State Democrats have overperformed in special elections by more than 10 points on average, won 5 majority-deciding elections, and flipped 2 seats Trump won by double digits
WASHINGTON — One week from today, on August 26th, Iowa and Georgia voters will head to the polls to vote in special elections where DLCC Spotlight Candidates Catelin Drey in Iowa and Debra Shigley in Georgia are vying to flip GOP seats.
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams issued the following statement:
“As Republicans raise costs and rig maps across the country, voters have an opportunity to reject MAGA extremism through special elections next week in Iowa and Georgia. A potential flip in Iowa would break the Senate supermajority, which would boost power for state Democrats. The DLCC is proud to stand behind Spotlight Candidates Catelin Drey and Debra Shigley, two working moms focused on making it easier to raise a family in their communities. The state legislative level is rich with special elections that can make a difference and push back on Republicans’ agenda that leaves working families behind.”
On August 26th, DLCC Spotlight Candidate Catelin Drey is running to flip a seat in the Iowa Senate, breaking the GOP’s supermajority in the chamber.
- Breaking the Republican supermajority would allow Democrats to block Governor Reynolds from making controversial gubernatorial appointments.
- Catelin Drey’s opponent is an extremist who opposes abortion for rape victims and likened reproductive freedom to the Holocaust, is a climate denier, and downplayed the Jan. 6th insurrection.
On August 26th, DLCC Spotlight Candidate Debra Shigley is running in a special election to flip a Georgia Senate seat.
- Democrats have steadily chipped away at the GOP’s hold on the Georgia legislature over the past five cycles.
- Now, Democrats are in our strongest position in two decades, backed by voters determined to overcome the GOP’s extreme gerrymander.
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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