With such narrow margins for victory, the DLCC’s work made a difference in holding majorities and stopping a red wave in the states.
WASHINGTON — State legislative races and chamber control are often decided by the slimmest margins – and 2024 was no exception. Chamber control in some states was decided by as little as 15 votes, underscoring the critical role every vote plays in these high-stakes elections.
Here’s an overview of just how close races in key battleground states were this cycle:
- In Pennsylvania, the Democrats defended their one-seat majority, with Sean Dougherty’s (HD-172) win of 505 votes.
- In North Carolina, Democrats broke the House supermajority by one seat, after Bryan Cohn (HD-32) won by 228 votes.
- In Minnesota, Ann Johnson Stewart (SD-45) won her majority-making Senate race by 2,822 votes. Democrats prevented a GOP majority in the House and ended with a tied chamber, where Mark Munger (HD-3B) lost by just 159 votes and Brad Tabke (HD-54A) won by 15 votes.
- In Michigan, Democrats could’ve prevented a GOP majority in the chamber by winning 3,464 more votes across 3 House districts. One of the losses was Jim Haadsma (HD-44), who lost by just 79 votes.
Initial election data analysis from our Impact Report, unveiled just last week, shows how with races this close, the DLCC’s work mattered for multiple majorities.
Given these tight margins in key chambers, we must double down on our efforts in 2025 and beyond to invest in Democratic power in the states. State legislatures are deciding the issues that impact everyday Americans the most – especially as we face a Republican federal trifecta that will remand even more issues to the states. Just a handful of resources and attention can dramatically alter the landscape of power in the states given these tight margins.
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee Interim Communications Director Sam Paisley issued the following statement:
“Control of state legislatures often comes down to just a handful of votes – this year, majorities were decided by as little as 15 votes. Every vote is consequential, especially given the outsized role of state legislatures in deciding every issue that touches our lives. The DLCC’s strategy this cycle ensured we remain competitive in every battleground chamber as we prepare for next cycle, and we can clinch even more chambers by earning just hundreds of votes more in a single district. All eyes should be in the states given the opportunity to transform the balance of power and move Democratic values and policies forward.”
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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