Democrats are outraising Republicans nearly 2 to 1 at other levels of the ballot, at the state level, Republicans more than double what Democrats raise
WASHINGTON — The DLCC had our best Q1 fundraising ever this year, but Republicans are setting an even more aggressive pace, threatening the future of fundamental freedoms across the country. Mother Jones and The Washington Post reported the Republican State Leadership Committee and its affiliated organization have outraised the DLCC and our affiliated partners by nearly $20 million so far in the 2024 cycle.
The Supreme Court has kicked decisions regarding reproductive rights and democracy to the states. Dollars spent in state legislative races go further than any other ballot level and we need all hands on deck to win at the most important ballot level shaping everyday lives. For a fraction of what is spent on a single federal race, big change can be funded in the states, with fundamental freedoms like abortion access and democracy itself under attack across the country, this fundraising gap could have dire consequences for millions of Americans.
From Mother Jones:
- “This year, the primary group responsible for electing Democrats to state legislative chambers nationwide, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC), has set a new record for its first quarter fundraising: $6.9 million since January 2024.”
- “But despite the record figures, the DLCC is still lagging behind the Republican State Leadership Committee and its affiliated social welfare organization, the State Government Leadership Foundation. Together the conservative groups raised $12 million in the first quarter of 2024 and a combined $47 million at the state level this cycle, eclipsing the DLCC and its affiliated 501(c)(4) partners by $19 million.”
- “‘Republicans know the importance of the states, especially as the Supreme Court continues to kick down issues to the states,’ says DLCC communications director Abhi Rahman, ‘and states are where fundamental freedoms are being decided.’”
- “While OpenSecrets shows Democrats have enjoyed more success than Republicans at the national level this cycle, that advantage hasn’t translated to the state efforts. “‘It’s not enough to fund the top of the ticket,’ says Rahman. ‘This is the [governmental] level now that needs to be funded more than ever before.’ ‘I think Democrats are catching up,’ Rahman adds, ‘but it’s not fast enough.’”
From The Washington Post:
- “‘Republicans are donating to state-level campaigns at unprecedented rates, and it’s time for Democrats to catch up and do the same,’ Anastasia Apa, vice president of development at the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, said in a statement.”
- “The DLCC touted that as its ‘strongest Q1 fundraising,’ but it still sees the gap with Republicans as a cause for concern.”
- “The committee has been arguing that state legislative elections are more important than ever, especially after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. In states such as Arizona — where Republicans hold one-seat majorities in both chambers — the November election could be crucial to charting the future of abortion rights at the state level.”
- “‘The dollars spent at this level of the ballot will determine the rights of millions of Americans this November,’ Apa said.”
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee VP of Development Anastasia Apa issued the following statement:
“Republicans are donating to state-level campaigns at unprecedented rates, and it’s time for Democrats to catch up and do the same. Despite the DLCC’s record-setting fundraising pace and other levels of the ballot outraising their Republican counterparts, the DLCC was outraised more than 2 to 1 by our Republican counterparts at the RSLC. State elections have never been more important – because of the MAGA Supreme Court, this is where fundamental freedoms such as access to reproductive care, voting rights, and so many other laws that affect day-to-day lives are being decided. The dollars spent at this level of the ballot will determine the rights of millions of Americans this November.”
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) is the official Democratic Party committee dedicated to winning America’s state legislatures and building state infrastructure. Over the last decade, we have fought cycle-over-cycle to gain a dozen new legislative chamber majorities and we are leading the effort to bring national attention and investment to our ballot level. 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, the DLCC and state legislators are moving the Democratic agenda forward and shaping the future of this country.
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