Strengthen democracy in the states
Strengthening our democracy and winning the fight for voting rights, abortion access, and so much more, begins in the states. Our target selection in 2024 prioritizes states where winning competitive governorships has the greatest potential to help protect democratic outcomes beyond this election year, and states where Democrats have a clear chance to flip legislative chambers and make durable state-level gains.
Our strategy for building Democratic power in the states centers around three goals:
- Win Democratic governorships in key swing states that hold important federal elections to help protect our democracy;
- Build Democratic power in key state legislatures to win majorities and expand access to the ballot;
- Ultimately, win majority control over the partisan redistricting process in 2030.
In addition to supporting Democratic candidates running at the state level, we’re also directing financial support to Democratic state parties—which often anchor statewide organizing infrastructure—and civic organizations leading year-round voter outreach efforts. Investing in these community-rooted programs is essential for building lasting on-the-ground infrastructure, developing leadership pipelines, and maintaining meaningful relationships between voters, volunteers, community leaders, and elected officials.
Gubernatorial targets
New Hampshire
Departing New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu (R) enjoys massive statewide popularity—outperforming Democrats by double digits in each of his gubernatorial bids. With Sununu's departure, Democrats have a crucial opportunity to break the state GOP trifecta by flipping this now-open seat.
North Carolina
While North Carolina Republicans currently have supermajorities in both chambers of the General Assembly, there is a path for state Democrats to break up GOP power and gain ground this year. That’s why holding the governorship is so important. Chipping away at Republican majorities and electing Josh Stein as governor would allow Democrats to safeguard reproductive freedom, protect voting rights, fight against GOP gerrymanders, improve education, grow the state’s economy, and more.
State legislative targets
At the state legislative level, Democrats are up against gerrymandering and a Republican electoral machine that has dominated at the state level for more than a decade. Our aim is to help Democrats win in 2024, and build and sustain Democratic legislative delegations over the coming decade.
Arizona
Targets: State House / State Senate
Despite having an “independent” redistricting committee, the current maps are gerrymandered to favor the Arizona GOP (the "independent" member is a former Republican). Both state legislative chambers are one flip away from ties, and two flips away from Democratic majorities.
Georgia
Target: State House
Since 2014, Democrats have been picking up seats in the Georgia House every election. This has coincided with the development of significant state organizing and fundraising infrastructure to support these gains. With a goal of making the chamber competitive before the 2030 redistricting cycle & investing locally to support up-ballot targets, the Georgia House remains an effective target in 2024.
Michigan
Target: State House
Democrats unexpectedly flipped both state legislative chambers in 2022 after the state's new independent redistricting committee undid Michigan's Republican gerrymander.
Margins in both chambers are extremely narrow, so Democrats will need to work to defend this trifecta and allow Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Democrats to continue to pass and sign progressive legislation.
New Hampshire
Target: State House
Democrats gained ground in the New Hampshire State House in 2022—managing to secure a tie in the chamber in 2023 due to a series of special elections. The state Senate is still a challenge, but Democrats are looking to gain additional ground in 2024.
North Carolina
Targets: State House / State Senate
With the North Carolina Republican Party holding super-majorities in both the state house and state senate, Democrats need to break one of these super majorities and win the governor's race in 2024. North Carolina’s status as a battleground state has been solidified by competitive statewide and federal races over the past decade, but investment in state level races has lagged behind and is vital to build evergreen organizing infrastructure that will have an impact across all levels of the ballot.
Pennsylvania
Targets: State House / State Senate
Democrats narrowly flipped the Pennsylvania State House in 2022, and have faced an uphill battle to maintain that majority through the 2023 special election cycle. The current margin is still +/- one seat.
In 2024, half of the state Senate will be up for election, with multiple vulnerable GOP incumbents facing tough reelection fights.
Candidate reevaluation timeline and additional criteria
We will be evaluating all targets on a rolling basis. We will also be incorporating additional data, including polling, electoral modeling, and campaign finance reports to effectively prioritize among our targets as new data becomes available.
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We need you on our team to win in 2024 and beyond. Connecting with volunteers and voters in Swing Districts year after year—building and developing organizing muscle—gives our community the power to move the needle in the most competitive races.
