This is going to strike a lot of you as heretical, but I'm going to say it anyway.
The Progressive Caucus should split off from the Democratic party and form a third party. Doesn't matter what you call it, what matters is what you do with it.
Legislative Strategy:
Formulate and publish a platform - make the intro paragraphs general but direct and concise - a statement of principles and desired outcomes. Save the methods, funding and wonkery for the body and appendices. Most people don't read much past the opening paragraphs anyway, you need to get your primary goals out early to capture that audience. The methods need to be detailed and rock solid. The "political class" will be dissecting this with a fine tooth comb to trip up any inconsistencies and wishful thinking to throw it back and discredit these policies. Do Not make that mistake.
Caucus with the Democrats - Make no mistake, the Establishment Dems will be PISSED. But they NEED YOU. Negotiate, apply leverage, make deals - the aim will be to insert your policy goals into existing bills and move the Overton Window to the left. Do not be afraid to walk away from support and hand them a loss - It will happen eventually, so you have to get used to the idea and be ready for it.
Electoral Strategy:
The Main mistake Third Parties make is going for the brass ring first while letting the horses spin and the calliope play. Do the opposite of that. Build from the bottom up. Focus on the states with Senate races for the next three election cycles. Establish state wide party infrastructure, recrute and run Senate and House candidates and any state level candidates you have resources for. Move to the next set of states while expanding and supporting the previous states. Recrute and run local candidates in the established state parties. Don't even think of running for the Oval until '32 when you have a strong nationwide party behind you.
Funding Strategy:
DO NOT accept corporate money direct to the party. This whole thing collapses the minute you do that. Bernie did it on small donors, so can you. If you can, poach a couple programmers from Act Blue and set up a similar web site. We have to play by the established rules, so PACs (and corporate donors) are in the mix - with a difference. Disclose all donors and the amounts - be as transparent as possible. Make that transparency a feature and issue in campaigns.
This is woefully sparse and lacking details, but I am not familiar with the minutia of party operations. I'll leave that to the pros.
Addendum: As to the "Pros" The current class of establishment consultants need not apply. Avoid them as the plague they are.
