The Movement for a People's Party (MPP), also known simply as the People's Party, is a progressive political organization in the United States aimed at "forming a major new political party free of corporate money and influence".[4]
Nick Brana formed the party after the 2016 presidential election as "Draft Bernie for a People's Party." Bernie Sanders declined to be the People's Party's figurehead, instead again seeking the presidential nomination in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries.
The organization was founded by Nick Brana, who previously worked with the Bernie Sanders 2016 presidential campaign as the National Political Outreach Coordinator.[5] In 2017, Brana formed the group out of the "Draft Bernie for a People's Party",[1] which failed to gain Sanders's support.[6][7] The group gathered 50,000 signatures on a petition to present to Sanders[8] and held its first mass gathering, the "Convergence Conference", in Washington, D.C. "The ultimate goal is to replace the Democratic Party, it's not merely to create another party," said Brana in 2017.[9]
In 2018, the Movement for a People's Party posted its mission statement to pressure the major parties into adopting a progressive agenda.[10]
The organization held a virtual People's Convention on August 30, 2020.[11][12] The convention was covered live and viewed by 400,000 people on various platforms.[5][12]
Speakers at the convention included former Democratic Party 2020 presidential election candidate Marianne Williamson, former Harvard University professor and philosopher Cornel West, Sanders 2020 co-chair Nina Turner, former Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura, comedian/political commentator/satirist Jimmy Dore, journalist Chris Hedges and podcaster Ryan Knight.[12]