Yesterday (July 10, 2024,) the national Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC,) hosted by the organization’s President Heather Williams, convened its first ever DLCC Summer of the States Press Conference.
Please click here if you would like to watch the whole event.
Please click here to access the Summer of the States website.
The DLCC and its 50 state organizations, recognizing the vital importance of having caring and competent state government leaders for the health of the American Republic, especially in light of the threat of the Trumpists-MAGA movement and all it stands for (like Project 2025,) are committed to increasing Democratic representation in State Legislatures and securing majorities in those chambers.
At the press event with Ms. Williams was Arizona’s AZDLCC Co-Chair and Legislative District (LD) 18 State Senator Priya Sundareshan.
With her were Wisconsin Assembly Leader Greta Neubauer and New Hampshire Democratic Leader Matt Wilhelm.
Arizona, Wisconsin, and New Hampshire are crucial purple battle ground states, not just at the Presidential level but also in the campaign to achieve Democratic majorities in these states respected Legislative bodies.
President Williams started the press event and immediately told the attendees that “The DLCC is the official arm of the Democratic party with the sole initiative of building Democratic power in the states and setting the national agenda at the state level.”
On the three speakers, she said:
“Each of these legislators represents a state that tells an important story about how critical it is to check Republican Power by electing Democrats in this upcoming election. As we stare down the potential of a second Trump Presidency, one fact is abundantly clear. State Democrats are the top line of defense for our fundamental freedoms and our Democracy regardless of who wins the White House this year. The Republicans Playbook will be to move their MAGA agenda through the states and so our work to build power in state legislatures is critical way to defend our future especially if Donald Trump ends up back in power. A second Trump term combined with unchecked MAGA controlled State legislatures across the country would be catastrophic for our Democracy as well as our fundamental freedoms and rights right now.”
On what the plan going forward to achieve victory, Williams stated:
“The DLCC is taking major action this summer. Last month, we launched the first of its kind Summer of the State’s campaign alongside a 10 million dollar investment calling attention to the critical window in the summer months to build the infrastructure needed for Democrats to win in November. Our 10 million dollar investment is part of our history million dollar target budget this cycle to expand Democratic power across the country the work being done in the States. This summer is essential for stopping Donald Trump and his MAGA allies from total takeover in the fall.”
Among the legislative chamber targets in this cycle are:
- Maintaining majorities in the Minnesota, Michigan, and Pennsylvania State Houses.
- Getting majorities in the Arizona and New Hampshire Legislatures.
- Increasing Democratic state legislative presence in Wisconsin (with new non-gerrymandered maps,) North Carolina, and Georgia.
In her closing remarks, Ms. Williams commented:
“Strong Democratic leaders and majorities in State Legislatures would be one of the best defenses in firewalls against the dangerous and reckless policies of a second Trump Administration as States will have the power to implement or resist the policy being set at the federal level. Even if Republicans do not win the White House, we know they will continue their efforts to move their MAGA agenda through the states. 70 million Americans live in States on our target map this cycle including Arizona, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin and that’s what hangs in the balance this year. We have big challenges and opportunities ahead. But we can push through to victory if we learn from the past and act now. Democrats can’t wait until October to mobilize our resources. This summer is a critical window for Action building strong State Legislative campaigns, and every corner of battleground States is what the dlcc does best.”
In Senator Sundareshan’s opening remarks, she immediately noted how close Democrats are to flipping control of the State Legislature, saying:
“In Arizona, we are only two seats away from flipping both Chambers, to deliver a Democratic trifecta for the first time since 1966.”
On what is at stake in the election, she relayed:
“This is a critical year and a critical time for us. The stakes couldn’t be higher because Republicans in the majority have shown us what they’re about and they continue to legislate to the extremes. For example, once again this year Republicans refused to reign in the out-of-control voucher system and have failed to in make the Investments that Students and Educators deserve in our state. They’ve played politics with women’s reproductive health. You know, it was Democrats who led the effort to successfully repeal our 1864 abortion ban. You know, we got one or two Republicans to join with us, but that was not an effort that the Republican majority led and the Republicans have not been able to confront their history of putting women’s lives in danger through the laws that they have been passing on recent years. Finally Republicans have multiple times that bypassing the governor’s veto pen and have placed a number of bad ballot referrals that are Anti-Democracy, anti-immigrant, and and anti-worker… We also have had have seen a large Grassroots Coalition put pull together and put a constitutional amendment to protect access to abortion onto the ballot. We know that will drive turnout but what the Republicans are doing is in the opposite direction and it’s a pattern not just here in Arizona, but it’s something we see the nation that Republicans are governing for their own self-interests and not for their communities.”
The Senator also called attention to a couple of outstanding Democratic candidates running for the Arizona State Senate, Judy Schweibert and John McLean, and, if they win, could flip control of that chamber to the Democrats.
Among her concluding opening remarks, Senator Sundareshan said:
“Again today Democrats are only two seats away from being able to flip each chamber regaining control and with the Democratic Trifecta, paving the way for protecting our fundamental freedoms…So not only this year will Arizona be a Presidential battleground. We also have a major Senate race and abortion will be on the ballot. We have this major opportunity to flip the state legislature, and I know all eyes are on Arizona this year…”
“As we all know the fight is in the states. We are the backstop against attacks on our Democracy and Arizona is at the forefront of these attacks. So it is more important than ever this year that Arizona be flipped blue and deliver that Democratic Trifecta. So I’m so grateful today to be amongst all these colleagues who are fighting for Democratic power in state legislatures across the country…”
Later, responding to a question from this writer on the dangers of Project 2025 if allowed to be implemented, the Senator commented:
“I think that Project 2025 is extremely scary…The Republicans are putting what they have previously hidden as the most extreme version of the agenda that they have pursued. They have finally put it together in one document. and although it has a lot of importance and relevance to the federal level, it really underscores the importance of focusing on our State Legislative races and to making sure that we have Democratic control in the state legislatures because part of their agenda has been to try to dismantle federal authority and federal protections. So now more than ever, we really need to make sure that our state legislators are going to be able to fight back and affirmatively protect rights within our own states and in our state laws and our Constitution, and so I think that’s really it just underscores the importance of our efforts to flip (control.)“
When asked to comment by a journalist from the Arizona Republic on Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs active financial assistance in working to help Democrats flip control of the State Legislature, she offered:
“It’s a fantastic commitment that Governor Hobbs has made to help us flip our competitive seats It’s really can’t be underscored and I think we’ve seen some recent reporting on just how successful Governor Hobbs has been in fundraising… I know Governor Hobbs as the co-founder of our ADLCC organization understands the real value of our Organization and the coordinated effort that we bring and the staffing that we provide to the the target candidates. So I’m so thankful to hear that and I’m so I’m so looking forward to that.”
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