Democratic Officials Gather for “Crooked Con” as a Counter to Conservative Gatherings
This Friday, Democratic officials, strategists, and activists will converge in Washington for the inaugural “Crooked Con,” an event proudly presented by the podcast powerhouse “Pod Save America.” This gathering is being dubbed the left’s answer to the Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC), as they seek to carve out a space for progressive discourse.
The event will showcase a roster of potential candidates for the 2028 presidential race, featuring notable figures like Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy, Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, and California Representative Ro Khanna. Additionally, influential voices such as Brian Tyler Cohen and Hasan Piker will share the spotlight with Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin and Representatives Pramila Jayapal (Washington), Janelle Bynum (Oregon), and Sarah McBride (Delaware).
Creating a Unified Front on the Left
Shaniqua McClendon, Vice President of Political Strategy at Vote Save America, expressed the event’s purpose: “We aimed to establish a forum for discussing the pressing issues on our side and the transformative changes we need to implement. The right has certainly excelled in this regard.”
Strategic Timing for a Midterm Campaign Launch
Coinciding with this event is the launch of Vote Save America’s campaign initiative for the upcoming 2026 midterms. In a reveal to POLITICO, the organization, which is aligned with Pod Save America and Crooked Media, announced plans to allocate over $250,000 to more than six grassroots organizations. To date, they have successfully raised $1.5 million in preparation for the midterms.
McClendon highlighted the necessity of fortifying Democratic infrastructure, noting that many organizations faced funding shortages in 2023 and 2024 after former President Donald Trump regained the White House and Republicans maintained control of Congress. “Those funding gaps in 2024, I do think it had an impact,” she admitted.
Rethinking Donations and Support for Long-term Success
“My aspiration is to inspire donors to reconsider how they invest in our political landscape,” McClendon remarked. “While I’m not suggesting we should withdraw our financial support from candidates, we must adopt a more strategic approach to nurturing the infrastructure that operates continuously—not just during election seasons.”
Since its inception during Trump’s first term, Vote Save America has raised an impressive $70 million for various candidates and organizations. The group boasts a robust volunteer email list of 600,000, indicating a significant grassroots presence willing to mobilize for Democratic causes.
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