New Democrat Coalition | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | NDC |
| Chair | Brad Schneider (IL–10) |
| Founded | 1997; 28 years ago (1997) |
| Ideology | Third Way Liberalism |
| Political position | Center[3] tocenter-left[6] |
| National affiliation | Democratic Party |
| Seats in theHouse Democratic Caucus | 115 / 213[a] |
| Seats in theHouse | 115 / 435[a] |
| Website | |
| newdemocratcoalition | |
TheNew Democrat Coalition is acaucus in theHouse of Representatives of theUnited States Congress made up ofDemocrats, primarilyliberals andcentrists, who take apro-business stance and a liberal-to-moderate approach tofiscal matters. Most members holdsocially liberal views.[7]
The caucus has been described as beingcentrist[1][2] tocenter-left.[4][7]
When the119th Congress convened on January 3, 2025, the New Democrat Coalition touted 110 members (including one nonvoting member), accounting for more than half of all Democratic representatives and making it the largestHouse Democrat ideological caucus, followed by theCongressional Progressive Caucus.[8][9]
The New Democrat Coalition is a caucus within theHouse of Representatives founded in 1997[10] by RepresentativesCal Dooley,Jim Moran, andTim Roemer.[11]
The Coalition supported "Third Way" policies during the presidency ofBill Clinton. The Coalition consists ofliberal,moderate, andcentrist Democrats.[12][13] After the sharp decline of theBlue Dog Coalition in the 2010s, the New Democrat Coalition gained some of the Blue Dog Coalition's former clout by also having members fromswing seats.[14][15][16]
The group is known as fiscallymoderate[17][18] and pro-business. For example, the New Democrat Coalition supportsfree trade and thehigh-tech sector.[19][20] The New Democrat Coalition also supportsimmigration reform.[4]
Ideologically, it is positioned between theHouse Progressive Caucus and theBlue Dog Coalition.[21] The Coalition has been described as bothsocially liberal andfiscally moderate-to-conservative.[22][23]
The NDC advocates "working to bridge the partisan divide with a solutions-oriented approach to politics", combatingclimate change, transitioning tosustainable energy, increased access towards healthcare, and strengtheningU.S. national security.[24]
According to their Economic Opportunity Agenda,[25] they value thediversification and strengthening of global supply chains, the enaction of legislation to address current constraints to global trade, the reduction of costs for U.S. consumers, and to buttress theIndo-Pacific Economic Framework. They believe in a transparent exclusion process fromSection 301 tariffs, and pursuing free trade agreements with the United Kingdom, Kenya, and Taiwan. The NDC lays out their plan to the reduction ofenergy prices and the transition to sustainable energy by instituting the investments made in theInflation Reduction Act[26] and easing market barriers towards cleaner energy.
On April 3, 2019, RepresentativeAmi Bera introduced HR 2061,[27] proposing state market mechanisms to increase enrollment, particularly focusing on auto-enrollment for those qualifying for $0 premium health plans.
The New Democrat Coalition supports the right to travel for abortion, the protection of doctors who conduct abortions, and the enshrining of protections for reproductive care for servicewomen and military families.[28] They also support the codification of abortion rights as protected byRoe v. Wade.[29]
According to their National Security Principles[30] they value the modernization and sustainment of theU.S. Military, reinforcement ofAmerican internationalism, strengthening of regional commitments, reinforcing U.S.cybersecurity, andaddressing the deficit.
When it comes to cybersecurity, the New Democrat Coalition's cybersecurity task force[30] confronts digital security with fostering public-private information sharing, developing stronger defenses againstcyberwarfare andcyberterrorism, establishment of a strong pipeline of workers to address said cyberwarfare and cyberterrorism, investment into stronger defenses in the public and private sectors, and securing theInternet of Things.
According to the NDC's Principles for U.S. Climate Policy,[31] they propose American global coordination towards climate solutions, transition to aclean energy economy, enacting climate-forward policies towards disaster relief and the transition of local communities to a sustainable energy grid, and recommitting to theParis Agreement.
On October 12, 2023, five days after theOctober 7 attack on Israel, the NDC endorsed a bipartisan resolution onstanding with Israel and unequivocally condemningHamas.[32] Later, on October 20, they endorsed Biden's request for supplemental funding for both Israel andUkraine.[citation needed]
On April 20, 2024, the NDC affirmed their commitment to Ukraine by endorsing theUkraine Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2024.[33] They would later applaud the success of the bill on April 23.[34]
| Election year | Democratic seats | ± |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 74 / 212 |  |
| 2002 | 73 / 205 |  1 |
| 2004 | 74 / 202 |  1 |
| 2006 | 63 / 233 | 11 |
| 2008 | 59 / 257 | 4 |
| 2010 | 42 / 193 | 17 |
| 2012 | 53 / 201 | 11 |
| 2014 | 46 / 188 | 7 |
| 2016 | 61 / 194 | 15 |
| 2018 | 103 / 233 | 42 |
| 2020 | 94 / 222 | 9 |
| 2022 | 94 / 213 | |
| 2024 | 109 / 215 | 15 |
Current caucus rules only allow for a single chair who serves a single, 2-year term. However, when the caucus began it permitted multiple chairs and 4-year terms.[35]
| Start | End | Chair(s) | District |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 2001 | Cal Dooley | CA-20 |
| Jim Moran | VA-08 | ||
| Tim Roemer | IN-03 | ||
| 2001 | 2005 | Jim Davis | FL-11 |
| Ron Kind | WI-03 | ||
| Adam Smith | WA-09 | ||
| 2005 | 2009 | Ellen Tauscher | CA-10 |
| 2009 | 2013 | Joe Crowley | NY-07 |
| 2013 | 2017 | Ron Kind | WI-03 |
| 2017 | 2019 | Jim Himes | CT-04 |
| 2019 | 2021 | Derek Kilmer | WA-06 |
| 2021 | 2023 | Suzan DelBene | WA-01 |
| 2023 | 2025 | Annie Kuster | NH-02 |
| 2025 | present | Brad Schneider | IL-10 |
As of the118th United States Congress, the Coalition's leaders[36] are as follows:
As of August 11, 2025, the New Democrat Coalition had 116 members. Those members include 115U.S. Representatives and onenon-voting delegate of the House of Representatives.[37] Of these, 85 were reelected in the2024 United States House of Representatives elections, while 25 non-incumbents endorsed by the caucus PAC were elected to congress.Kevin Mullin,Brad Sherman,Jahana Hayes,Dan Goldman,Mike Levin, andJames Walkinshaw joined the caucus at a later point.
Non-voting
The NewDem Action Fund, formerly known as the NewDemPAC,[38] is the campaign arm of the caucus.[39]