The DLCC’s 2026 Target Map pinpoints where Democrats must focus our attention and resources to strengthen our firewall in state legislatures and counterbalance the MAGA extremism of Donald Trump and the Republican Congress in Washington, D.C.
This is an extremely competitive map. Five of our battleground chambers were decided by a single seat in the last election cycle, directly impacting the lives of 40 million Americans. Majorities in many states will likely come down to just a few districts and a few votes per precinct. The DLCC’s efforts to bring attention and resources to this fight will make all the difference.
Over the last decade, the DLCC’s data-driven, evidence-based strategy has won back 10 legislative majorities – nearly half of all Americans now live in a state with at least one Democratic legislative chamber. While Donald Trump and MAGA extremists control Washington, D.C., state Democratic majorities are holding the line and moving policy forward to improve lives and lower costs for families while protecting freedoms and expanding opportunities.
The stakes of this cycle’s state legislative elections are high. This map puts Democrats in the best position to deliver strategic victories.
To best implement our Target Map strategy, the DLCC has divided states into one of three categories: Battlegrounds, Power Building, and Watch List
These are the chambers that Democrats must win and defend this cycle. They’re in our most competitive states where majorities will be determined by the slimmest of margins, including multiple chambers where a single seat will decide the party in power.
Our 2026 Battleground States are:
⭐️Alaska — DLCC will work to support Democrats in the Alaska House and Senate.
⭐️Michigan – Democrats hold a one-seat majority in the Michigan Senate and are four seats away from breaking the Republican majority in the House.
⭐️Minnesota – Democrats held a slim majority in the Minnesota Senate through a string of 2025 special election wins. Democrats also only need to flip one seat to break the current tie in the Minnesota House.
⭐️Pennsylvania – The DLCC has played a key role in protecting Democrats’ one-seat majority in the Pennsylvania House, including helping win 8 majority-making special elections last cycle and a key race in early 2025.
⭐️Wisconsin – After picking up 14 Wisconsin legislative seats in the 2024 election, Democrats are ready to make a play for the majority in both chambers during the 2026 midterm.
Majorities are rarely won in a single cycle. These states represent our best opportunities to gain seats in tough chambers and check MAGA extremism, including by defending the veto power of Democratic governors.
Our 2026 Power Building States are:
⭐️Arizona – The DLCC will be targeting key districts in the Arizona House and Senate to put majorities in play before the end of the decade.
⭐️Georgia – Over the past five cycles, Democrats have steadily chipped away at the GOP’s hold on the Georgia House, putting us in our strongest position in two decades.
⭐️New Hampshire – Democrats will have many opportunities to flip seats and gain ground in the nation’s largest legislative chamber. This is our best opportunity to break the GOP trifecta before the end of the decade.
⭐️North Carolina – While state Republicans are making every effort to bring Trump’s MAGA extremism to the state, legislative Democrats are protecting Democratic Gov. Stein’s veto power by a single seat. It is essential that we defend our ground this cycle.
The DLCC never takes our majorities for granted. As the only committee responsible for every chamber at this ballot level, we do the necessary work to ensure hard-won Democratic power does not slip away.
Our 2026 Watch List includes:
⭐️Maine – The DLCC helped defend Maine’s Democratic trifecta in 2024 by narrow margins, and we’re not taking a single seat for granted this cycle.
⭐️Virginia – In 2025, Democrats won their biggest Virginia House majority in nearly 40 years, flipping 13 seats blue – a monumental victory helping to establish a new blue trifecta.
