Our Mission

Third Way is a national think tank and advocacy organization that champions moderate policy and political ideas. Our work on the center left acts as a critical bulwark against political extremism.

Our Approach

Our approach brings together rigorous policy research, deep knowledge of the people and places that decide majorities, and sophisticated public opinion and messaging data to create strategic advocacy campaigns designed to persuade elected officials and influencers on the defining issues of our time. We advocate for the vital center across seven programmatic areas: climate and energy, economy, education, health care, national security, politics, and social policy.

As passionate moderates—or “radical centrists” per the New York Times—our work is not about splitting the difference but about standing for a values-driven, reform-oriented politics that can both deliver electoral power and drive meaningful policy change. We believe in building an opportunity economy that rewards hard work, making progress on social issues to uphold our fundamental freedoms, winning the global clean energy technology race, and securing our safety against evolving 21st century threats.

Since our founding in 2005, Third Way has earned a reputation for innovative thinking and high-impact campaigns that shift the national debate, help moderates win elections, and motivate ambitious policy reform. We have been lauded as “the best source of new ideas in public policy” (The Washington Post), “the future of think tanks” (Reuters), and the “North American Think Tank of the Year” (Prospect Magazine).

Our Principles

All of Third Way’s work is driven by three core operating principles:

Patriotism. We are motivated by a deep love of country grounded in the mainstream American values of opportunity, security, freedom, and a commitment to democratic capitalism.

Persuasion. We design our work to resonate with the moderate American majority and empower a center-left coalition that is broad and deep enough to both win and govern. 

Pragmatism. We value progress over purity tests, pursue solutions that are not only ambitious but actionable, believe in reform not revolution, and take pride in our ability to deftly navigate complex policy and political terrain.

Our benchmark: whether our ideas have significantly influenced a national policy or political debate. We’re proud of our track record that includes…

• Changing how Democrats view the shape of their next electoral majority;
• Creating an entirely new policy discussion around advanced nuclear technology;
• Playing a crucial role in preserving the gains reformers made in No Child Left Behind;
• And reversing decades of losses on marriage for gay couples.

Read more about our impact…