View source for Blue Dog Coalition

{{Short description|Caucus for centrist members of the Democratic Party}}
{{Redirect|Blue Dogs|the American band formed in 1987|The Blue Dogs (band)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox political party
| name             = Blue Dog Coalition
| logo             = Blue Dog Coalition logo.svg{{!}}class=skin-invert
| logo_upright     = 0.7
| colorcode        = {{party color|Blue Dog Coalition}}
| leader1_title    = Co-Chairs
| leader1_name     = {{ubl|[[Marie Gluesenkamp Perez]] ([[Washington's 3rd congressional district|WA–3]])|[[Vicente Gonzalez (American politician)|Vicente Gonzalez]]<br/>([[Texas's 34th congressional district|TX–34]])|[[Lou Correa]] ([[California's 46th congressional district|CA–46]])}}
| foundation       = {{Start date and age|1995|2|14}}
| ideology         = {{ubl|class=nowrap
 |[[Cultural liberalism]]
 |[[Fiscal conservatism]]
 |'''Historical:'''
 |[[Social conservatism]]}}
| position         = {{ubl|class=nowrap|
 |[[Centrism|Center]]{{cref|A}}
}} '''Historical:'''<br>[[Center-right]]
| national         = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]
| colors           = {{color box|{{party color|Blue Dog Coalition}}|border=silver}} Blue
| seats2_title     = Seats in the [[House Democratic Caucus]]
| seats2           = {{composition bar|10|{{HouseDemocraticTally}}|{{party color|Blue Dog Coalition}}}}
| seats3_title     = Seats in the [[United States House of Representatives|House]]
| seats3           = {{composition bar|10|435|{{party color|Blue Dog Coalition}}}}
| website          = {{URL|https://bluedogs-gluesenkampperez.house.gov/}}
| country          = the United States
| footnotes        = {{cnote|A|Although the caucus is consistent of centrist members of the Democratic Party, the caucus has moved slightly to the left in recent years, leading to it also being described as [[center-left]].}}
}}

The '''Blue Dog Coalition''', commonly known as the '''Blue Dogs''' or '''Blue Dog Democrats''', is a [[Congressional caucus|caucus]] of [[Political moderate|moderate]] [[centrist]] members from the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] in the [[United States House of Representatives]].<ref name="U.S. House has fewer moderate Democrats">{{cite web|last1=Davis|first1=Susan|title=U.S. House has fewer moderate Democrats|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2012-02-02/moderate-blue-dog-democrats-house/52992548/1 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204165608/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2012-02-02/moderate-blue-dog-democrats-house/52992548/1 |archive-date=December 4, 2014|website=[[USA Today]]|access-date=July 23, 2014}}</ref><ref name="auto1"/> The caucus was founded as a group of [[conservative Democrat]]s in 1995 in response to defeats in the [[1994 United States elections|1994 elections]]. Historically, the Blue Dog Coalition has been both [[Fiscal conservatism|fiscally]] and [[Social conservatism in the United States|socially]] [[Conservative Democrat|conservative]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Duncan |first1=Philip P. |last2=Nutting |first2=Brian |title=CQ's politics in America: 2000, the 106th Congress |date=1999 |publisher=Congressional Quarterly, Inc |location=Washington, DC |isbn=9781568024714 |page=18 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hPEpAQAAIAAJ}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Solomon |first1=Norman |title=When the Leaders Lead, the People Have Sorrow |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/when-the-leaders-lead-the_b_586911 |access-date=January 13, 2023 |work=[[HuffPost]]|date=May 24, 2010}}</ref><ref name="Elections A to Z"/> At its peak in 2009, the Blue Dog Coalition numbered 54 members, accounting for 21% of the entire Democratic caucus at the time.<ref name="auto2">{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Jonathan |title=The Blue Dogs Are Barking Again |url=https://rollcall.com/2018/05/23/the-blue-dogs-are-barking-again/ |access-date=October 26, 2023 |work=[[Roll Call]] |date=May 23, 2018}}</ref>

In the late 2010s and early 2020s, the coalition's focus shifted towards ideological [[centrism]] and [[constituency]]-based politics;<ref name="Mendoza"/><ref name="The Washington Post">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/08/08/blue-dog-democrats-congress-new-leaders/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9 |title=Dwindling Blue Dog Democrats look to stage a comeback for moderates| newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=August 8, 2023}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite book|editor=Ruth Bloch Rubin |title=Building the Bloc: Intraparty Organization in the US Congress |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bLYrDwAAQBAJ&q=centrist+Blue+Dog+Coalition&pg=PA188 |quote= In contrast to the halting mobilization of Insurgent Republicans and southern Democrats, the Blue Dogs' adoption of ... ideological bonafides, the Coalition worked to establish a Blue Dog brand and associate it with support for centrist policies. |date=2017 |page=188 |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|isbn=9781316510421 }}</ref> however, the coalition maintained an emphasis on fiscal responsibility.<ref name="Brindisi"/> The Blue Dog Coalition remains the most conservative grouping of Democrats in the House.<ref name="auto2"/>

As of 2025, the caucus has 10 members.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last1=Mutnick |first1=Ally |last2=Ferris |first2=Sarah |date=January 24, 2023 |title=Blue Dog Coalition Membership |url=https://bluedogdems.com/ |access-date=January 24, 2023 |website=Blue Dog Coalition}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=September 6, 2023 |title=Members {{!}} Blue Dog Coalition |url=http://bluedogcaucus-golden.house.gov/members |access-date=April 24, 2024 |website=bluedogcaucus-golden.house.gov |language=en}}</ref>

== Electoral results ==
=== House of Representatives ===
{|class=wikitable
|-
! Congress
! Democratic seats
! ±
|-
! [[1994 United States House of Representatives elections|104th (1994)]]
| {{composition bar|29|204|hex=#01346E}}
| {{steady}}
|-
! [[1996 United States House of Representatives elections|105th (1996)]]
| {{composition bar|28|207|hex=#01346E}}
| {{decrease}} 1
|-
! [[1998 United States House of Representatives elections|106th (1998)]]
| {{composition bar|34|211|hex=#01346E}}
| {{increase}} 6
|-
! [[2000 United States House of Representatives elections|107th (2000)]]
| {{composition bar|35|212|hex=#01346E}}
| {{increase}} 1
|-
! [[2002 United States House of Representatives elections|108th (2002)]]
| {{composition bar|38|205|hex=#01346E}}
| {{increase}} 3
|-
! [[2004 United States House of Representatives elections|109th (2004)]]
| {{composition bar|38|202|hex=#01346E}}
| {{steady}}
|-
! [[2006 United States House of Representatives elections|110th (2006)]]
| {{composition bar|56|233|hex=#01346E}}
| {{increase}} 18
|-
! [[2008 United States House of Representatives elections|111th (2008)]]
| {{composition bar|65|257|hex=#01346E}}
| {{increase}} 9
|-
! [[2010 United States House of Representatives elections|112th (2010)]]
| {{composition bar|28|193|hex=#01346E}}
| {{decrease}} 37
|-
! [[2012 United States House of Representatives elections|113th (2012)]]
| {{composition bar|19|201|hex=#01346E}}
| {{decrease}} 9
|-
! [[2014 United States House of Representatives elections|114th (2014)]]
| {{composition bar|15|188|hex=#01346E}}
| {{decrease}} 4
|-
! [[2016 United States House of Representatives elections|115th (2016)]]
| {{composition bar|18|193|hex=#01346E}}
| {{increase}} 3
|-
! [[2018 United States House of Representatives elections|116th (2018)]]
| {{composition bar|27|235|hex=#01346E}}
| {{increase}} 9
|-
! [[2020 United States House of Representatives elections|117th (2020)]]
| {{composition bar|19|222|hex=#01346E}}
| {{decrease}} 8
|-
! [[2022 United States House of Representatives elections|118th (2022)]]
| {{composition bar|11|213|hex=#01346E}}
| {{decrease}} 8
|-
! [[2024 United States House of Representatives elections|119th (2024)]]
| {{composition bar|10|215|hex=#01346E}}
| {{decrease}} 1
|}

== Overview and history ==
{{Centrism US|orgs}}
The Blue Dog Coalition was formed in 1995<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rollcall.com/news/blue-dogs|title=20&nbsp;years in, Blue Dogs not ready to roll over |first1=Emma |last1=Dumain |date=May 12, 2015 |website=rollcall.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://ross.house.gov/BlueDog/history.htm |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20120405021833/http://ross.house.gov/BlueDog/history.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 5, 2012 |title=History |publisher=Blue Dog Coalition |website=ross.house.gov/BlueDog/ |access-date=April 10, 2012}}</ref> during the [[104th United States Congress|104th Congress]] to give members from the Democratic Party representing conservative-leaning districts a unified voice after the Democrats' loss of Congress in the [[1994 United States House of Representatives elections|1994]] [[Republican Revolution]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Naftali |last=Bendavid |date=July 28, 2009 |title='Blue Dog' Democrats hold health care overhaul at bay |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref>

The term "Blue Dog Democrat" is credited to [[Texas]] Democratic Representative [[Pete Geren]] (who later joined the [[George W. Bush administration]]). Geren opined that the members had been "choked blue" by "extreme" Democrats on the left.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wordcraft.infopop.cc/Archives/2004-11-Nov.htm |title=Wordcraft Archives, November 2004 |website=Wordcraft.infopop.cc |access-date=February 23, 2016}}</ref> It is related to the political term "[[Yellow Dog Democrat]]", a reference to [[Southern Democrats]] said to be "so loyal they would even vote for a yellow dog before they would vote for any Republican". The term also refers to the "Blue Dog" paintings of [[Cajun]] artist [[George Rodrigue]] of [[Lafayette, Louisiana]] as the original members of the coalition would regularly meet in the offices of Louisiana representatives [[Billy Tauzin]] and [[Jimmy Hayes]], both of whom later joined the Republican Party – both also had Rodrigue's paintings on their walls.<ref name="bluedog.time">{{cite news |last=Suddath |first=Claire |title=A Brief History of Blue Dog Democrats |magazine=Time |date=July 28, 2009 |url=http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1913057,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090731112633/http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1913057,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 31, 2009 |access-date=September 7, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Safire |first=William |title=On Language; Blue Dog Demo |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=April 23, 1995 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/04/23/magazine/on-language-blue-dog-demo.html |access-date=September 7, 2009}}</ref> An additional explanation for the term cited by members is "when dogs are not let into the house, they stay outside in the cold and turn blue", a reference to the Blue Dogs' belief they had been left out of a party that they believed had shifted to the political left.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bluedogs.us/index.htm |title=Blue Dog Democrats |website=Bluedogs.us |date=November 4, 2008 |access-date=March 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090714232550/http://bluedogs.us/index.htm|archive-date=July 14, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> At one time, first-term Blue Dogs were nicknamed 'Blue Pups'.<ref name="bluedog.time" /> Starting in the twenty-first century, the caucus began shifting its ideology and began adopting more socially liberal stances in order to align more closely with mainstream Democratic Party political values.<ref name="Mendoza">{{cite web |last1=Mendoza |first1=Jessica |title=Centrist Democrats are back. But these are not your father's Blue Dogs. |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2019/0604/Centrist-Democrats-are-back.-But-these-are-not-your-father-s-Blue-Dogs |website=[[Christian Science Monitor]] |date=June 4, 2019}}</ref>

=== Disputes within the Democratic Party ===
Many Blue Dogs voted for [[George W. Bush]]'s [[Bush tax cuts]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kitchener |first=Caroline |date=2017-12-19 |title=What the Decline of Blue Dog Democrats Tells Us About American Politics |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/membership/archive/2017/12/what-the-decline-of-blue-dog-democrats-tells-us-about-american-politics/548813/ |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=The Atlantic |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2007, 15&nbsp;Blue Dogs in safe seats rebelled, and refused to contribute party dues to the [[Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee]]. An additional 16&nbsp;Blue Dogs did not pay any money to the DCCC, but were exempt from party-mandated contributions because they were top GOP targets for defeat in 2008. One reason for the party-dues boycott was contained in remarks made by Rep. [[Lynn Woolsey]] of [[California]], encouraging leaders of [[anti-war]] groups to field primary challenges to any Democrat who did not vote to end the [[war in Iraq]]. Woolsey later stated that she was misunderstood, but the Blue Dogs continued the boycott. Donations to party congressional committees are an important source of funding for the party committees, permitting millions of dollars to be funneled back into close races.<ref>{{cite web |last=Bresnahan |first=John |title=Blue Dogs refuse to pony up for DCCC |publisher=[[Politico]] |date=October 24, 2007 |url=http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=CF01E1BF-3048-5C12-00AB01E6FB9129B8 |access-date=November 1, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071026053746/http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=CF01E1BF-3048-5C12-00AB01E6FB9129B8 |archive-date=October 26, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Role in the passage of the ACA ===
[[File:President Obama meets with the Democratic Blue Dog coalition in the State Dining Room..jpg|thumb|250px|[[President of the United States|President]] [[Barack Obama]] meets with Blue Dog Democrats on February 10, 2009]]
In the summer of 2009, ''[[The Economist]]'' said the following regarding the Blue Dog Coalition: "The debate over health care ... may be the pinnacle of the group's power so far." ''The Economist'' quoted Charlie Stenholm, a founding Blue Dog, as stating that "This is the first year for the new kennel in which their votes are really going to make a difference".<ref>{{cite news |title=The Democratic Party's centrists: Blue Dog days |magazine=The Economist|date=July 30, 2009 |url=https://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14140214}}</ref> In July 2009, Blue Dog members, who were committee members of the [[House Energy and Commerce Committee]], successfully delayed the House vote on the Health Insurance Reform Bill (HR3200) until after the summer recess.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://silverbuzzcafe.com/?p=2649 |title=Are the Blue Dogs really working for you? |publisher=Silver Buzz Cafe |website=Silverbuzzcafe.com |date=August 20, 2009 |access-date=March 17, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cwla.org/advocacy/monitoronline-issueHL.asp?ISSUEID=244 |publisher=Child Welfare League of America |title=Two House Committees Approve Health Reform Bill|date=July 27, 2009 |access-date=February 26, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616160410/http://cwla.org/advocacy/monitoronline-issueHL.asp?ISSUEID=244 |archive-date=June 16, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It was during this recess that the term 'Obamacare' was first derisively adopted by Republicans on Capitol Hill.<ref name="CNN20120625Obamacare">{{cite news |last=Wallace |first=Gregory |title='Obamacare': The word that defined the health care debate |url=https://www.cnn.com/2012/06/25/politics/obamacare-word-debate/index.html |publisher=[[CNN]]|access-date=February 26, 2013 |date=June 25, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712181901/http://articles.cnn.com/2012-06-25/politics/politics_obamacare-word-debate_1_health-reform-law-health-care-affordable-care-act?_s=PM%3APOLITICS |archive-date=July 12, 2012}}</ref> Blue Dog opposition to a potential [[Public health insurance option|"public option"]] within Obamacare, together with the contentious town hall meetings faced by House members during the 2009 summer recess, gave the healthcare bill's Republican opponents the opportunity to further escalate their attacks on Obamacare. The Blue Dog's refusal to include the pre-recess bill's public option, subsequently forced that central feature to be dropped from ACA's final text.<ref>{{cite news |last=Stolberg |first=Sheryl Gay |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/18/health/policy/18talkshows.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 |title='Public Option' in Health Plan may be dropped |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> On Nov. 7, 2009, the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] passed the [[Affordable Health Care for America Act]] 220 - 215<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 November 2009 |title=FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 887 |url=https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll887.xml |access-date=4 January 2025 |website=U.S. HOUSE CLERK}}</ref> - a bill that would "provide health coverage to almost every American.”<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Connor |first=Patrick |date=2009-11-07 |title=House passes historic health bill |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2009/11/house-passes-historic-health-bill-029282}}</ref> While, a majority of the Blue Dogs actually voted for that final healthcare bill, by a 28 to 24 margin, they did so with that central public option removed from the ACA’s final passage.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ostermeier |first=Dr Eric |date=2009-11-10 |title=All About the 39 Democrats Voting 'No' to the Affordable Health Care for America Act |url=https://smartpolitics.lib.umn.edu/2009/11/10/all-about-the-39-democrats-vot/ |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=Smart Politics |language=en-US}}</ref>
 
''The Washington Post'' stated that the Blue Dogs, with over 50 members, were the most influential voting bloc in the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] in 2010.<ref name="blue-dog-regroup">{{cite news |last1=Kane |first1=Paul |date=January 15, 2014 |title=Blue Dog Democrats, whittled down in number, are trying to regroup |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/blue-dog-democrats-whittled-down-in-number-are-trying-to-regroup/2014/01/15/37d4e7e2-7dfd-11e3-95c6-0a7aa80874bc_story.html |url-status=live |access-date=July 23, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116091758/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/blue-dog-democrats-whittled-down-in-number-are-trying-to-regroup/2014/01/15/37d4e7e2-7dfd-11e3-95c6-0a7aa80874bc_story.html |archive-date=January 16, 2014 |quote=Four years ago, they were the most influential voting bloc on Capitol Hill, more than 50 House Democrats pulling their liberal colleagues to a more centrist, fiscally conservative vision on issues such as health care and Wall Street reforms.}}</ref>

=== 2010s decline ===
The Blue Dog Coalition suffered serious losses in the [[2010 United States elections|2010 midterm elections]], losing over half of its seats to Republican challengers. Its members, who were roughly one quarter of the Democratic Party's caucus in the 111th Congress, accounted for half of the party's midterm election losses.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nation.foxnews.com/blue-dog-democrats/2010/11/03/blue-dogs-shaved-half |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726103307/http://nation.foxnews.com/blue-dog-democrats/2010/11/03/blue-dogs-shaved-half |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 26, 2011 |publisher=[[Fox News]] |date=November 3, 2010 |title=Blue Dogs shaved in half – Blue Dog Democrats |series=Fox Nation}}</ref> Including retirements, Blue Dog numbers in the House were reduced from 59 members in 2009 to 26 members in 2011.<ref name="mcclatchydc.com"/> Two of the coalition's four leaders ([[Stephanie Herseth Sandlin]] and [[Baron Hill (politician)|Baron Hill]]) failed to secure re-election.<ref>{{cite web |last=Allen |first=Jonathan |url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/on-congress/2010/11/blue-dog-wipeout-half-of-caucus-gone-030524?showall |title=Blue Dog wipeout: Half of caucus gone |date=November 3, 2010 |publisher=[[Politico]]|access-date=February 23, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://opinion.latimes.com/opinionla/2010/11/a-vanishing-breed-blue-dogs.html |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |title=A vanishing breed: Blue Dogs |date=November 3, 2010}}</ref>

The caucus shrank even more in the [[2012 United States House of Representatives elections|2012 House of Representatives elections]], decreasing in size from 27 to 14&nbsp;members. Speculation ensued that the centrist [[New Democrat Coalition]] would fill the power vacuum created by the Blue Dog Coalition's decline.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/134961-new-dems-hope-to-be-a-force-in-113th-congress/ |website=The Hill |title=New Dems hope to be a force in 113th Congress |date=November 17, 2012}}</ref> Opposition to the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]] and climate change legislation are believed to have contributed to the defeat of two conservative Democrats in the [[United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, 2012|2012 House elections in Pennsylvania]] by more liberal opponents.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/why-the-blue-dogs-decline-was-inevitable/2012/04/25/gIQAhOw8gT_blog.html |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |title=Why the Blue Dogs' decline was inevitable |date=April 25, 2012}}</ref>

In the 2016 elections, future Blue Dogs accounted for over half of the Democrats' gains in the House.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.politico.com/interactives/2017/blue-dogs-map-congress-democrats-win/ |title=The Blue Dog map is changing. It may even help Democrats win Republican districts |date=2017 |publisher=[[Politico]]}}</ref> In 2018, for the first time since 2006, the [[Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee]] partnered with the Blue Dog PAC (the Blue Dog Coalition's political organization) to recruit candidates in competitive districts across the country.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/07/24/democrats-blue-dogs-eye-2018-comeback-240813 |title=Blue Dogs eye comeback in 2018 |date=2017 |publisher=[[Politico]]}}</ref> After the [[2018 United States House of Representatives elections|2018 House of Representatives elections]], the caucus grew from 18 members to 24.<ref name="mcclatchydc.com">{{cite web |url=https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/congress/article224896090.html |title=Shutdown, health care, budget: How moderate House Democrats will influence the party |website=mcclatchydc}}</ref> All incumbents were re-elected and Rep. [[Kyrsten Sinema]] was elected to the U.S. Senate from Arizona.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/progressive-caucus-new-dems-blue-dogs-prepare-growth|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113144252/http://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/progressive-caucus-new-dems-blue-dogs-prepare-growth|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 13, 2018|title=House Democratic Factions All See Gains After Midterms |date=November 13, 2018 |website=Roll Call}}</ref> The caucus also added 11 new members who defeated Republican incumbents in the 2018 election in districts that had voted for Donald Trump in 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/blue-dog-democrats-are-poised-to-play-a-crucial-role-in-the-next-congress/2018/12/13/4d8168ae-ff1c-11e8-83c0-b06139e540e5_story.html|title=Blue Dog Democrats are poised to play a crucial role in the next Congress|last=Rogin|first=Josh|date=December 13, 2018|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=February 17, 2020}}</ref>

=== 2020s ===
The Democratic Party lost seats in the [[2020 United States House of Representatives elections|2020]] and [[2022 United States House of Representatives elections|2022]] House of Representatives elections, including the Blue Dog Coalition. As of April 2024, during the [[118th United States Congress|118th Congress]], the coalition had 10 members.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/minutes/congress/05-24-2023/foxx-vs-frost-on-student-loans/|title=The Blue Dog Coalition is adding a new member to their centrist ranks, alongside a fresh 'fishing states' leadership group|first=Sarah|last=Ferris|date=May 24, 2023|work=[[Politico]]|access-date=January 4, 2025}}</ref>

At the start of the [[118th United States Congress|118th Congress]] in January 2023, six of the 15 members of the Coalition departed following a failed attempt to rename the group to the "Common Sense Coalition".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blue Dogs Devour Themselves Over Effort to Rebrand as 'Common Sense Coalition' {{!}} Common Dreams |url=https://www.commondreams.org/news/blue-dog-democrats-leaving |access-date=April 21, 2024 |website=www.commondreams.org |language=en}}</ref> Freshman representative [[Don Davis (North Carolina politician)|Don Davis]], who was expected to join the Blue Dogs, also chose not to do so.<ref name=":0" /> After this split, the group reorganized and began an effort to stabilize, rebuild, and maintain influence on policy proposals in the closely divided 118th Congress.<ref>{{cite news |author=Mariana Sotomayor |date=August 8, 2023 |title=Dwindling Blue Dog Democrats look to stage a comeback for moderates in Congress |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/08/08/blue-dog-democrats-congress-new-leaders/}}</ref> The effort included a recruitment drive which prompted [[Mary Peltola]] (AK-AL), [[Marie Gluesenkamp Pérez]] (WA-03), and [[Wiley Nickel]] (NC-13) to join, bringing the number of members back up to 10.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Meyer |first1=Theodoric |last2=Caldwell |first2=Leigh Ann |date=August 8, 2023 |title=Analysis {{!}} Meet the new Blue Dogs |language=en-US |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/08/08/meet-new-blue-dogs/ |access-date=August 24, 2023 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> Under the leadership of Peltola, Perez, and Representative [[Jared Golden]], the caucus shifted its focus towards ideological [[centrism]] and pragmatic, constituency-based (especially rural and working-class) politics.<ref name="The Washington Post"/>

== Policy positions ==
The Blue Dog Coalition's positions are [[Cultural liberalism|socially liberal]] and [[fiscally conservative]].<ref name="Mendoza" /><ref name="Brindisi"/> Historically, the grouping adhered to [[social conservatism]].<ref name="Mendoza" /><ref name="blue dog decline">{{cite news|last=Blake|first=Aaron|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/why-the-blue-dogs-decline-was-inevitable/2012/04/25/gIQAhOw8gT_blog.html|title=Why the Blue Dogs' decline was inevitable|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=April 25, 2012|accessdate=February 23, 2016}}</ref> Although its members have evolved on social issues over time,<ref name="mcclatchydc.com"/> the group has never taken a position on social issues as a caucus.<ref name="Mendoza" /> Scholars and journalists positioned the group as [[centrist]]<ref name="U.S. House has fewer moderate Democrats"/><ref name="auto"/><ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/lobbyist-profiles/535835-lobbying-from-the-center |title=Lobbying from the center |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|date=January 26, 2021}}</ref> to [[center-left]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Caygle |first1=Heather |title=Centrist Democrats try new approach to Russia messaging |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/14/russia-messaging-democrats-409117 |website=[[POLITICO]] |access-date=July 19, 2022 |language=en |date=February 14, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Murad |first1=Yours |title=After a Year of Heated Debate, 'Medicare for All' Holds On to Voters' Majority Support |url=https://morningconsult.com/2020/01/31/after-year-heated-debate-medicare-for-all-holds-on-voters-majority-support/ |website=[[Morning Consult]] |access-date=July 19, 2022 |date=January 31, 2020}}</ref> and historically [[center-right]].<ref name="Elections A to Z">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x1ai7Vtiiu0C&q=%22blue+dog+coalition%22+%22center-right%22&pg=PA33|title=Elections A to Z|publisher=SAGE|date=2012|isbn=9780872897694|access-date=August 14, 2014}}</ref>

The Blue Dog Coalition is the most conservative grouping of Democrats in the House. It "advocates for fiscal responsibility, a strong national defense and bipartisan consensus rather than conflict with Republicans". It opposes legislation that its members perceive to be too far to the right or to the left on the political spectrum.<ref name="Brindisi">{{cite web|url=https://www.syracuse.com/politics/2019/02/anthony-brindisi-to-co-chair-blue-dogs-caucus-of-moderate-house-democrats.html|title=Anthony Brindisi to co-chair Blue Dogs, caucus of moderate House Democrats|first=Mark|last=Weiner|date=February 1, 2019|website=syracuse.com}}</ref> In the 2010s, the Blue Dogs became more demographically diverse and less conservative.<ref name="Mendoza"/>

The Blue Dog Coalition is often involved in searching for a compromise between [[Modern liberalism in the United States|liberal]] and [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]] positions, including [[Classical liberalism|classically liberal]] policies. Most of its members represent competitive [[Marginal seat|swing districts]], and are thus inclined to appeal to [[swing vote]]rs.<ref name="Mariana Sotomayor">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/08/08/blue-dog-democrats-congress-new-leaders/ | author=Mariana Sotomayor | date=August 8, 2023 | title=Dwindling Blue Dog Democrats look to stage a comeback for moderates in Congress | newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref>

== Membership ==
{{see also|List of members of the Blue Dog Coalition}}
[[File:Blue Dog Coalition in the 119th Congress.svg|thumb|right |upright=2|Blue Dog Coalition in the [[119th United States Congress]]]]
In the early years of the caucus, the Blue Dogs were viewed by some as the political successors to Southern Democratic groups such as the [[Boll weevil (politics)|Boll Weevils]] or [[conservative coalition]].<ref>Parties, Rules, and the Evolution of Congressional Budgeting, Lance T. LeLoup, 2005, pp. 185</ref><ref>Encyclopedia of American Parties, Campaigns, and Elections, William C. Binning et al, 1999, pp. 307.</ref> The Boll Weevils may, in turn, be considered the descendants of the [[Dixiecrats]] and the "[[states' rights]]" Democrats of the 1940s through the 1960s, and even the [[Bourbon Democrats]] of the late 19th century.<ref name="glossary">{{cite book|last=Thomson|first=Alex|title=A Glossary of U.S. Politics and Government|publisher=Stanford University Press|year=2007|page=[https://archive.org/details/glossaryofuspoli0000thom/page/14 14]|isbn=978-0-8047-5730-0|url=https://archive.org/details/glossaryofuspoli0000thom/page/14}}</ref>

In 2014, there was no mention of social issues in the official Blue Dog materials.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/2014/11/12/bye_bye_blue_dog_democrats_what_the_end_of_conservative_dems_means_for_america/|title=Bye-bye, blue dog "Democrats": What the end of conservative Dems means for America|last=Parton|first=Heather Digby|website=Salon|date=November 12, 2014 |access-date=December 24, 2016|quote=Not that the members weren't traditional values types. Most were. And they surely ran for office on those issues as well. But there is not one word in the official Blue Dog materials about social issues.}}</ref> By January 2019, McClatchy reported a transformation of the Blue Dogs from a coalition of 'southern white men' to 'a multi-regional, multicultural group.' At that time, the coalition included two African-American members, one Vietnamese-American, one Mexican-American, and only five members from Southern states.<ref name="mcclatchydc.com"/>

As of April 2024, the coalition included 10 members. At that point, the coalition's membership was smaller than it had ever been since its formation.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="Mariana Sotomayor"/>

=== Co-chairs ===
The co-chairs of the Blue Dog Coalition for the 119th Congress are U.S. representatives [[Lou Correa]], [[Vicente Gonzalez (American politician)|Vicente Gonzalez]], and [[Marie Gluesenkamp Pérez]].

{|class="wikitable sortable"
!scope="col" |Start
!scope="col" |End
!scope="col" |Chair for Administration
!scope="col" |Chair for Communications
!scope="col" |Chair for Policy
|-
|February 1995
|April 1995
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Gary|Condit}} (CA)
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|John|Tanner|dab=Tennessee politician}} (TN)
|{{sortname|Nathan|Deal}} (GA)
|-
|April 1995
|January 1999
|{{sortname|Collin|Peterson}} (MN)
|-
|January 1999
|January 2001
|{{sortname|Bud|Cramer}} (AL)
|{{sortname|Chris|John|dab=politician}} (LA)
|{{sortname|Charlie|Stenholm|Charles Stenholm}} (TX)
|-
|January 2001
|January 2003
|{{sortname|Chris|John|dab=politician}} (LA)
|{{sortname|Jim|Turner|dab=politician}} (TX)
|{{sortname|Allen|Boyd}} (FL)
|-
|January 2003
|January 2005
|{{sortname|Jim|Turner|dab=politician}} (TX)
|{{sortname|Baron|Hill|dab=politician}} (IN)
|{{sortname|Charlie|Stenholm|Charles Stenholm}} (TX)
|-
|January 2005
|January 2007
|{{sortname|Jim|Matheson}} (UT)
|{{sortname|Dennis|Cardoza}} (CA)
|{{sortname|Jim|Cooper}} (TN)
|-
|January 2007
|January 2009
|{{sortname|Allen|Boyd}} (FL)
|{{sortname|Mike|Ross|dab=politician}} (AR)
|{{sortname|Dennis|Moore|dab=politician}} (KS)
|-
|January 2009
|October 2009
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Stephanie|Herseth|Stephanie Herseth Sandlin}} (SD)
|{{sortname|Charlie|Melancon}} (LA)
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Baron|Hill|dab=politician}} (IN)
|-
|October 2009
|January 2011
|{{sortname|Jim|Matheson}} (UT)
|-
|January 2011
|January 2013
|{{sortname|Heath|Shuler}} (NC)
|{{sortname|Mike|Ross|dab=politician}} (AR)
|{{sortname|John|Barrow|dab=U.S. politician}} (GA)
|-
|January 2013
|January 2015
|{{sortname|John|Barrow|dab=U.S. politician}} (GA)
|{{sortname|Kurt|Schrader}} (OR)
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Jim|Cooper}} (TN)
|-
|January 2015
|January 2017
|{{sortname|Kurt|Schrader}} (OR)
|{{sortname|Jim|Costa}} (CA)
|-
|January 2017
|January 2019
|{{sortname|Jim|Costa}} (CA)
|{{sortname|Henry|Cuellar}} (TX)
|{{sortname|Dan|Lipinski}} (IL)
|-
|January 2019
|January 2021
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Stephanie|Murphy}} (FL)
|{{sortname|Lou|Correa}} (CA)
|{{sortname|Tom|O'Halleran}} (AZ)
|-
|January 2021
|January 2023
|{{sortname|Tom|O'Halleran}} (AZ)
|{{sortname|Ed|Case}} (HI)
|-
|January 2023
|May 2023
|colspan=2 align=center |{{sortname|Jared|Golden}} (ME)
|{{sortname|Jim|Costa}} (CA)
|-
|May 2023
|January 2025
|{{sortname|Jared|Golden}} (ME)
|{{sortname|Marie|Pérez|Marie Gluesenkamp Perez}} (WA)
|{{sortname|Mary|Peltola}} (AK)
|-
|January 2025
|present
|{{sortname|Marie|Pérez|Marie Gluesenkamp Perez}} (WA)
|{{sortname|Vicente|Gonzalez|dab=American politician}} (TX)
|{{sortname|Lou|Correa}} (CA)
|}

== Current members ==
{|class="wikitable sortable"; id="votingmembers"
|- style="vertical-align:bottom"
!State
!District
![[Cook Partisan Voting Index|CPVI]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-03 |title=2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress) |url=https://www.cookpolitical.com/cook-pvi/2025-partisan-voting-index/district-map-and-list |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=Cook Political Report |language=en}}</ref>
!Member
!Also a member of
|-
|rowspan=4 |[[California's congressional districts|California]]
|[[California's 4th congressional district|CA-4]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Democratic Party (United States)|D+17]]
|{{sortname|Mike|Thompson|dab=California politician}}
|-
|[[California's 13th congressional district|CA-13]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |[[Democratic Party (United States)|R+1]]
|{{sortname|Adam|Gray}}
|New Democrat Coalition
|-
|[[California's 21st congressional district|CA-21]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Democratic Party (United States)|D+4]]
|{{sortname|Jim|Costa}}
|New Democrat Coalition
|-
|[[California's 46th congressional district|CA-46]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Democratic Party (United States)|D+11]]
|{{sortname|Lou|Correa}}
|[[New Democrat Coalition]]
|-
|rowspan=1 |[[Georgia's congressional districts|Georgia]]
|[[Georgia's 2nd congressional district|GA-02]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Democratic Party (United States)|D+4]]
|{{sortname|Sanford|Bishop}}

|-
|rowspan=1 |[[Maine's congressional districts|Maine]]
|[[Maine's 2nd congressional district|ME-02]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |[[Democratic Party (United States)|R+4]]
|{{sortname|Jared|Golden}}
|-
|rowspan=1 |[[New Jersey's congressional districts|New Jersey]]
|[[New Jersey's 5th congressional district|NJ-05]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Democratic Party (United States)|D+2]]
|{{sortname|Josh|Gottheimer}}
|New Democrat Coalition
|-
|rowspan=2 |[[Texas's congressional districts|Texas]]
|[[Texas's 28th congressional district|TX-28]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |[[Democratic Party (United States)|R+2]]
|{{sortname|Henry|Cuellar}}
|New Democrat Coalition
|-
|[[Texas's 34th congressional district|TX-34]]
|{{Party shading/None}} |[[Democratic Party (United States)|EVEN]]
|{{sortname|Vicente|Gonzalez|dab=American politician}}
|New Democrat Coalition
|-
|rowspan=1 |[[Washington's congressional districts|Washington]]
|[[Washington's 3rd congressional district|WA-03]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |[[Democratic Party (United States)|R+2]]
|{{sortname|Marie|Gluesenkamp Perez}}
|}

== See also ==
* [[Congressional Progressive Caucus]]
* [[Factions in the Democratic Party (United States)|Factions in the Democratic Party]]
* [[New Democrat Coalition]]
* [[Republican Main Street Partnership]]
* [[Republican Governance Group]]
* [[Problem Solvers Caucus]]
* [[Left-conservatism]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{Official website}}

{{Ideological caucuses in the U.S. Congress}}
{{Democratic Party (United States)}}

[[Category:Centrism in the United States]]
[[Category:Centrist political advocacy groups in the United States]]
[[Category:Democratic Party (United States) organizations]]
[[Category:Factions in the Democratic Party (United States)]]
[[Category:Ideological caucuses of the United States Congress]]
[[Category:Political terminology of the United States]]