One year after the formation of their Union County chapter and four months after expansion into Hudson County, Progressive Democrats of New Jersey is launching chapters in six additional counties in the state: Bergen, Burlington, Essex, Middlesex, Morris, and Passaic.

The organization’s publicly stated purpose is to put the working class first and advocate for social, economic, racial, and environmental justice by promoting progressive policy, ideals, and values. PDNJ is also dedicated to establishing a fairer and more democratic system in New Jersey through the nomination and election of progressive candidates for offices at all levels of government.

In the short time since its inception, PDNJ and its affiliated chapters have had success leading several statewide initiatives. These include aiding dozens of progressive candidates in getting on the ballot for the primary, leading multiple days of action that pushed for a mostly Vote by Mail primary, and creating a pledge to get police union money out of campaigns. The New Jersey Progressive Legal Defense Fund, an associated 501(c)3, was also the primary funder of a recent federal lawsuit filed over the unconstitutional design of the New Jersey ballot.

In a joint statement, the PDNJ Board of Delegates said, “PDNJ serves an essential purpose in the framework of the general progressive movement. What we are doing is unprecedented in the state of New Jersey. Not only are we organizing electorally up and down the ballot statewide, but we are building the resources and technology that are needed for progressives to win and fix our broken system.”

The eight county chapters will be hosting virtual kickoff meetings and membership calls over the next few weeks to provide more information on how to get involved with the growing movement.