About

Our Mission

America is neither right nor left. Republican nor Democrat. Red nor blue. The mainstream values and principles that will move us forward come from where they always have – the center. The center is where we leave our political labels and baggage at the door, to find commonsense solutions to America’s great challenges.
Center Forward brings together members of Congress, not-for-profits, academic experts, trade associations, corporations and unions to find common ground. Our mission: to give centrist allies the information they need to craft common sense solutions, and provide those allies the support they need to turn those ideas into results.

In order to meet our challenges we need to put aside the partisan bickering that has gridlocked Washington and come together to find common sense solutions. Join us in a conversation that moves America forward, at Center Forward.

History

Center Forward has its roots with moderate Democrats, who have always played a critical role in maintaining fiscal responsibility, supporting pro-growth business policies and leading meaningful reform. After the extreme polarization in the 2010 elections the organization was founded to give centrist Democrats and Republicans an opportunity to come together to tackle our country’s biggest problems. Founded by former members and staff of moderate Members of Congress who experienced firsthand how the legislative process became marred by the excessive polarization existing in politics, the organization serves a venue in which good ideas may be elevated, studied, discussed and developed.

After our incredible success, we saw an opportunity to further expand our reach and create more of an impact on the political discussion. In an effort to further include like-minded Republicans and Independents we renamed the organization Center Forward. Center Forward exists to elevate and give voice to the center of the American electorate. Through our year round programming, including hosting discussion dinners on the debt and deficit, corporate tax reform, and energy we invite various opinion leaders to discuss and share ideas Americans can rally around. In an effort to educate key leaders on and off the Hill, Center Forward conducts independent research on the important issues of the day including opinion research on how to best present those ideas to the general public.

Leadership

A message from the Chairman: The Honorable Robert “Bud” Cramer, Chairman

Over the past several years, partisan bickering has hamstrung Washington. The extremes of both parties have turned “compromise” into a bad word, attacking any and all Members who dare to reach across party lines to engage in honest and thoughtful debate on the issues facing Americans today.Unfortunately, we have a political system that reinforces this type of hyper-partisan rhetoric, rewarding Members who do nothing but move to their respective ideological corners and throw bombs at the opposing party.

Our country faces great challenges in the years ahead. The debt. High unemployment. Energy independence. Tax and entitlement reform. These are neither Republican nor Democratic issues, and finding long-term solutions will require the type of meaningful reform that is possible only when Republicans and Democrats have the courage to come together in an honest debate of the issues. The courage to compromise.

Over the past several years, partisan bickering has hamstrung Washington. The extremes of both parties have turned “compromise” into a bad word, attacking any and all Members who dare to reach across party lines to engage in honest and thoughtful debate on the issues facing Americans today.

Unfortunately, we have a political system that reinforces this type of hyper-partisan rhetoric, rewarding Members who do nothing but move to their respective ideological corners and throw bombs at the opposing party.Our country faces great challenges in the years ahead. The debt. High unemployment. Energy independence. Tax and entitlement reform. These are neither Republican nor Democratic issues, and finding long-term solutions will require the type of meaningful reform that is possible only when Republicans and Democrats have the courage to come together in an honest debate of the issues. The courage to compromise.

In my experience, neither party has a monopoly on good ideas. The moderates provide a necessary insurance policy against the parties in control of Congress and the White House, preventing both sides from straying too far to the extreme.

This is why Center Forward is an organization dedicated to taking a practical approach to addressing the partisan gridlock in Congress. Self-identified moderates and independents are growing by the millions every presidential election year; it’s time they have an advocate in Washington, D.C.

Center Forward is not only working to provide a forum for reasonable cross-party dialogue in Washington, but we are committed to putting considerable resources behind candidates who are willing to reach across the aisle in the best interest of the country.

This is no easy task, but we have always been and always will be a centrist nation. Elected officials and decision-makers in Washington have a responsibility to the American people to work together to confront our challenges head on. Center Forward will be sure to hold them to task.

Cori Kramer, Executive Director

Cori Kramer currently serves as the Executive Director of Center Forward. In this capacity, Kramer leads Center Forward’s efforts to provide centrist allies the information and support they need to craft common sense policy solutions to the challenges facing the country today.

Kramer has almost two decades of experience in public policy, political service and campaign management. Prior to her position at Center Forward, she served as chief of staff to two moderate Members of Congress, including Congressman Brad Ellsworth of Indiana and Congressman Mike Ross of Arkansas.

In addition to her widespread involvement on Capitol Hill, Kramer has extensive experience managing campaigns in competitive congressional districts and states across the country. She managed Congressman Mike Ross’ successful re-election campaign, Congressman Charlie Stenholm’s re-election campaign and Congressman Brad Ellsworth’s campaign for the U.S. Senate.

Cori Kramer currently serves as the Executive Director of Center Forward, an organization based in Washington, DC that brings together members of Congress, not-for-profits, academic organizations, trade associations, unions and corporations to find common ground. In this capacity, Kramer leads Center Forward’s efforts to provide centrist allies the information and support they need to craft common sense policy solutions to the challenges facing the country today.

Kramer has almost two decades of experience in public policy, political service and campaign management. Prior to her position at Center Forward, she served as chief of staff to two moderate Members of Congress, including Congressman Brad Ellsworth of Indiana and Congressman Mike Ross of Arkansas.

In addition to her widespread involvement on Capitol Hill, Kramer has extensive experience managing campaigns in competitive congressional districts and states across the country. She managed Congressman Mike Ross’ successful re-election campaign, Congressman Charlie Stenholm’s re-election campaign and Congressman Brad Ellsworth’s campaign for the U.S. Senate.

After spending nearly 17 years working with moderate Members of Congress, Kramer wholeheartedly embraces those sensible center values and priorities that she currently advocates in her position as Executive Director of Center Forward.

Kramer received her Bachelor of Arts from Rhodes College in 1999. She currently resides in Washington, DC with her husband, Ted, and sons, Jack and Ben.