The Blue Dog Coalition was formed in 1995 by Democrats who were tired of the noise and ready to get to work. They built a caucus around three principles: fiscal responsibility, national security, and pragmatic solutions that last. Nearly three decades later, those principles still guide us.
We don’t measure success by press conferences or cable news hits. We measure it by the impact on people’s lives. That means writing budgets that add up, laws that strengthen communities, and policies that stand the test of time.
Balance the Federal Budget
We invest where value is real, and we pay for what we pass.
Protect Communities & Secure Our Border
We back our military, implement enforceable border policies, and work diligently to keep our communities safe.
Deliver for Working Families
We pass bills that bring down costs for working families by increasing access to childcare, housing, healthcare, and affordable energy.
The Blue Dog Coalition was created in 1995 to represent the commonsense, moderate voice of the Democratic Party, appealing to mainstream American values. The Blue Dogs are leaders in Congress who are committed to pursuing fiscally-responsible policies, ensuring a strong national defense, and transcending party lines to do what’s best for the American people.
The name “Blue Dog” was inspired by the famous Blue Dog paintings by Cajun artist George Rodrigue. The term is also based on the long-time tradition of referring to a strong Democratic Party supporter as being a “Yellow Dog Democrat,” who would have “sooner voted for a yellow dog than a Republican.” The founding members of the Blue Dogs said they felt that they had been “choked blue” by the extremes of both political parties, leading to the Coalition’s name.
Today, the Blue Dogs represent districts across the country. Our members come from competitive areas where people expect results, not rhetoric. We’re led by Co-Chairs Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Lou Correa, and Vicente Gonzalez, with Adam Gray chairing our PAC. Together, we’re building a coalition that stays rooted in common sense, puts people first, and governs with integrity.
