Since Bernie Sanders suspended his presidential campaign last month, many of his supporters are turning to the question of where the movement for political revolution goes from here. Sanders himself has been clear that he intends to continue to collect votes and delegates, and to use that leverage to push his political agenda at the Democratic Party convention.

Dan Denvir recently argued that the broader Sanders campaign infrastructure must be maintained to carry on the fight, starting with a series of state-by-state virtual meetings for volunteers to decide what comes next. As Sanders supporters organize for the convention and continue this important conversation, we should keep in mind one key principle that may well be the difference between success and failure for what comes next: democracy.

The next phase of the Sanders movement must find a way to continue its work through genuinely democratic, nationwide membership organizations. Only democratic organizing at a national scale — with all the challenges it entails — will allow us to truly live up to the mantle of “Not Me, Us” and continue our work for the long haul.