There are no off years when it comes to elections, and 2025 is no exception. Despite a wave of reckless and harmful decisions from the Trump administration, the DLCC and state Democrats are holding the line.
In the first November election of Trump’s second term, there are dozens of highly competitive races across the country that will serve as early referendums on the popularity of MAGA policies and set the tone for the 2026 midterms. From potential supermajority-breaking special elections in Mississippi to neck-and-neck races in Virginia where the entire House of Delegates is on the ballot, here are ten of the most competitive and important state legislative races where your help can make a difference ahead of November 4:
The DLCC has spent years laying the groundwork for Democratic wins in Virginia. This fall, the entire Virginia House is on the ballot, and Spotlight candidate May Nivar is running in one of the most competitive races to protect and expand Democrats’ majority in the chamber. May is a first-generation American who grew up in low-income housing and became a business leader and tireless advocate for underrepresented communities. She has a strong chance to flip her Richmond-area seat blue and serve as a powerful voice for women and working families.
In 2023, when Democrats pulled off a historic chamber flip in the Virginia House, Jessica Anderson came within just 700 votes of winning her race. Now, she’s running again to flip the 71st district, which Vice President Kamala Harris won by 2,400 votes, and expand the Democratic majority in the chamber. With the experience she gained from her previous run, this advocate for reproductive freedom has mounted an extremely strong campaign in one of the most competitive districts on the ballot this year.
Lily Franklin is back on the ballot for the Virginia House after coming less than 200 votes short of flipping a seat in 2023. This Blacksburg-area district includes all of Virginia Tech, and campus voters are fueling this campaign, creating a strong opportunity for a Democratic flip as the MAGA brand continues to sour with voters. Lily’s background in organizing and public service, as well as her lifelong roots in southwest Virginia, give her a deep connection to the needs of working families who call the region home, and put her in a perfect position to unseat her Republican opponent in November.
Elizabeth Guzman is a former Delegate who previously flipped a Republican-held seat, helping Democrats retake the chamber during the last Trump administration. Now, she’s running to flip her district blue again and strengthen Virginia’s Democratic majority. Elizabeth knows how to win a competitive race, and has been one of the strongest fundraisers in Virginia this year. As a longtime social worker, her return to the chamber would be a major win for health care access and working families.
Kimberly Pope Adams fell just 53 votes shy of flipping a seat in the Virginia House last cycle, the closest House race of the year. This year, Kimberly is back for another chance to unseat an anti-abortion Republican incumbent who has voted against protecting Virginians’ rights. Kimberly, a financial audit expert, is dedicated to transparency and accountability in government, and her race is a key part of a larger strategy to protect and expand Democratic power in the commonwealth.
Anthony Angelozzi has one of the best shots this year at flipping a New Jersey Assembly seat blue and adding to the Democratic majority. The election is projected to be a true toss-up, which means the winner will likely be decided by just a handful of votes. This high school teacher and union organizer is ready to be a champion for public schools, small businesses, and working families across the Garden State.
Asm. Andrea Katz is running to defend the New Jersey Assembly seat she flipped blue in an upset victory last cycle. She was the first Democrat to win her district in fifty years, and since then, she has established herself as a powerful ally to New Jersey’s working families. New Jersey currently has strong Democratic majorities in the legislature, but defending battleground districts like Andrea’s is crucial to ensuring the Garden State continues to make progress on issues like reproductive freedom and public education funding.
Since flipping the Minnesota Senate in 2022, Democrats have maintained a slim majority in the chamber, and this year Rep. Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger is running to protect an open seat that Republicans are desperate to flip. Amanda was elected to the Minnesota House in 2022 and has proven herself to be a champion for working families on issues such as public education, green energy, and access to medical care. Her run for the state Senate is critical for protecting both her constituents and control of the Minnesota legislature from right-wing extremism, and it’s one that will require grassroots support to succeed.
Theresa Gillespie Isom is running to establish another blue seat in the Mississippi Senate that has the potential to help break the Republican supermajority. Theresa’s race is in a newly drawn district, created after a court partially struck down Mississippi’s legislative maps for being racially gerrymandered. Winning in this new district is far from a given, and Theresa is running a strong campaign to bring change and new leadership for the voters in her district. With support from the DLCC community, Theresa can become the next candidate to successfully chip away at right-wing extremism in Mississippi.
Late last year, Sen. Deb Krishnadasan stepped up to fill a vacant seat in the Washington Senate. Now she’s running in a November special election to serve out the full term and protect this key seat for the Democratic majority. Her Puget Sound district is one of the most competitive in the state, and one that Republicans are targeting to flip this year. If Deb, a full-time public school volunteer, wins her race, she will continue to be a powerful voice for public education, while denying Republicans a new foothold in Olympia.
The DLCC and our supporters are essential for making the difference in races like these. The stakes of this year’s elections couldn’t be higher and with just a few weeks left to go, it’s time to help these candidates over the finish line. Split a direct donation among these ten candidates today to help put Democrats in the best position possible to win in November.
