The Dig Primary Strategy w/ Geoff Simpson
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Mar 3, 2026 Geoff Simpson, PAC director at Justice Democrats who builds insurgent House slates, talks left primary politics and strategy. He outlines why 2026 feels existential. He discusses recruiting working-class candidates, confronting AIPAC and corporate money, rising Muslim donor power, and the need to build durable left infrastructure.
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This Cycle Is An Existential Opportunity
- Justice Democrats views the 2026 cycle as existential, aiming to realign the Democratic Party away from corporate power and toward working people.
- Jeff Simpson says JD has built toward this moment and must seize voter, grassroots, and candidate energy now.
Electoral Power Anchors Movement Building
- Justice Democrats' theory: elect a cohesive left block in Congress to carry movement demands and build power beyond legislators' votes.
- Simpson emphasizes using elected office to organize nationally and educate voters, not just pass laws.
Squad's 2018 Upset Launched JD's Strategy
- Justice Democrats began after Bernie 2016 and the brand new Congress/Justice Democrats split, endorsing many insurgents in 2018.
- That cycle produced AOC, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, and Ayanna Pressley — the original squad.
