We collect cookies to analyze our website traffic and performance; we never collect any personal data.Cookies Policy
Accept
Michigan Post
Search
  • Home
  • Trending
  • Michigan
  • World
  • Politics
  • Top Story
  • Business
    • Business
    • Economics
    • Real Estate
    • Startups
    • Autos
    • Crypto & Web 3
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Beauty
    • Art & Books
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Education
Reading: Democrats Say They Are Serious About State Elections. But Are They Too Late?
Share
Font ResizerAa
Michigan PostMichigan Post
Search
  • Home
  • Trending
  • Michigan
  • World
  • Politics
  • Top Story
  • Business
    • Business
    • Economics
    • Real Estate
    • Startups
    • Autos
    • Crypto & Web 3
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Beauty
    • Art & Books
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Education
© 2024 | The Michigan Post | All Rights Reserved.
Michigan Post > Blog > Politics > Democrats Say They Are Serious About State Elections. But Are They Too Late?
Politics

Democrats Say They Are Serious About State Elections. But Are They Too Late?

By Editorial Board Published December 24, 2021 4 Min Read
Share
Democrats Say They Are Serious About State Elections. But Are They Too Late?
00states 1 facebookJumbo

“It feels very much like climbing uphill, pushing a rock while your arms are melting,” said Amanda Litman of the liberal group Run for Something, which recruits young people to run for state and local office.

Contents
Redistricting at a GlanceEvery 10 years, each state in the U.S is required to redraw the boundaries of their congressional and state legislative districts in a process known as redistricting.

Redistricting at a Glance

Every 10 years, each state in the U.S is required to redraw the boundaries of their congressional and state legislative districts in a process known as redistricting.

Gaby Goldstein, co-founder of Sister District, a grass-roots organization that supports progressive candidates in state legislative races, noted that conservatives have mobilized around state politics for decades. “I always say that Democrats are tardy to the party,” she said.

The Democratic Party’s belated interest in lower-tier races grew out of its bruising experience in 2010, when Republicans rode an anti-Obama backlash to oust hundreds of Democratic incumbents nationwide. Spending just $30 million, Republicans flipped 680 state legislative seats and 20 chambers, a stunning victory that put them in position to redraw election maps and entrench their hold over those states — and their congressional delegations — for a decade.

“Democrats were frankly unprepared during that cycle,” said Kelly Ward Burton, who at the time was running House Democrats’ campaign committee. Now the president of Mr. Holder’s redistricting committee, Ms. Burton has been working closely with several Democratic campaign groups in hopes of a different outcome from the current round of redistricting.

Part hardball politics and part good-government activism, the groups’ strategy has been to break up G.O.P. “trifectas” where possible — reducing the number of states where Republicans enjoy full control of the redistricting process because they hold the governorship and majorities in both legislative chambers. They also ask candidates for state and federal offices to pledge support for “fair redistricting that ends map manipulation and creates truly representative districts,” an aspiration that is sometimes in tension with more partisan goals.

Midway through the current redistricting brawl, the results of those Democratic efforts are mixed.

The long-troubled Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee became a force under new leadership in 2016, setting up the party to take six chambers in the 2018 midterm elections. Since 2017, Democrats have flipped 10 governor’s offices, including in the battlegrounds of Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, and picked up seven state Supreme Court seats. Five states have passed nonpartisan redistricting reforms, putting map-drawing in the hands of independent commissions.

But the blue wave that Democrats were counting on in 2020 never washed ashore. Although Democratic groups spent record amounts trying to win back G.O.P.-held statehouses, their party ended last year worse off, losing both chambers in New Hampshire. As a result, Republicans not only kept control of prizes like the Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin legislatures, but they also have retained the power to draw maps for 187 congressional districts, while Democrats control the fate of just 75.

TAGGED:Democratic PartyElections, State LegislatureHolder, Eric H JrMidterm Elections (2022)National Democratic Redistricting CommitteeRedistricting and ReapportionmentRepublican State Leadership CommitteeSimas, David MSquadron, Daniel LState LegislaturesThe Washington MailUnited States Politics and Government
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Email Copy Link Print

HOT NEWS

20 Sides That Make the Meal—These Are Summer season’s Undisputed Finest

20 Sides That Make the Meal—These Are Summer season’s Undisputed Finest

Lifestyle
July 12, 2025
Letters to Sports activities: Of us are singing the Dodger blues

Letters to Sports activities: Of us are singing the Dodger blues

These days, whereas watching the Dodgers play, shedding streak and all, I'm reminded of one…

July 12, 2025
9 Respectful Methods to Set Boundaries

9 Respectful Methods to Set Boundaries

I’m an empath, an optimist, and a tough employee. Taken collectively, these grant me a…

July 12, 2025
Lloyds Banking Group in talks to purchase digital pockets supplier Curve

Lloyds Banking Group in talks to purchase digital pockets supplier Curve

Britain's largest excessive avenue financial institution is in talks to purchase Curve, the digital pockets…

July 12, 2025
Regardless of damage, Kobe Brown showcases his potential for Clippers in Summer time League win

Regardless of damage, Kobe Brown showcases his potential for Clippers in Summer time League win

LAS VEGAS — The Clippers’ NBA Summer time League contest Friday in opposition to the Houston Rockets…

July 12, 2025

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Starmer goals to interrupt cupboard away day curse

Sir Keir Starmer hoped to interrupt the curse of the cupboard away day as he summoned his ministers to Chequers…

Politics
July 12, 2025

Unite suspends Deputy PM Angela Rayner over Birmingham bin strike

Labour's largest union donor, Unite, has suspended Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner over her function within the Birmingham bin strike…

Politics
July 11, 2025

What’s the UK-France migrant returns deal, who will probably be returned and what number of?

Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron have agreed a returns deal in an try to cut back the variety of…

Politics
July 11, 2025

UK has ‘not mounted numbers but’ on what number of migrants to be returned to France below deal, House Sec reveals

The UK has "not fixed the numbers yet" on what number of migrants will likely be returned to France as…

Politics
July 11, 2025

Welcome to Michigan Post, an esteemed publication of the Enspirers News Group. As a beacon of excellence in journalism, Michigan Post is committed to delivering unfiltered and comprehensive news coverage on World News, Politics, Business, Tech, and beyond.

Company

  • About Us
  • Newsroom Policies & Standards
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Careers
  • Media & Community Relations
  • Accessibility Statement

Contact Us

  • Contact Us
  • Contact Customer Care
  • Advertise
  • Licensing & Syndication
  • Request a Correction
  • Contact the Newsroom
  • Send a News Tip
  • Report a Vulnerability

Term of Use

  • Digital Products Terms of Sale
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Settings
  • Submissions & Discussion Policy
  • RSS Terms of Service
  • Ad Choices

© 2024 | The Michigan Post | All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?