, 1999, pp. 307.
  50. ^ Thomson, Alex (2007). A Glossary of U.S. Politics and Government. Stanford University Press. p. 14. ISBN 978-0-8047-5730-0.
  51. ^ Certain, Geni (2012). Professor-Politician, The Biography of Alabama Congressman Glen Browder. NewSouth Books. p. 147. ISBN 978-1-58838-254-2.
  52. ^ Mariana Sotomayor (August 8, 2023). "Dwindling Blue Dog Democrats look to stage a comeback for moderates in Congress". Washington Post.
  53. ^ Ferris, Sarah (May 24, 2023). "The Blue Dog Coalition is adding a new member to their centrist ranks, alongside a fresh "fishing states" leadership group" – via POLITICO.

External links edit

  • Official website  
  • Right-Leaning "Blue Dogs" Lose Seats in 2010 Election – video report by Democracy Now!

blue, coalition, blue, dogs, redirects, here, american, band, formed, 1987, blue, dogs, band, commonly, known, blue, dogs, blue, democrats, caucus, centrist, moderate, members, from, democratic, party, united, states, house, representatives, most, blue, dogs, . Blue Dogs redirects here For the American band formed in 1987 see The Blue Dogs band The Blue Dog Coalition commonly known as the Blue Dogs or Blue Dog Democrats is a caucus of centrist and moderate members from the Democratic Party in the United States House of Representatives 5 4 6 Most Blue Dogs are elected in competitive Republican leaning districts and broadly adopt socially liberal and fiscally conservative policies while promoting fiscal restraint 1 4 Blue Dog CoalitionCo ChairsJared GoldenMary PeltolaMarie Gluesenkamp PerezFoundedFebruary 14 1995IdeologyFiscal conservatism 1 2 Cultural liberalism 1 2 Historical Conservatism 2 3 Social conservatism 1 2 Political positionCentre 4 National affiliationDemocratic PartyColors BlueSeats in the House10 435Seats in the House Democratic Caucus10 212Websitebluedogcaucus golden wbr house wbr govPolitics of United StatesPolitical partiesElectionsThe caucus was founded as a group of conservative Democrats in 1995 in response to defeats in the 1994 elections Historically the Blue Dog Coalition has been fiscally and socially conservative representing the center right in the Democratic Party 7 8 9 The modern Blue Dog Coalition remains the most conservative grouping of Democrats in the House At its peak in 2009 the number of members of the assembly grew to up to 54 10 The caucus currently has ten members 11 The co chairs of the Blue Dog Coalition for the 118th Congress are U S representatives Jared Golden Mary Peltola and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez 12 Contents 1 Electoral results 1 1 House of Representatives 2 Overview and history 2 1 Disputes within the Democratic Party 2 2 Role in the passage of the ACA 2 3 2010s decline 2 4 Biden presidency 2 4 1 Failed renaming 2 4 2 Resurgence and influence 3 Ideology 4 Membership 4 1 Co chairs 5 Current members 6 See also 7 Notes 8 References 9 External linksElectoral results editHouse of Representatives edit Congress Seats Democratic seats 104th 1994 29 435 29 204 nbsp 105th 1996 28 435 28 207 nbsp 1106th 1998 34 435 34 211 nbsp 6107th 2000 35 435 35 212 nbsp 1108th 2002 38 435 38 205 nbsp 3109th 2004 38 435 38 202 nbsp 110th 2006 56 435 56 233 nbsp 18111th 2008 64 435 64 257 nbsp 8112th 2010 28 435 28 193 nbsp 36113th 2012 19 435 19 201 nbsp 9114th 2014 15 435 15 188 nbsp 4115th 2016 18 435 18 193 nbsp 3116th 2018 27 435 27 235 nbsp 9117th 2020 19 435 19 222 nbsp 8118th 2022 10 435 10 213 nbsp 9Overview and history edit nbsp President Barack Obama meets with Blue Dog Democrats on February 10 2009The Blue Dog Coalition was formed in 1995 13 14 15 during the 104th Congress to give members from the Democratic Party representing conservative leaning districts a unified voice after the Democrats loss of Congress in the 1994 Republican Revolution 16 The term Blue Dog Democrat is credited to Texas Democratic Representative Pete Geren who later joined the George W Bush administration Geren opined that the members had been choked blue by Democrats on the left 17 It is related to the political term Yellow Dog Democrat a reference to Southern Democrats said to be so loyal they would even vote for a yellow dog before they would vote for any Republican The term also refers to the Blue Dog paintings of Cajun artist George Rodrigue of Lafayette Louisiana as the original members of the coalition would regularly meet in the offices of Louisiana representatives Billy Tauzin and Jimmy Hayes both of whom later joined the Republican Party both also had Rodrigue s paintings on their walls 18 19 An additional explanation for the term cited by members is when dogs are not let into the house they stay outside in the cold and turn blue a reference to the Blue Dogs belief they had been left out of a party that they believed had shifted to the political left 20 At one time first term Blue Dogs were nicknamed Blue Pups 18 Starting in the twenty first century the caucus began shifting its ideology and began adopting more socially liberal stances in order align more closely with mainstream Democratic Party political values 2 Disputes within the Democratic Party edit In 2007 15 Blue Dogs in safe seats rebelled and refused to contribute party dues to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee An additional 16 Blue Dogs did not pay any money to the DCCC but were exempt from party mandated contributions because they were top GOP targets for defeat in 2008 One reason for the party dues boycott was contained in remarks made by Rep Lynn Woolsey of California encouraging leaders of anti war groups to field primary challenges to any Democrat who did not vote to end the war in Iraq Woolsey later stated that she was misunderstood but the Blue Dogs continued the boycott Donations to party congressional committees are an important source of funding for the party committees permitting millions of dollars to be funneled back into close races 21 Role in the passage of the ACA edit In the summer of 2009 The Economist said the following regarding the Blue Dog Coalition The debate over health care may be the pinnacle of the group s power so far The Economist quoted Charlie Stenholm a founding Blue Dog as stating that This is the first year for the new kennel in which their votes are really going to make a difference 22 In July 2009 Blue Dog members who were committee members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee successfully delayed the House vote on the Health Insurance Reform Bill HR3200 until after the Summer Recess 23 24 It was during this recess that the term Obamacare was first derisively adopted by Republicans on Capitol Hill 25 It is widely proposed that Blue Dog opposition to the public option and this recess with that summer s contentious Town Hall meetings provided the healthcare law s Republican opponents the opportunity to attack and subsequently get the public option dropped from the original pre recess bill 26 27 28 The Washington Post noted the most influential U S House of Representatives voting bloc was the conservative Democrat Blue Dog Coalition having over 50 members 29 2010s decline edit The Blue Dog Coalition suffered serious losses in the 2010 midterm elections losing over half of its seats to Republican challengers Its members who were roughly one quarter of the Democratic Party s caucus in the 111th Congress accounted for half of the party s midterm election losses 30 Including retirements Blue Dog numbers in the House were reduced from 59 members in 2009 to 26 members in 2011 31 Two of the Coalition s four leaders Stephanie Herseth Sandlin and Baron Hill failed to secure re election 32 33 The caucus shrank even more in the 2012 House of Representatives elections decreasing in size from 27 to 14 members Speculation ensued that the centrist New Democrat Coalition would fill the power vacuum created by the Blue Dog Coalition s decline 34 Opposition to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and climate change legislation are believed to have contributed to the defeat of two conservative Democrats in the 2012 House elections in Pennsylvania by more liberal opponents 35 In the 2016 elections future Blue Dogs accounted for over half of the Democrats gains in the House 36 In 2018 for the first time since 2006 the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee partnered with the Blue Dog PAC the Blue Dog Coalition s political organization to recruit candidates in competitive districts across the country 37 After the 2018 House of Representatives elections the caucus grew from 18 members to 24 31 All incumbents were re elected and Rep Kyrsten Sinema was elected to the U S Senate from Arizona 38 The caucus also added 11 new members who defeated Republican incumbents in the 2018 election in districts that had voted for Donald Trump in 2016 39 Congressional Democrats gained more seats than in any single election since the post Watergate congressional elections 40 Biden presidency edit As of July 2023 during the 118th Congress the caucus has 10 members lower than any prior Congress 41 Failed renaming edit At the start of the 118th congress in January 2023 six of the expected 15 members of the caucus left after a failed attempt to rename the group to the Common Sense Coalition Freshman representative Don Davis who was expected to join the Blue Dogs also chose not to do so 11 The six members were who left the caucus were Lou Correa Representative from California CA 46 David Scott Representative from Georgia GA 13 Ed Case Representative from Hawaii HI 01 Brad Schneider Representative from Illinois IL 10 Mikie Sherrill Representative from New Jersey NJ 11 and Abigail Spanberger Representative from Virginia VA 07 Resurgence and influence edit Following the reorganization necessitated by the group s split the remaining members initiated an effort to stabilize and rebuild the group while maintaining influence on key policy proposals in the divided 118th Congress 42 The effort included a recruitment drive which was successful in prompting members including Mary Peltola and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez to join They along with Wiley Nickel brought the number of members back up to 10 43 Ideology editThe Blue Dog Coalition is the most conservative grouping of Democrats in the House 1 It advocates for fiscal responsibility a strong national defense and bipartisan consensus rather than conflict with Republicans It acts as a check on legislation that its members perceive to be too far to the right or to the left on the political spectrum 44 It broadly supports socially liberal and fiscally conservative policies and promoting fiscal restraint 1 The caucus has shifted left in recent years adopting more liberal stances on social issues and aligning more closely with Democratic Party policies 2 The Blue Dog Coalition is nonetheless often involved in searching for a compromise between liberal and conservative positions 45 Though its members have evolved on social issues over time 31 the group has never taken a position on social issues as a caucus 46 There is no mention of social issues in the official Blue Dog materials 47 Membership editSee also List of members of the Blue Dog Coalition nbsp Blue Dog Coalition in the 118th United States CongressIn the early years of the caucus the Blue Dogs were viewed by some as the political successors to Southern Democratic groups known such as the Boll Weevils or conservative coalition 48 49 The Boll Weevils may in turn be considered the descendants of the Dixiecrats and the states rights Democrats of the 1940s through the 1960s and even the Bourbon Democrats of the late 19th century 50 The founding members of the Blue Dog Coalition were Glen Browder and Bud Cramer of Alabama Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas Gary Condit of California Nathan Deal of Georgia William Lipinski of Illinois Scotty Baesler of Kentucky Billy Tauzin and Jimmy Hayes of Louisiana Collin Peterson and David Minge of Minnesota Michael Parker and Gene Taylor of Mississippi Pat Danner of Missouri William K Brewster of Oklahoma John S Tanner of Tennessee Ralph Hall Charles Stenholm Pete Geren and Greg Laughlin of Texas Bill Orton of Utah and Lewis F Payne Jr and Owen Pickett of Virginia Condit Administration Peterson Policy and Tanner Communications were co chairs Deal was initially the chair for Policy before he switched parties shortly after the caucus s founding Browder headed the group s budget task force 51 In January 2019 McClatchy reported a transformation of the Blue Dogs from a coalition of southern white men to a multi regional multicultural group At that time the coalition included two African American members one Vietnamese American one Mexican American and only five members from Southern states 31 As of July 2023 during the 118th Congress the caucus included 10 members lower than any prior Congress 11 52 Co chairs edit The co chairs of the Blue Dog Coalition for the 118th Congress are U S Representatives Jared Golden Mary Peltola and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez 53 Chairs of the Blue Dog Coalition Term start Term end Chair for Administration Chair for Communications Chair for PolicyFebruary 1995 April 1995 Gary Condit John S Tanner Nathan DealApril 1995 January 1999 Collin PetersonJanuary 1999 January 2001 Robert E Cramer Chris John Charles StenholmJanuary 2001 January 2003 Chris John Jim Turner Allen BoydJanuary 2003 January 2005 Jim Turner Baron Hill Charles StenholmJanuary 2005 January 2007 Jim Matheson Dennis Cardoza Jim CooperJanuary 2007 January 2009 Allen Boyd Mike Ross Dennis MooreJanuary 2009 October 2009 Stephanie Herseth Sandlin Charlie Melancon Baron HillOctober 2009 January 2011 Jim MathesonJanuary 2011 January 2013 Heath Shuler Mike Ross John BarrowJanuary 2013 January 2015 John Barrow Kurt Schrader Jim CooperJanuary 2015 January 2017 Kurt Schrader Jim CostaJanuary 2017 January 2019 Jim Costa Henry Cuellar Dan LipinskiJanuary 2019 January 2021 Stephanie Murphy Lou Correa Tom O HalleranJanuary 2021 January 2023 Tom O Halleran Ed CaseJanuary 2023 May 2023 Jared Golden Jim CostaMay 2023 present Jared Golden Marie Gluesenkamp Perez Mary PeltolaCurrent members editAlaska Mary Peltola Representative from AK ALCalifornia Jim Costa Representative from CA 21 Mike Thompson Representative from CA 04Georgia Sanford Bishop Representative from GA 02Maine Jared Golden Representative from ME 02New Jersey Josh Gottheimer Representative from NJ 05North Carolina Wiley Nickel Representative from NC 13Texas Henry Cuellar Representative from TX 28 Vicente Gonzalez Representative from TX 34Washington Marie Gluesenkamp Perez Representative from WA 03See also editCongressional Progressive Caucus Factions in the Democratic Party New Democrat Coalition Republican Main Street Partnership Republican Governance Group Problem Solvers CaucusNotes editReferences edit a b c d e f Kane Paul February 19 2020 Blue Dog Democrats celebrate a milestone but stand alone on a core issue fiscal restraint The Washington Post a b c d e f Mendoza Jessica June 4 2019 Centrist Democrats are back But these are not your father s Blue Dogs Christian Science Monitor Blake Aaron April 25 2012 Why the Blue Dogs decline was inevitable The Washington Post Retrieved February 23 2016 a b c Ruth Bloch Rubin ed 2017 Building the Bloc Intraparty Organization in the US Congress Cambridge University Press p 188 ISBN 9781316510421 In contrast to the halting mobilization of Insurgent Republicans and southern Democrats the Blue Dogs adoption of ideological bonafides the Coalition worked to establish a Blue Dog brand and associate it with support for centrist policies Davis Susan U S House has fewer moderate Democrats USA Today Archived from the original on December 4 2014 Retrieved July 23 2014 Lobbying from the center The Hill January 26 2021 Duncan Philip P Nutting Brian 1999 CQ s politics in America 2000 the 106th Congress Washington DC Congressional Quarterly Inc p 18 ISBN 9781568024714 Solomon Norman May 24 2010 When the Leaders Lead the People Have Sorrow HuffPost Retrieved January 13 2023 Elections A to Z SAGE 2012 ISBN 9780872897694 Retrieved August 14 2014 Miller Jonathan May 23 2018 The Blue Dogs Are Barking Again Roll Call Retrieved October 26 2023 a b c Mutnick Ally Ferris Sarah January 24 2023 Rebranding rift guts Blue Dog Dem ranks POLITICO Retrieved January 24 2023 Ferris Sarah May 24 2023 The Blue Dog Coalition is adding a new member to their centrist ranks alongside a fresh fishing states leadership group POLITICO Retrieved May 24 2023 Dumain Emma May 12 2015 20 years in Blue Dogs not ready to roll over rollcall com History BlueDogCaucus Schrader house gov Blue Dog Coalition Retrieved November 15 2016 History ross house gov BlueDog Blue Dog Coalition Archived from the original on April 5 2012 Retrieved April 10 2012 Bendavid Naftali July 28 2009 Blue Dog Democrats hold health care overhaul at bay The Wall Street Journal Wordcraft Archives November 2004 Wordcraft infopop cc Retrieved February 23 2016 a b Suddath Claire July 28 2009 A Brief History of Blue Dog Democrats Time Archived from the original on July 31 2009 Retrieved September 7 2009 Safire William April 23 1995 On Language Blue Dog Demo The New York Times Retrieved September 7 2009 Blue Dog Democrats Bluedogs us November 4 2008 Archived from the original on July 14 2009 Retrieved March 17 2010 Bresnahan John October 24 2007 Blue Dogs refuse to pony up for DCCC The Politico Archived from the original on October 26 2007 Retrieved November 1 2007 The Democratic Party s centrists Blue Dog days The Economist July 30 2009 Are the Blue Dogs really working for you Silverbuzzcafe com Silver Buzz Cafe August 20 2009 Retrieved March 17 2010 Two House Committees Approve Health Reform Bill Child Welfare League of America July 27 2009 Archived from the original on June 16 2010 Retrieved February 26 2013 Wallace Gregory June 25 2012 Obamacare The word that defined the health care debate CNN Archived from the original on July 12 2012 Retrieved February 26 2013 Ball Molly November 16 2012 Blue Dogs are dwindling The Atlantic Archived from the original on April 13 2013 Retrieved February 27 2013 Stolberg Sheryl Gay August 17 2009 Public Option in Health Plan may be dropped The New York Times Retrieved February 26 2013 Blue Dogs And The Health Care Debate NPR Talk of the Nation August 4 2009 Kane Paul January 15 2014 Blue Dog Democrats whittled down in number are trying to regroup The Washington Post Archived from the original on January 16 2014 Retrieved July 23 2014 Four years ago they were the most influential voting bloc on Capitol Hill more than 50 House Democrats pulling their liberal colleagues to a more centrist fiscally conservative vision on issues such as health care and Wall Street reforms Blue Dogs shaved in half Blue Dog Democrats Fox Nation Fox News November 3 2010 Archived from the original on July 26 2011 a b c d Shutdown health care budget How moderate House Democrats will influence the party mcclatchydc Allen Jonathan Blue Dog wipeout Half of caucus gone Politico Retrieved February 23 2016 A vanishing breed Blue Dogs Los Angeles Times November 3 2010 New Dems hope to be a force in 113th Congress The Hill November 17 2012 Why the Blue Dogs decline was inevitable The Washington Post April 25 2012 The Blue Dog map is changing It may even help Democrats win Republican districts The Politico 2017 Blue Dogs eye comeback in 2018 The Politico 2017 House Democratic Factions All See Gains After Midterms Roll Call November 13 2018 Rogin Josh December 13 2018 Blue Dog Democrats are poised to play a crucial role in the next Congress The Washington Post Retrieved February 17 2020 It was a big blue wave Democrats pick up most House seats in a generation NPR org National Public Radio News Ferris Sarah May 24 2023 The Blue Dog Coalition is adding a new member to their centrist ranks alongside a fresh fishing states leadership group via POLITICO Mariana Sotomayor August 8 2023 Dwindling Blue Dog Democrats look to stage a comeback for moderates in Congress Washington Post Meyer Theodoric Caldwell Leigh Ann August 8 2023 Analysis Meet the new Blue Dogs Washington Post ISSN 0190 8286 Retrieved August 24 2023 Weiner Mark February 1 2019 Anthony Brindisi to co chair Blue Dogs caucus of moderate House Democrats syracuse com Mariana Sotomayor August 8 2023 Dwindling Blue Dog Democrats look to stage a comeback for moderates in Congress Washington Post Centrist Democrats are back But these are not your father s Blue Dogs The Christian Science Monitor June 4 2019 ISSN 0882 7729 Retrieved March 6 2020 Parton Heather Digby November 12 2014 Bye bye blue dog Democrats What the end of conservative Dems means for America Salon Retrieved December 24 2016 Parties Rules and the Evolution of Congressional Budgeting Lance T LeLoup 2005 pp 185 Encyclopedia of American Parties Campaigns and Elections William C Binning et al 1999 pp 307 Thomson Alex 2007 A Glossary of U S Politics and Government Stanford University Press p 14 ISBN 978 0 8047 5730 0 Certain Geni 2012 Professor Politician The Biography of Alabama Congressman Glen Browder NewSouth Books p 147 ISBN 978 1 58838 254 2 Mariana Sotomayor August 8 2023 Dwindling Blue Dog Democrats look to stage a comeback for moderates in Congress Washington Post Ferris Sarah May 24 2023 The Blue Dog Coalition is adding a new member to their centrist ranks alongside a fresh fishing states leadership group via POLITICO External links editOfficial website nbsp Right Leaning Blue Dogs Lose Seats in 2010 Election video report by Democracy Now Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Blue Dog Coalition amp oldid 1186986955, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.