WHO ARE THE BLUE DOGS?
A Different Kind of Democrat for 30 Years and Counting
The Blue Dog Coalition was born in 1995, in the wake of a crushing Democratic Party wipeout in the 1994 midterm elections.
Founded by a group of Democrats who believed their party and their country were being “choked blue” by political extremes, the founding Blue Dogs believed commonsense leadership, national security, fiscal responsibility, and loyalty to their local communities ahead of any predetermined political agenda weren’t just old-school values:
they were the keys to a stronger country, and a Democratic Party that could consistently win national elections.
At a time when the country felt like it was being pushed apart, Blue Dogs stood in the middle of a political firefight, committed to bridging divides and delivering real results for the people they served.
In the years since, Blue Dogs have pushed back against extremism and go-for-broke partisanship, insisting on good governance, sound policymaking, independent thinking, and representation that prioritizes place over party – no matter who is in the White House or in the majority in Congress. Blue Dogs built a reputation for overperforming the rest of the Democratic Party in tough elections, and for putting in the work to build a safer and stronger America for everyone.
What We Stand For
Leadership that puts people over party and service before self
Fiscal stability for our government and our economy, driven by America’s long-term national interests not by two-year political cycles
National defense strategies that keep our country safe and our borders secure in an unpredictable, ever-changing world
Place-based representation that honors the dignity of work, land, faith, and service
Real independence from the noisy, performative politics of the national stage
We believe
True political courage is demonstrated by actions, not by statements of ideology.
Working Americans deserve more than talk and finger-pointing at political opponents
The future of the Democratic Party runs through rural counties, timber towns, and overlooked main streets as much as it does big downtowns and booming suburbs.
Americans don’t have to choose between their values and their neighbors, and the best political leaders don’t try to pit Americans against one another
A NEW GENERATION OF BLUE DOGS
As the Democratic Party reels from its 2024 losses and America becomes ever-more politically divided, the Blue Dogs are helping lead their party out of the political wilderness and their country out of a toxic political morass. Today’s Blue Dogs are picking up the mantle of the founding Blue Dogs and building a political coalition that’s bigger, bolder, and better than ever – a political force that’s relevant to the voters who Democrats lost in 2024 and capable of winning tough, competitive, modern campaigns
Under the leadership of five Members of Congress – Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington, Jared Golden of Maine, Adam Gray and Lou Correa of California, and Vicente Gonzalez of Texas – , the Blue Dog Coalition is demonstrating what it means to lead with integrity, serve your community, and stand up to the extremes on both sides in today’s political climate.
Blue Dogs are not here to perform. They are here to deliver.
Blue Dogs come from working-class roots, rural communities, representing districts where plenty of Americans still split their tickets and vote for Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. Blue Dogs represent the places in America the national parties often forget about, but Blue Dogs don’t forget where they’re from and who they serve.
Like the people they represent, Blue Dogs are builders. Listeners. Fixers. Veterans. Parents. Small business owners. Blue Dogs are real leaders who’ve never stopped believing in the promise of local representation and personal responsibility. And they’re doing the hard work of winning back voters others gave up on.
We’re not stuck in the middle. We’re building the bridge.
Because at the end of the day, the best ideas don’t come from a political playbook. They come from the people.
Where We’re Headed
In election cycle after election cycle, Blue Dogs have been the top electoral overperformers in the House of Representatives. We win where others lose, flip seats others write off, and work to restore trust in places that had nearly given up on politics altogether.
In 2026, the path to a Democratic majority in the House runs through Trump-won districts. And no one is better positioned to win those seats than the Blue Dogs.
That’s why Blue Dog Action exists:
to elevate this coalition, empower these candidates, and build the cultural, strategic, and financial infrastructure for a durable majority rooted in service, courage, and the common good.
Blue Dog Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization that promotes Blue Dog policies, ideas, and leadership that rise above partisan division and aim to improve the lives of everyday Americans. BDA PAC is a federal political action committee that works to re-elect and elect Blue Dog incumbents and candidates for Congress.