This investment underscores the growing importance of building and expanding Democratic power in state legislatures across the country.
WASHINGTON — Today, the Democratic National Committee announced a $2.5 million investment in the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee – the DNC’s largest investment ever in the party’s official committee dedicated to state legislatures. With fundamental freedoms and democracy itself on the line in the states, investing in state legislatures is an emerging cornerstone of Democrats’ strategy to protect against MAGA extremism in the states and to make the Democratic agenda real for communities across the country. Today’s investment is an important step in building the resources needed to fundamentally shift the balance of power by building and expanding Democratic majorities at the state level.
The DLCC has an ambitious target map this cycle and the outcome of state legislative races in just nine target states will shape the future for nearly 70 million Americans. The races at this ballot level are often decided by just a few thousand, hundred, or even dozens of votes, and multiple majorities on the map this year are currently held by a single seat.
As Donald Trump desperately tries to win back the White House, his MAGA allies are also plotting to advance an extreme agenda through the states unless we build Democratic power at the foundations of our democracy – state legislatures. The target budget for the DLCC for the 2023-2024 cycle is $60 million – our most expansive to date – yet more resources are still needed heading into November to fully support this ballot level determining the landscape of rights for our communities.
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams issued the following statement:
“We’re excited to welcome this important investment from the DNC in the DLCC. This election is an opportunity to harness the new energy and momentum we are seeing to ensure that Democrats are successful up and down the ballot. Down-ballot races are often decided by a handful of votes, which is why every dollar invested in this ballot level can go so far in shaping whether core freedoms are advanced by Democrats or rolled back by Republicans. This latest investment will help close the gaps in funding for these critical races deciding so many of our rights and freedoms. We can’t afford to take our eyes off the states – more resources will be needed for down-ballot Democrats heading into November to secure the future we’re fighting for.”
The DLCC is the official arm of the Democratic Party with the sole mission of building Democratic power in the states and setting the national agenda at the state level. 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.
###
