State of the States: New DLCC Board, Who Dis?

We made it to the end of the week! Now say it with us, T.G.I.S.O.T.S. Thank God It’s State of the States! The DLCC is here to help you catch up on the state legislative stories you might have missed. It’s May 5th; ease into the weekend with a roundup of state stories from across the country.
For questions and suggestions, e-mail us.

ICYMI

• The DLCC announced four new board members: New Mexico Speaker Javier Martínez, Delaware Senator Sarah McBride, Oklahoma House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson, and Michigan Speaker Joe Tate. Fresh off a 2022 midterm election year in which the DLCC and state Democrats flipped four chambers, leading to the party in power not losing a single chamber for the first time since at least 1934, the committee’s new board of directors is ready to help expand the map and implement its Path to the Majority strategy heading into the 2023-24 cycle.
  
• As covered by NBC News, Minnesota Democrats are using their new trifecta to move an ambitious agenda forward and improve countless lives in the state. The progress in Minnesota showcases how state legislatures are key to enacting the Democratic Party’s agenda, especially as we face gridlock in Congress and a conservative Supreme Court hellbent on restricting rights.
  
• Remember when North Carolina Rep. Tricia Cotham switched her party affiliation to Republican — pulling a bait and switch on the voters in her district and handing a supermajority to Republicans in the House? Well, just as we said, Republicans passed an abortion ban that the Democratic Governor can no longer veto thanks to their veto-proof supermajority. The DLCC is more committed than ever to targeting North Carolina in 2024 to break both supermajorities in the House and Senate.

GOP Fail  

• Arizona Republicans are trying to defend a law that limits trans girls from competing in school sports. Once again, Republicans are trying to control kids’ lives and are endangering an already vulnerable group of students. The GOP is trying to gin up a controversy that doesn’t exist instead of helping their constituents.

• Wisconsin Republicans rejected all of the following proposals: legalizing marijuana, funding the Milwaukee Brewers’ stadium, and creating a paid family leave program. It seems that the Wisconsin GOP is so gerrymandered into power that they have forgotten what popular legislation looks like. If they had their way Wisconsin Republicans would ban abortions and the baseball stadium would fall to ruins. This is more evidence of why it’s so important we defend Gov. Tony Evers’ veto this cycle.

• When Republicans are in power, they move full speed ahead to restrict abortion access. Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte signed not just one, but five bills this week all limiting reproductive freedoms – and the Republican-led legislature plans to pass even more. The only way to protect abortion access is to elect state Democrats. 

Democratic Leadership

• Pennsylvania Democrats are pushing legislation to broaden LGBTQ+ protections in the Keystone State. Passing the House this week, this bill is vital to ensuring that our LGBTQ+ neighbors can lead the lives of dignity that they deserve. Though the bill will face challenges from Republicans in the Senate, Democrats will continue to fight for all communities and the fundamental freedoms of Americans everywhere. 

• Minnesota House DFLers passed a paid family leave program this week to add to their long list of legislative wins this session. This 18-week paid family and medical leave program will support Minnesotans and ensure that working families can support their loved ones. Once again, Minnesota is showing that Democrats help working and middle class Americans, while Republicans continue to fall down the rabbit hole of MAGA extremism.

• Democrats in Maryland are charging ahead to protect abortion and expand access to gender-affirming care in the Mid Atlantic. With their trifecta, Democrats are protecting Americans’ fundamental freedoms and are ensuring that Republicans can’t bow to the most extreme factions of their party. This is just more proof that when Democrats win power, they get the job done.

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