About

Derrick Crowe is a writer, activist, and a communications professional with two decades of experience in progressive politics. Derrick ran a campaign for Congress in 2018 focused on climate justice, single-payer health care, and has since continued to work to elect progressives and defeat right-wing and neoliberal candidates and policies.

During his congressional campaign, Derrick was described in the national press as the “science nerd” challenging “Congress’ most detested science denier.” In June 2017, he was arrested in protest of GOP efforts to kick 22 million Americans off of health coverage. Derrick’s run for Congress earned the support of a broad, diverse set of local and national progressive groups and individuals, including Blue America, Democracy for America, Justice Democrats, National Nurses United, The People for Bernie Sanders, Our Revolution, Progressive Democrats of America, Austin Young Democrats, Left Up to US, Circle C Area Democrats (the largest Democratic club in Travis County), UT University Democrats, Bexar County Tejano Democrats, Bexar County Young Democrats, Bexar County Young Tejano Democrats, Northeast Bexar County Democrats, San Antonio AFL-CIO, San Antonio DSA, Stonewall Democrats of San Antonio, 350.org co-founder Bill McKibben, Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt, and Sister Giant founder and New York Times best-selling author Marianne Williamson.

On Capitol Hill, Derrick worked for senior Democrats to help them improve and expand their communications practices. He worked for then-House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and the top Democrats on agriculture and rural issues (Charlie Stenholm, D-Texas) and counter-terrorism (Adam Smith, D-Wash.). He as a senior staffer, Derrick contributed to the effort to retake the House for Democrats in 2006 and to promote the first presidential campaign of then-Sen. Barack Obama in the national media.

Concerned that Washington was pursuing military solutions to political problems, Crowe left D.C. and eventually came to lead the Rethink Afghanistan project at Brave New Foundation. He won a reputation as a fierce advocate for reigning in Pentagon spending and bringing troops home from immoral wars that are not worth the cost. Later, at the Center for Public Policy Priorities, Crowe advocated for low- and moderate-income Texans, working for state policies that would benefit everyone, not just those at the top.

Derrick co-founded Mothership Books and Games, a small business in Austin, Texas, that he and his wife, Laurie Crowe, owned and operated until late 2014. His experience with Mothership convinced Derrick of the need for a $15/hour minimum wage, single-payer health care, and the need to get the federal government back in the trust-busting business.

Crowe now works as the communications and digital director for People’s Action, a national network of state-based power-building organizations fighting for health care for all, climate justice, and a Homes Guarantee.

Derrick graduated from Texas Tech University in 2002 and married his college sweetheart, Laurie Law, the following year. The two became parents in 2014. Derrick’s goal is to have a good answer when his son, Henry, asks him, “Dad, what did you do?” during these turbulent times in our country. The Crowes live in Montgomery County, Maryland.