Democrats saw crucial victories at the state legislative level last week that will protect millions of Americans from the worst of the new Trump Administration.
WASHINGTON — The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee and state Democrats across the country are celebrating important victories that prevented a Republican wave from taking shape in state legislatures, even as Donald Trump and his allies were swept into power at the federal level. The DLCC’s strategy of building durable power in the states over the past decade minimized Republicans’ opportunities for gains in our statehouses and defended scores of Democratic incumbents in tough territory this cycle.
Thanks to a decade of progress, the DLCC and state Democrats will finish this presidential election cycle with more legislative majorities under Democratic control – at least 39 – than were held following the 2016 or 2020 elections, and the number of Democratic trifectas has more than doubled since Donald Trump last took office.
DLCC President Heather Williams issued the following statement:
“The DLCC and our campaigns successfully prevented a Republican wave from taking shape in our state legislatures. While results are still coming in, we have important wins to celebrate in battleground states like Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, and because of the progress we have made, nearly half the country will continue to have their rights and futures protected by at least one Democratic majority in their statehouse. As we brace ourselves for the consequences of a second Trump administration, the strength and resilience of our firewall in our state legislatures has never been more important.”
Check out the critical wins state Democrats secured in 2024:
Pennsylvania: In one of the most consequential wins of the cycle, Democrats defied the odds and defended our one-seat majority in the Pennsylvania House. This is one of the most competitive chambers in the country and Republicans made flipping it a top priority, but thanks to the DLCC’s strategy, they failed to gain a single seat.
- Erie Times-News: Pennsylvania Democrats retain state House majority, holding off red wave
- Associated Press: Democrats retain 1-seat majority control of the Pennsylvania House
North Carolina: Democrats successfully broke the Republican supermajority in North Carolina, restoring the veto power for incoming Democratic Gov. Josh Stein. This marks a monumental shift in the balance of power and is a testament to the DLCC’s work, alongside many partners and allies, to challenge unchecked Republican power in the state.
- WRAL: Democrats break Republican supermajority in North Carolina General Assembly
- Gaston Gazette: NC Democrats break Republican supermajority in the state House, giving Stein more veto power
Wisconsin: In one of the highest-profile battlegrounds of the cycle, Democrats have gained 10 seats in the Wisconsin Assembly and have gained 4 seats in the Senate. This marks the biggest shift in state politics in Wisconsin since 2010, when Republicans took both chambers and established egregiously gerrymandered maps. Democrats picked up their largest electoral win in the Wisconsin Assembly in over a decade.
- Associated Press: New maps help Wisconsin Democrats make legislative gains and set up a push for majorities in 2026
- Wisconsin Examiner: Democrats win several key races in Wisconsin Senate, breaking Republican supermajority
Minnesota: Democrats won a majority-defending Senate special election in Minnesota and we held off a Republican majority in the House. The Minnesota House is one of the most competitive chambers in the country, and the DLCC helped limit the GOP’s gains this year.
- Minnesota Star Tribune: Ann Johnson Stewart wins special election, giving DFL control of Minnesota Senate
- KARE: Special election gives control of Minnesota State Senate to DFL
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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