Indivisible

Indivisible Indivisible is a progressive grassroots advocacy organization formed in 2016 to influence American legislative and electoral politics. It grew from an online guide into a national network engaging activists across the United States, interacting with actors such as Congress members, the Democratic National Committee, and political media outlets. The organization has worked alongside groups like Planned Parenthood, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the League of Conservation Voters in coordinated campaigns.

Origins and History

Indivisible originated from a 2016 political memo authored by former congressional staffers Ezra Levin, Leah Greenberg, and Jeremy Haile, who had previously worked for offices on Capitol Hill including committees associated with the House of Representatives and the Senate. The memo circulated in the aftermath of the 2016 United States presidential election and was rapidly adopted by activists linked to the Democratic Party, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, and local chapters of organizations such as MoveOn and the Working Families Party. Early organizing drew on models used by the Obama White House, the Sanders 2016 presidential campaign, and protests following events like the Women's March and the March for Science. Expansion occurred through digital platforms including Twitter, Facebook, and NationBuilder, and through partnerships with labor unions like the AFL–CIO and political NGOs such as Common Cause.

Mission and Activities

Indivisible's mission emphasizes resisting policy decisions associated with the Trump administration and promoting progressive priorities aligned with the Democratic Party, including healthcare reform, voting rights, and climate action championed by organizations like the Sierra Club and Sunrise Movement. Activities include training sessions for activists modeled on community organizing techniques used by Acorn and the Industrial Areas Foundation, phone-banking coordinated with Emily's List, canvassing in coordination with state Democratic parties, and lobbying efforts directed at members of Congress including figures from the House Freedom Caucus and the Senate Democratic Caucus. The group has also participated in litigation strategies in concert with the ACLU and Alliance for Justice and coordinated endorsements during primary contests involving candidates from the Congressional Progressive Caucus and Democratic Socialists of America.

Organizational Structure and Funding

Indivisible operates as a nonprofit organization with a national leadership team and decentralized local chapters using a federated model similar to organizations like MoveOn and Indivisible-inspired coalitions aligned with state party infrastructures, including the California Democratic Party and the New York Democratic Committee. Leadership includes co-founders who have professional backgrounds tied to Capitol Hill staff roles, think tanks like the Center for American Progress, and advocacy firms that have worked with presidential campaigns such as Biden–Harris 2020. Funding sources have included small-dollar donations from grassroots supporters, grants from foundations associated with progressive giving, and contributions from political action committees sympathetic to progressive causes; parallels can be drawn to funding patterns seen at Planned Parenthood Action Fund and EMILY's List. Financial transparency discussions have referenced filings like IRS Form 990 and relationships with fiscal sponsors used by other nonprofits such as the Tides Center.

Major Campaigns and Impact

Indivisible mobilized activists for high-profile initiatives including efforts to oppose the repeal of the Affordable Care Act championed by advocates in the Senate and the House; campaigns supporting the confirmation battles over Supreme Court nominees who appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee; and organizing around the Green New Deal as advanced by members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and advocates from the Sunrise Movement. The group played a role in coordinated pressure during the impeachment inquiries and trials involving the House of Representatives and Senate proceedings, partnered with state-level campaigns affecting gubernatorial races in swing states like Michigan and Wisconsin, and supported voter mobilization parallel to get-out-the-vote operations run by the DNC and local election offices. Its tactics influenced media coverage in outlets like The New York Times, The Washington Post, MSNBC, and CNN and were cited in analyses by think tanks such as Brookings Institution and the Heritage Foundation.

Criticism and Controversies

Critics have challenged Indivisible on grounds similar to critiques leveled at other progressive organizations like Justice Democrats and MoveOn: accusations of contributing to polarization discussed in analyses by scholars at Harvard Kennedy School and Columbia University, concerns about coordination with party committees such as the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and debates over endorsements in primaries that mirrored tensions seen in contests involving figures affiliated with the Congressional Progressive Caucus and moderate Democrats. Controversies also addressed funding transparency compared to groups like the Koch network, internal disputes over strategy that echoed factional debates within the Democratic National Committee and labor-union alliances, and scrutiny during investigations into foreign influence and disinformation where several advocacy groups were subject to review by congressional oversight committees.

Category:Political organizations based in the United States