The $2.2 million will support state-level campaigns in Michigan, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North Carolina
WASHINGTON — Today, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) announced Vivian Smotherman as our Spotlight candidate in Colorado as she runs to flip a seat in the Colorado Senate to bolster the Democratic majority.
Vivian Smotherman (SD-6) is a teacher and U.S. Navy veteran whose resume is as diverse as the southern Colorado district she’s running to represent in the state Senate. She’s committed to fighting for Indigenous rights, water access, health care improvements, affordable housing, and reproductive freedom. Fully funded public education is the foundation of Vivian’s vision and she’s determined to ensure that supporting students is the school system’s top priority.
The DLCC defended both chambers of the Colorado legislature in 2022 to maintain the state’s Democratic trifecta, empowering Democrats to pass critical legislation. Just this session, Democrats passed a Bill of Rights for Foster Youth, which requires that foster parents follow an LGBTQ+ child’s preferred name, pronouns, and gender expression. The majorities also used their power to boost the state’s transportation system, passing millions to jumpstart a robust bus and train system. Students in Colorado will also have free menstrual products as soon as 2025 thanks to Democratic action in the legislature this year.
The DLCC’s Spotlight candidates represent some of the best opportunities across the country to build Democratic power to combat MAGA extremism. This announcement continues the momentum of DLCC’s “Summer of the States” campaign, which launched last month to call attention to the critical window to build the infrastructure for Democrats to push past Republican efforts and boost our chances in November. Vivian joins hundreds of candidates who are mounting inspiring campaigns in every corner of the country to build Democratic power and counter MAGA control of state legislatures.
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams issued the following statement:
“The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee is proud to uplift Vivian whose victory would bolster the hard-fought Democratic majority in the Colorado Senate. The DLCC’s 2022 victories ensured that Colorado Democrats could make tremendous progress on LGBTQ+ rights, state infrastructure, and protecting a wide range of fundamental freedoms. The DLCC’s Spotlight program uplifts some of the best opportunities to build Democratic power, and we’re thrilled to highlight Vivian as we continue our ‘Summer of the States’ campaign that calls attention to this critical moment to pay attention to state legislatures. Colorado tells a motivating story about what can get accomplished through Democratic majorities.”
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.
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