The money that is donated to the PAC is money that we use to run independent expenditure campaigns-- usually advertising-- in favor of the candidates we back and against their reactionary opponents.

As Blue America's first endorsed candidate of 2012, Nicholas offers an extremely high standard with which we'll have to consider other candidates. He's running against a reactionary teabagger, Sandy Adams, but he isn't some kind of conservative Democrat who is looking to keep the status quo. What attracted Blue America to Nicholas is his way of thinking outside-the-box to find solutions to the problems facing the country and facing Florida's working families. Reactionaries like Adams want to demolish Social Security. Conservatives want to keep it the same or even "compromise" with reactionaries and make it "a little" worse. Progressives want to strengthen it. Take a look at Nicholas' guest post about health care reform and then try to imagine a whole Congress filled with Members of this calibre.

Ken's a blue collar New Deal Democrat in a very tough district-- and he's a very tough competitor. A veteran of both the Afghanistan and the Iraq wars, he didn't come to his progressive values and principles by reading them in books but by on the ground real life experience. Anyone who thinks the Arkansas Democratic Party is all about Blue Dogs and corporate whores, needs to meet Ken Aden.

In response to hearing that some Democrats on the SuperCommittee want to join Republicans advocating cuts to Medicare and Social Security, he told us that "Now, more than ever, we as citizens must educate ourselves when it comes to the corporate prostitutes who claim to represent us and our families. We will be able to identify them by their works and voting record. Whether you have a D or R before your name... if you back attempts to cut Medicare and Social Security, you are nothing but a criminal."

He was the best and most courageous Member of Congress when he was a Member. He'll be even better in the next session!

A virulent anti-immigrant bigot and anti-Choice fanatic, Blue Dog Heath Shuler has next to nothing to do with the Democratic Party. He's been among the 5 Democrats voting most frequently on key issues with Boehner and Cantor. He's the most right-wing Democrat in the North Carolina delegation and has had a profoundly negative influence on weaker minded Members Mike McIntyre and Larry Kissell. Cecil is a well-known and much-liked Asheville City Councilman with a strong populist base and great progressive ideas that are well-suited to western North Carolina's struggling families.

We've supported Darcy's past bids and she's come very close to winning. Hopefully this year, we'll help put her over the top. Her platform is just what Washington needs-- desperately.

A single payer advocate and staunch movement progressive, Dr. David Gill beat back a corporate conservative in the Illinois primary and is now facing Republican Tim Johnson in a seat that has been redrawn to make it a true swing district. Dr. Gill is an independent-minded populist who will shake things up inside the DC Democratic caucus.

Joe, who's running against one of Congress' most deranged extremists, told us "I have spent the last decade fighting to promote progressive values in Colorado. We’ve stood steadfast with those who are squeezed between Wall Street elites and an unresponsive government bureaucracy. Our dedication to individual empowerment and our commitment to fairness is reflected in a bluer Colorado."

A proven progressive leader, not a cookie cutter Democrat. Norman is the antidote to the Conservative Consensus. "You can’t beat heartless Republicans with spineless Democrats," he told us. "Paul Wellstone talked about boosting the democratic wing of the Democratic Party. I intend to strengthen the progressive wing of the Progressive Caucus... There’s no future but disaster if Democrats cave in to Republicans. And-- as a progressive Democrat-- I’m ready, willing and able to push back against the Obama administration every time the White House betrays progressive values."

Eric Griego is a people-powered progressive from New Mexico running against corporate-powered centrists in the Democratic primary. Eric has been a vocal champion in his state for campaign finance and ethics reforms, worker rights and investing in clean energy jobs. As an Albuquerque city councilor, he led the passage of public financing of city elections, and has fought for a strong independent ethics commission in the state legislature. Eric is also the only candidate for Congress in New Mexico’s First District, and an early leader nationally, to publicly call for a constitutional amendment to reverse Citizens United. He has emphatically stated his belief that corporations are not persons deserving of constitutional rights equal to real people and that they should be subject to regulations limiting their ability to influence the political process. If elected, Eric will be a reliable ally in the Congressional Progressive Caucus to fight for the American Dream for the 99%.

Longtime progressive activist, Annie came close to beating corporate rubber stamp Republican Charlie Bass in 2010. This year she should complete the task.

Finally... a North Carolina progressive is taking on execrable little Patrick McHenry. As an activist and state Rep, Patsy has been a shining light for working families in western North Carolina. Patsy already won her primary against a conservative Blue Dog type that the DCCC recruited and now she's be in a good position to send McHenry into retirement.

Chris is not just a progressive, he's a progressive who gets things done. He worked his way into the Connecticut House's Speaker's chair and has accomplished the kinds of things in his state that national Democrats are still trying to get to first base with-- from public financing of elections to a public option for healthcare and marriage equality. He's a natch for the open seat Chris Murphy is leaving as he goes off to the Senate.

You'd be hard-pressed to find a more corrupt Member of Congress anywhere than Buck McKeon. And you'd be just as hard pressed to find a more together, harder working challenger than Dr. Lee Rogers.

Wayne has spent his life in the real world, serving in the Army and running a small business. Eric Cantor is the epitome of what's wrong with Washington. He’s a career politician, a partisan operator who is the poster child for the obstructionism that is ruining our country today. Wayne is running to reform Congress, to make sure every American has opportunity. "Congress is broken,"he told us, "and I'm running to fix it and end Congressman Cantor's culture of corruption."

And maybe one day the DCCC will get on board too.

Like Alan Grayson, Carol, got swept up in the Tea Party tidal wave in 2010. New Hampshire voters have seen what that's resulted in and have reconsidered. We think Carol, a lifelong grassroots activist and dedicated progressive, will regain her old seat... with a little help from like-minded progressives.

Maybe I'm just old-fashioned but when you find someone who combines honesty, dedication and brilliance running for Congress... go for it. Franke has to beat a pair of corporate Democrats and then a right-wing Republican ideologue before taking up the mantle of the great Montana populist Pat Williams.

In Michigan both party Establishments are running conservative, anti-Choice, anti-LGBT self-funding multimillionaires against Trevor. He has a fresh vision for a progressive can-do country based on shared responsibility and a new approach to fairness for American working families. Primary day-- August 7.

Rob is a Kenosha County Supervisor who is taking on the brave task of challenging Wall Street's #1 priority candidate-- Paul Ryan. Yes, THAT Ryan, the one fronting the GOP plan to kill Medicare-- the Ayn Rand freak who poses the biggest danger of any Republican in Congress to the future of our country. Please check out the lively discussion we had with Rob at Crooks and Liars on February 14.