DLCC's critical State Legislature races

[brooklynite]

There will be hundreds of competitive state legislative districts across the country this year, and it can be difficult for individuals to know where to focus their efforts. The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) is constantly monitoring the latest data and analytics to move our own investments where they will make the most impact. If anyone in your network is interested in making a contribution directly to the DLCC, they can do so at this link.

In 2022, the DLCC is implementing a three-pronged strategy to protect our gains, mount a competitive challenge to winnable GOP-held majorities, and build strategic power for future cycles.

Our first priority this year will be to defend the gains we’ve made over the last decade in chambers such as the Colorado Senate, the Maine Senate, the Minnesota House of Representatives, and the Nevada Assembly and Senate. Midterm cycles are historically difficult for the president’s party. Winning state legislative majorities in more difficult territory later in the decade starts with defending our progress this cycle.

This year, Republican majorities are the most vulnerable in the Minnesota Senate and the Michigan House and Senate. These chambers are the best opportunities to gain ground due to redistricting, the landscapes of the states, and our current margins.

In chambers like the Arizona House and Senate, redistricting and the current political environment will make winning a new majority more challenging this year, but the DLCC is investing here to protect our Democratic incumbents and gain ground. If our data and analytics show that these states are more competitive later in the cycle, we will make a play for a Democratic majority.

We will continue to adapt as the political environment takes shape over the course of the election cycle, and if chambers begin to look more vulnerable for either party, we will move resources accordingly.

Thank you for your consideration of supporting these candidates. We appreciate your dedication to this work!

My best,

Keegan
_______________________________

Arizona House
NOTE: The Arizona House and Senate district maps got more difficult for Democrats following the redistricting process. The commission's "independent" chair consistently voted with Republicans on the commission, resulting in maps with an undue Republican influence. It will be difficult to win a majority in either chamber this cycle due to these district maps. That said, these chambers are still competitive and we are working to gain ground and protect and pick up seats. Contributions to these targeted races will have a big impact.
Contribution limit: $5,300 per candidate per cycle (includes primary, general, etc.)
Primary Date: August 2, 2022
LD 2: Rep. Judy Schweibert - Critical Democratic hold, we will need to defend in order to flip the chamber
LD 4: Laura Terech - Open Democratic-held seat which we will need to defend in order to flip the chamber
LD 9: Seth Blattman - Open Democratic-held seat which we will need to defend in order to flip the chamber
LD 13: Rep. Jennifer Pawlik - Critical Democratic hold, we will need to defend in order to flip the chamber

Arizona Senate
NOTE: The Arizona House and Senate district maps got more difficult for Democrats following the redistricting process. The commission's "independent" chair consistently voted with Republicans on the commission, resulting in maps with an undue Republican influence. It will be difficult to win a majority in either chamber this cycle due to these district maps. That said, these chambers are still competitive and we are working to gain ground and protect and pick up seats. Contributions to these targeted races will have a big impact.
Contribution limit: $5,300 per candidate per cycle (includes primary, general, etc.)
Primary Date: August 2, 2022
LD 2: Jeanne Casteen - Open Democratic-held seat which we will need to defend in order to flip the chamber
LD 4: Sen. Christine Marsh - Critical Democratic hold, we will need to defend this seat in order to flip the chamber
LD 9: Eva Burch - Open Democratic-held seat which we will need to defend in order to flip the chamber

Colorado Senate
NOTE: The Democratic majority in the Colorado Senate will be a top target for national Republicans in 2022. Due to the low candidate contribution limits in Colorado (an individual can only contribute $200 per candidate per election cycle) giving directly to candidates is not the most effective way to support these campaigns. Instead, you can contribute to American Leadership Committee (ALC) Colorado. ALC Colorado will focus on independent expenditures in the state and is a way to have a significant impact on our ability to hold the chamber.
ALC Colorado

Maine Senate
NOTE: The Democratic majority in the Maine Senate will be a top target for national Republicans in 2022. Most Democratic candidates in Maine participate in the Maine Clean Election Act program, a public financing program for political candidates that bars candidates from accepting contributions from individual donors. Instead, you can contribute directly to the Maine Senate Democratic Campaign Committee, which would make a significant impact on our ability to hold the chamber.
Maine Senate Democratic Campaign Committee

Michigan House
NOTE: The Michigan House of Representatives is a top target for the DLCC this election cycle. After the latest round of redistricting, the legislative district maps are significantly fairer than they have been in a generation. Democrats have won the popular vote for the state House in nearly every single election in the last decade but have never held a legislative majority because of how aggressively Republicans were able to rig the maps. This presents a unique opportunity for Democrats to flip the Michigan House of Representatives to Democratic control in November of 2022.
Contribution limit: $1,050 per candidate per cycle (includes primary, general, etc.)
Primary Date: August 2, 2022
HD 48: Jennifer Conlin - Pick-up opportunity in a Republican-held seat
HD 61: Denise Mentzer - Open Democratic-held seat which we will need to defend in order to flip the chamber

Michigan Senate
NOTE: The Michigan Senate is a top target for the DLCC this election cycle. After the latest round of redistricting, the legislative district maps are significantly fairer than they have been in a generation. This presents a unique opportunity for Democrats to flip the Michigan Senate to Democratic control in November of 2022.
Contribution limit: $2,100 per candidate per cycle (includes primary, general, etc.)
Primary Date: August 2, 2022
SD 4: Rep. Darrin Camilleri - Open Democratic-held seat which we will need to defend in order to flip the chamber
SD 30: Rep. David LaGrand - Pick-up opportunity in a Republican-held seat

Minnesota Senate
NOTE: The Minnesota Senate has been controlled by Republicans since 2016, however Democrats only need to flip 3 seats this November in order to win back a majority in the chamber. A contribution to the following candidates would make a significant impact on our ability to flip the chamber to Democratic control.
Contribution limit: $1,000 per candidate for two-year period between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2022
SD 3: Grant Hauschild - Pick-up opportunity in a seat currently held by an Independent
SD 25: Rep. Liz Boldon - Pick-up opportunity in a Republican-held seat
SD 35: Kari Rehrauer - Pick-up opportunity in a Republican-held seat
SD 36: Heather Gustafson - Pick-up opportunity in a Republican-held seat
SD 41: Judy Seeberger - Open Democratic-held seat which we will need to defend in order to flip the chamber

Minnesota House
NOTE: The Democratic majority in the Minnesota House of Representatives will be a top target for national Republicans in 2022. Democrats currently hold 69 seats, and must maintain at least 67 seats in order to hold the majority. A contribution to the following candidates would make a significant impact on our ability to hold the chamber.
Contribution limit: $1,000 per candidate for two-year period between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2022
HD 14B: Rep. Dan Wolgamott - Critical Democratic hold, we will need to defend this seat in order to hold our majority
HD 35A: Rep. Zack Stephenson - Critical Democratic hold, we will need to defend this seat in order to hold our majority
HD 48B: Lucy Rehm - Pick-up opportunity in a Republican-held seat
HD 54A: Brad Tabke - Pick-up opportunity in a Republican-held seat
HD 55A: Rep. Jess Hanson - Critical Democratic hold, we will need to defend this seat in order to hold our majority

Nevada Assembly
NOTE: The Democratic majority in the Nevada Assembly will be a top target for national Republicans in 2022. Democrats currently hold 25 seats, and must maintain at least 22 seats in order to hold a majority. A contribution to the following candidates would make a significant impact on our ability to hold the chamber.
Contribution limit: $5,000 per candidate per election (i.e., separate limits for the primary and general)
AD 8: Duy Nguyen - Critical Democratic hold, we will need to defend this seat in order to hold our majority
AD 12: Max Carter - Critical Democratic hold, we will need to defend this seat in order to hold our majority
AD 41: Assemblywoman Sandra Jauregui - Critical Democratic hold, we will need to defend this seat in order to hold our majority

Nevada Senate
NOTE: The Democratic majority in the Nevada Senate will be a top target for national Republicans in 2022. There are only 21 members of the Nevada Senate and due to the small number of seats, there is little room for error in this chamber. A contribution to the following candidates would make a significant impact on our ability to hold the chamber.
Contribution limit: $5,000 per candidate per election (i.e., separate limits for the primary and general)
SD 8: Sen. Marilyn Dondero Loop - Critical Democratic hold, we will need to defend this seat in order to hold our majority
SD 9: Sen. Melanie Scheible - Critical Democratic hold, we will need to defend this seat in order to hold our majority
SD 12: Julie Pazina - Pick-up opportunity in a Republican-held seat

[Hermit-The-Prog]

1. We're not flipping Kentucky and recalling Moscow Mitch this time?

Dang. I was hoping for a blue moon, blue grass, and blue gov'mint.

[FBaggins]

2. This time?

You aim high, I'll give you that much.

[dawg]

3. And please let me add, for crying out loud, please vote for the Democrats at every level ...

of the ballot.

Don't just vote for Governor and Senator and then walk out.

Don't vote for the nice, "reasonable" Republican that you met one time.

The state legislatures are incredibly important under our current system. We can't afford to cede control of state assemblies to Republicans. They can use these bodies to impose undemocratic voter schemes that could lock them into near-unaccountable power for decades.

[Thunderbeast]

4. Team Blue was asleep at the wheel in 2010 and 2020

"Project REDMAP" was a cheap and very effective way for Team Red to gain great leverage in statehouse races through gerrymandering.

We are only recently realizing the danger to democracy that this neglect has caused.