WASHINGTON — Today, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) hosted a press conference on the high-stakes races we’re focusing on this November. Elections in Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and more will serve as early referendums on the disastrous MAGA agenda and set the tone for the 2026 midterms, and the DLCC is laser-focused on using every opportunity to build Democratic power.
Watch the press conference here.
Read about the top races to watch here.
DLCC President Heather Williams
- “We’ve already had specials that have decided five chamber majorities, flipped three Trump seats, and broken the supermajority in the Iowa Senate. And as we head into next week, there are multiple majorities and key races in contention for more power for Democrats. These races in 2025 are really a pulse check on voters ahead of the 2026 midterms. Results next week will have high stakes on everything from responding to the reckless policies coming out of the Trump administration to the redistricting fight playing out across the country.”
- “Democrats in every community… are buckling down on kitchen table issues. These issues are issues of affordability and access. Whether you’re talking about health care or a good education or the frustration of pricing and how to make ends meet, these are the things that are on voters’ minds, and these are the topics that we have Democrats talking about all across the country.”
- “These Democratic majorities pass the laws and budgets that are the only firewall against the federal government’s reckless cuts on health care, education, and other essential services. They are also critically important as we consider the success of Democrats up and down the ballot. State legislatures determine congressional districts, secure the path to the presidency, establish voting laws, and ensure that states with [Democratic] governors have the power of the veto pen. 2025 will be a critical pulse check on voters before 2026, and we’re ready.”
DLCC VP of Political Jeremy Jansen
- “Virginia Democrats were nearly in the superminority not so long ago, and if we were able to hold on to our one-seat majority in this chamber, it’ll be the first time we’ve successfully defended that majority back-to-back in nearly 30 years. We feel really confident about being able to do this next week. The caucus has broken fundraising records. They’ve really built a truly powerhouse program in the state.”
- “We know the work we’re doing now is absolutely critical. It’s really building a strong foundation as we move into 2026. Building Democratic power now is going to be a real builder for momentum for us moving into the midterms, where we’ll have 88 full chambers on the ballot.”
- “Democrats are overperforming in special elections. We feel really confident going into next week, and we’re going to take a look at the election results and weave that into the larger story here… So far, the story tells us that Democrats are doing quite well, at least at our level of the ballot in the elections that we’ve had.”
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) is the campaign arm of Democratic state legislatures and leads the national strategy for building power and winning new majorities. Over the last three decades, we have strategized cycle over cycle to win majorities and lead the effort to bring national attention and investment to our ballot level, winning nearly a dozen new chamber majorities over the last decade. Our work has ensured that nearly half of Americans are represented by at least one Democratic majority in their statehouse. State legislatures are the building blocks of our democracy and have the closest connections to Americans’ day-to-day lives. From protecting fundamental freedoms and voting rights to growing the middle class and advancing opportunity, the DLCC and state legislators are moving the Democratic agenda forward and shaping the future of this country.
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