What happens after a progressive candidate inspires formerly disaffected voters? In my city:

[femmedem]

Five years ago, an unknown progressive candidate ran for mayor of my small city. His first campaign volunteers were folks he knew from our local gay community, people with no political experience. He ran to change the I'll-scratch-your-back/you-scratch-my-back system; he ran to support our schools; he ran to improve the level of services provides to lower income neighborhoods; he ran to ensure that minorities in our city were not targeted by our police.

In the process, he inspired many new voters, unaffiliated voters and disillusioned voters to register as Democrats. He swept the youth vote, the artists, the poor. He didn't do well with the establishment, but he won. (It helped that his opponent had some highly publicized problems, and our local media liked him.)

Now that he is no longer our mayor, what happened to the people who supported him? One is running for State Senate. One is on our Board of Education. Two are on our City Council. One is on our Board of Finance. Quite a few joined our Democratic Town Committee. These progressives are in a tight fight right now to prevent the more conservative members of our City Council from flat funding our schools (for the sixth time in nine years.) A lot of us canvassed for Sanders. Sanders won handily in our city last night in a primary with a record turnout.

By the way, Sanders inspired another young voter to join our DTC this spring.

Sometimes it takes a charismatic and brave leader to light a flame, a flame that can Bern for another generation. To disappointed Sanders supporters, I say don't let discouragement keep you from being active. What Sanders has done is remarkable. Now to be really successful--in a way that has nothing to do with the White House--he needs a mountain of his supporters to step up and change our country one community at a time.

[ViseGrip]

1. I will not reward any of the democratic shenanigans and vote flipping this cycle.

Not my vote!

[femmedem]

2. In my state, at least, local DTC members elect their registrar.

I have to leave for work now so won't be able to reply to any other comments.

Edited to add: I live in a city of slightly under 30,000. The political establishment is not very many people. A few dozen organized people can make enormous change.

[djean111]

3. I will be active - but not for the GE, except for down-ticket, and not within the DNC.

Here in Florida, DWS runs things and things are pretty corrupt. She openly campaigns for GOP buddies and discourgaes liberals, and DWS does decide who gets DNC money and support.

I am now outside of the Democratic Party box, methinks - will not be associated in any way with what the Democratic Party now stands for - war, fracking, TPP, Third Way austerity, things like that, that used to define right-wingers. But I will be active.