On Saturday April 21, the State Central Committee (SCC) of the Democratic Party of New Mexico unanimously approved the state’s first ever progressive caucus: the Adelante Progressive Caucus of the Democratic Party of New Mexico.

“Adelante” is a Spanish word that means “move ahead” or “go forward.” The new caucus, already with 250 members from more than 10 New Mexico counties, will work to move the Democratic party forward by attracting and recruiting people who have been historically under-represented in the democratic process, to implement a small-donor base fundraising model in the state party, and to create more transparency and accountability in the state and national party 

The new caucus fully supports the new platform of the Democratic Party of New Mexico, approved by more than 90% of the delegates at the March 2018 convention, including the values outlined in the platform preamble:

• All citizens should have an equal voice in how we are governed and call out the disproportionate influence by rich and powerful special interests on our government.
• We envision a New Mexico in which every person has what it takes to live a life of dignity—secure, decent-paying jobs; a just economic system; not-for-profit universal healthcare; high quality public schools; and a safe, healthy environment where the unmatched beauty of our land is preserved for future generations.
• As caring citizens of this state, this country, and this planet, we hold these basic rights to be the natural heritage of all people.
• As dedicated Democrats, the Caucus bands together to claim that heritage for every member of our human community, both now and in times to come.

There are now Democratic Party progressive caucuses in at least 17 states, a sign of the growing strength of the nationwide movement to reinvigorate the party with the participation of people of all ages, genders, colors, and incomes.

Interim Adelante Caucus officers who will serve for six months until elections are held, are:

• Chair, Pia Gallegos, CD1
• Vice Chair, Roxanne Barber, CD3
• Secretary, Sara Hume, CD3
• Treasurer, Jerry Morris, CD2
• Congressional District 1 Chair, Maurreen Skowran, CD1
• Congressional District 2 Chair, Kathy Wooten, CD2
• Congressional District 3 Chair, Jay Levine, CD3
• Executive Committee Member at Large, Martin Rodriguez, CD2
• Executive Committee Member at Large, Ricardo Guillermo, CD1

If you haven’t yet joined the caucus, you can sign up here: http://bit.ly/AdelanteMembershipForm. If you are interested in volunteering to work on a Caucus committee, please sign up here:  http://bit.ly/AdelanteCommitteesForm. If you have expertise you’d like to share that can help grow caucus membership, plan and carry out strategies, build a communications infrastructure, or organize and activate people in your area, please contact the caucus at adelantecaucus@gmail.com.

You can also connect via Facebook at: Adelante Progressive Caucus, or by putting the caucus name into a FB search.

Four members of the Retake leadership team were involved in the working group that organized the caucus and two are now interim offices (Roxanne and Sara). The Adelante Working Group met via Zoom twice monthly for months and then every week for the month before Saturday’s SCC meeting to develop bylaws that complied with DPNM rules and to discuss outreach efforts to communicate to the party and to Democrats throughout the State. Hundreds of calls were made to State Central Committee member and other Party members. And it paid off, as when the call for ayes was made, there was thunderous approval and when the call for nay votes was made the room of 300 SCC members was utterly silent.

Kudos to the Working Group members for all their/our hard work.

Adelante!

Paul & Roxanne

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