From Virginia to Pennsylvania to New Jersey to New Hampshire to Ohio, the DLCC is playing to win
WASHINGTON – Today, one day before the crucial 2023 elections, the DLCC hosted a Zoom press conference on the state of play for the 2023 elections. From Virginia to Pennsylvania to New Jersey to New Hampshire to Ohio, the DLCC and our allies are playing to win.
To view the full Zoom press conference, click here.
Here’s what you need to know about where things stand as we head into election day:
Virginia
- We now have weeks of early voting data in hand that shows promising signs for Democrats but the data also confirms what we’ve known all year: both chambers in Virginia will be close.
- There are still toss-up districts all across the state and here is the bottom line: We need everybody to get out and vote tomorrow and to turn in their mail-in ballots.
- Just like in 2019 and 2021, many of these races could come down to just a handful of votes and any one of those seats could make the difference for these majorities.
- We just need to win one chamber to stop a Republican trifecta. If we are able to do that tomorrow night, that in itself will be a huge win. Governor Youngkin has promised a total Republican takeover and put all his money and capital on the line so stopping him by any margin will be a success. If we win one chamber, that is a victory for the DLCC and our allies.
On the timeline for results:
- We are expecting a long wait for final results in Virginia, which could mean a delayed call on the majority in either chamber.
- First of all, the final mail-in ballot receipt deadline is not until Monday, November 13 at noon, a full week from today.
- In recent elections, in several of the larger localities, we saw nearly 10 percent of the vote by mail come in after election day and in one locality, we saw as much as 30 percent come in after election day. We are expecting similar numbers this year and this could delay final results in some of our tightest races.
- It is important to note that we expect these final batches of mail-in ballots to lean heavily Democratic, even in GOP territory, so these votes should be helpful for our candidates in close races as they are counted.
- Same-day registration voters tend to skew younger and so we expect these ballots to favor Democrats as well.
- With all of this being said, the point is we may not know the final results in Virginia tomorrow night. These races are on a razor’s edge, and with the way Virginia counties report their results, some races may not be called until about a week after the election.
Pennsylvania State Supreme Court
- This election will help shape the partisan makeup of the court and affect consequential decisions for representation in the Pennsylvania General Assembly, voting rights, and other matters that will shape the future of the Commonwealth.
- Democrat Daniel McCaffery will ensure abortion rights and voting rights are protected and that the legislative redistricting process remains fair and balanced.
- Early voting looks good so far, but Democrats need to sprint through the finish line and ensure that McCaffery is elected.
New Jersey Legislature
- The Democratic majorities in New Jersey have a long record of delivering for the people of the Garden State on economic opportunity to growing the middle class and protecting fundamental rights and freedoms — we intend to keep it this way.
- Republicans have made it no secret that they view New Jersey as an opportunity to make gains and chip away at our majority, investing massively to promote MAGA extremism. While they have spent big, we expect their efforts to fall short of their expectations.
- A victory for us is holding both chambers. That’s what we aim to do.
New Hampshire
- Since January, the DLCC has won the majority of special elections at our level of the ballot with more than two dozen victories and we are building momentum as our candidates continue to overperform in races across the country.
- This year’s special elections, including the one tomorrow, are shifting power and deciding majorities in key chambers where single seats can make the difference in protecting abortion access, keeping our communities safe, and cutting costs for working families.
- If we win this special election, we will be undefeated for the year in New Hampshire and in a strong position to play for the majority in 2024.
Ohio Abortion Measure
- Abortion, more than any other issue, has demonstrated the importance of state power since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
- While there are no state legislative candidates on the ballot in Ohio, we are watching the results of this ballot measure closely and closely communicating with our allies on the ground.
Statement from DLCC interim President Heather Williams:
“The bottom line is that tomorrow is a critical opportunity for voters across the country to elect Democrats who will protect fundamental freedoms and chart the path toward a brighter future. We’ve been in this fight all year, reminding voters of the stakes, identifying and investing in the best opportunities to build Democratic power, and working with our partners to deliver victories tomorrow. To Democrats in these states, return mail-in ballots, make sure you’re getting your friends and family to vote, and make your voices heard tomorrow – the direction of our country depends on it!”
The DLCC is the official Democratic Party committee dedicated to winning America’s state legislatures. Last year, the DLCC defied the odds by not losing any state legislative majorities, flipping four key chambers, and creating four new Democratic trifectas – the best midterm year for the party in power since at least 1934. State legislatures are the building blocks of our democracy and pass the policies that have the biggest impact on Americans’ day-to-day lives.
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