Democratic Leadership Council

The Democratic Leadership Council is an influential non-profit corporation that advocates centrist and neoliberal positions for the United States Democratic Party. Moderate party leaders founded the DLC in response to the landslide victory of Republican candidate Ronald Reagan over Democratic candidate Walter Mondale during the 1984 Presidential election. The founders believed the United States Democratic Party needed to reform their political philosophy if they were to ever retake the White House, a goal which had eluded the Democrats since the 1976 election of Jimmy Carter. The DLC hails President Clinton as proof of the viability of third way politicians and a DLC success story. Critics contend that the DLC is effectively a powerful, corporate-financed mouthpiece within the Democratic party that acts to keep Democratic Party candidates and platforms sympathetic to corporate interests and the interests of the wealthy.

Former chairs

• President Bill Clinton
• Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana
• Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut
• Rep. Dave McCurdy of Oklahoma
• Sen. John Breaux of Louisiana
• Sen. Sam Nunn of Georgia
• Sen. Charles Robb of Virginia
• Former House Democratic Leader Rep. Richard Gephardt of Missouri.