Just this year, state Democrats have won 5 chamber-majority-deciding elections and flipped 3 seats Trump won by double digits
State Democrats have overperformed in special elections by more than 10 points on average
WASHINGTON — DLCC Spotlight Candidate Catelin Drey just flipped a seat in the Iowa Senate, breaking the GOP’s supermajority in the chamber, giving Democrats increased power, including the ability to block Governor Reynolds from making controversial gubernatorial appointments. Sen.-elect Drey ran against an extremist who opposes abortion even for rape victims, likened reproductive freedom to the Holocaust, is a climate denier, and downplayed the Jan. 6th insurrection.
This victory builds on Democrats’ momentum in special elections this year. Democrats have overperformed by over 10 points on average in special elections and won a majority of special elections this year, including wins in Trump districts.
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams issued the following statement:
“As Trump and Republicans wreck the economy and erode democracy with power-grabbing schemes, Democrats’ special election wins should send a flashing warning to the GOP: voters are rejecting the failing MAGA agenda and leaving Republican candidates in the dust. State legislative Democrats are delivering progress, responding to their communities’ concerns about the chaos in Washington, and providing the steady leadership voters are asking for — leadership that has propelled candidates like Sen.-elect Catelin Drey to victory this year. More special elections are right on the horizon, and we’re just getting started.”
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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