On Friday afternoon, PCCC held a press call to describe the next phase of its efforts: targeting “ALEC Democrats.” Over the coming days and weeks, the group and others will disseminate information about Democrats in government who align themselves with ALEC. The activists already have on board a coalition of progressive state legislators from Wisconsin, South Dakota, Montana, New Mexico, New York, and Washington, many of whom spoke with reporters today about the importance of getting more Democrats to denounce ALEC. “It’s a sham to project that [ALEC] is bipartisan in nature. And no Democrat should give aid and comfort to this organization by participating in it, to promote its alleged ‘bipartisanship,'” said New York State Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries.

On a Friday conference call with reporters and supporters, state legislators aligned with the PCCC called on their Democratic colleagues to part way with the organization, citing its involvement in legislation with which they disagreed. Some, including New York state assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries, who called the group a “sham,” were critical of ALEC’s role in “stand your ground” legislation, a law brought to national prominence in the February shooting death of Florida teen Trayvon Martin.

Joined by a handful of Democratic state officials, the grassroots organization Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC) announced today it will be targeting “bad Democrats” who are affiliated with ALEC to drop their association with the group. According to PCCC, there are 26 states with Democratic lawmakers that belong to ALEC. South Dakota state Sen. Angie Buhl said the group’s corporate agenda “is the antithesis of what we stand for as Democrats.”