The DLCC’s data-driven strategy has strengthened the Democratic firewall in state legislatures ahead of Trump’s second term
WASHINGTON — Today, the DLCC launched our 2024 Impact Report, which draws upon initial data to show how Democrats in state legislatures overcame the red wave that swept the presidential level and the implications of growing state power under the incoming Republican federal trifecta. The report outlines examples of where and how state Democrats overperformed in key districts in battleground states and the efficacy of our data-driven strategy. In every battleground chamber, state legislative candidates performed better relative to the presidential ticket compared to 2020. That includes states like Pennsylvania, where our performance in targeted districts in comparison to top-of-the-ticket performance improved by over 4 percent since the last presidential cycle.
State legislative races are often won on the slimmest of margins, and our data so far illustrates that the DLCC’s precise targeting and strategy made the difference for multiple majorities. Our victories position state legislatures as the only level of the ballot where Democratic power is on the rise, and state legislatures will be a meaningful counterbalance to Project 2025 and Trump’s MAGA agenda.
The full report includes:
- An overview of the victories during the 2023-2024 cycle
- Data on Democrats’ overperformance in state legislatures
- The DLCC’s winning strategy of early investments, caucus partnerships, and data-driven targeting and programming
- The role of growing state power to counter the Trump administration and Project 2025
- The path ahead for building Democratic power through the states, including upcoming special elections and the target map for the 2025/2026 cycle
You can read the DLCC’s 2024 Impact Report here.
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams issued the following statement:
“The story of state legislatures this year is unique as we overcame this cycle’s red wave and emerged with important victories to celebrate. Right now, state legislatures are the only level of the ballot where Democratic power is on the rise. We hold significantly more majorities in our statehouses than the last time Donald Trump took office, and the strength of this firewall in our state legislatures has never been more important. While we brace for the impact of Project 2025 on the federal government, our state legislators are ready as these dangerous MAGA policies have been working through Republican-led statehouses for years.
“As we prepare for one of the biggest fights of our lifetime under a second Trump presidency, there are lessons we can learn from this ballot level as we chart our path forward. At the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, our deep belief in the importance of our ballot level for shaping the future of our party and country remains as strong as ever. We will continue to be a permanent, year-round presence in the states, driving resources to our candidates, and leading a clear, data-driven, and battle-tested strategy to defend and grow Democratic power.”
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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