All articles tagged with #state legislatures
Democrats achieved historic gains in state legislatures and governorships across the US, including taking full control of Texas for the first time since 2002. These victories, driven by voter dissatisfaction with economic conditions, mark the largest shift in state power since 2010 and place new pressure on the party to address cost-of-living issues.
On November 3, 2026, Democrats achieved a historic midterm victory, securing full control of at least five state governments. The party won trifectas in Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, marking the first time they have held a majority of governorships in 16 years. In Wisconsin, Democrats reclaimed the state legislature after a 16-year Republican dominance, aided by new legislative maps. The sweep also saw Democratic governors elected in traditionally red states like Texas and Georgia, signaling a major shift in state-level power.
National Democrats are aggressively targeting state legislative chambers in 2026, viewing the current political climate as a rare chance to reverse a decade of Republican dominance. The States Project has raised over $100 million, a significant jump from the $70 million raised in 2024, to fund campaigns in key battleground states. Analysts project that Democrats could gain approximately 410 seats nationwide, potentially achieving full control of state governments in as many as seven states. This push is driven by low approval ratings for President Donald Trump and economic dissatisfaction, with specific focus on states like Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan where unified Democratic control is within reach.
The States Project has raised over $100 million for the 2026 cycle, a significant jump from the $70 million raised in 2024. This surge aims to reverse a decade of Republican control in statehouses, leveraging low national approval ratings for President Donald Trump. While Democrats target trifectas in states like Arizona and Michigan, Republicans face historical midterm losses and potential district redistricting challenges in places like Alabama.
A NWDL update finds 162 state-level officials accused of misconduct in 424 incidents since 2013, with six new public allegations in 2025, and 30 Congress members accused since 2006; however, reporting is incomplete and many cases go publicly unreported, especially those involving staff. The data show most accusations involve men, with a roughly 60/40 Republican/Democrat split, and point to barriers like whisper networks and weak consequences. While some states enacted reforms in 2025, advocates call for stronger survivor protections, anti-defamation safeguards, and accountability, including not reelecting accused lawmakers; high-profile cases like Swalwell and Gonzales highlighted ongoing risk and the need for systemic change.
Democrats have flipped 28 Republican-held state legislative seats in the last 14 months, including in Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi, signaling momentum ahead of the 2026 midterms and potentially threatening GOP supermajorities; the DLCC expanded its target map to 42 chambers with a $50 million budget, while Republicans prepare to mobilize low-propensity voters as campaign cash flows in.
Both Democratic and Republican-led states are resisting the national push for mid-cycle redistricting, with GOP efforts in Kansas and other states aiming to gain electoral advantages, while Democrats face internal disagreements and legal hurdles in states like Maryland, Virginia, and Illinois, highlighting a contentious and complex battle over congressional mapmaking ahead of the 2024 midterms.
National Republicans are actively attempting to redraw congressional districts across several states outside of Texas to gain more GOP-friendly seats ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, with efforts focused on Ohio, Indiana, South Carolina, Missouri, and Florida, amidst legal and political challenges.
Amid ongoing political battles in Texas over redistricting, Democrats are leveraging the controversy to push for similar efforts in other states, aiming to counteract Republican advantages in upcoming elections. States like California, Illinois, Maryland, New York, and New Jersey are considering or preparing for redistricting initiatives, while Republican-controlled states such as Ohio, Missouri, Indiana, South Carolina, and Nebraska are also planning to redraw districts to favor their parties. The outcomes could significantly impact the balance of power in future U.S. House elections.
Republican efforts to influence redistricting are intensifying across multiple states, with a focus on maximizing their advantage through gerrymandering, while Democrats are countering in states like Texas, California, and Maryland, where independent commissions or legal challenges complicate the process.
The American Legislative Exchange Council (Alec), a powerful rightwing pressure group, is pressuring state legislatures across the US to pass pro-Israel resolutions expressing unconditional support for Israel's attack on Gaza. Alec, which has ties to Christian evangelicals and is corporate-funded, is promoting a model resolution that accuses Hamas of using human shields and names Iran as providing logistical support to the group. Several states, including Pennsylvania, Nebraska, and North Dakota, have already accepted versions of the resolution. Alec has a history of mobilizing political pressure in support of Israel and has been instrumental in pushing legislation against the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement.
State legislatures are taking action to improve privacy for personal data as data brokers continue to profit from collecting and selling information without proper consent or security measures. Privacy advocates argue that this data, which includes real-time location and spending habits, is obtained without permission. John Yang speaks with privacy counsel Emory Roane to discuss these concerns.
The year 2023 has seen an increase in party switching among state lawmakers, with 10 lawmakers nationwide changing parties, including six who switched between the major parties. This trend reflects the growing polarization and party feuding within state capitals. The GOP has historically seen more converts, with 173 state lawmakers switching parties since 1994, with 83 Democrats becoming Republicans compared to 23 Republicans becoming Democrats. The increase in Republicans in West Virginia has led to speculation that a former House Minority Leader may join the party. Party switches have had significant consequences in some states, such as North Carolina, where a Democrat's switch to the GOP gave Republicans supermajority control and allowed them to pass conservative legislation.
The Supreme Court rejected the North Carolina GOP argument that state lawmakers should have extraordinary powers over election rules, in a win for voting rights groups. The court ruled that state courts retain the authority to apply state constitutional restraints when legislatures act under the power conferred upon them by the Elections Clause. The decision drew praise from voting rights groups and some prominent Democrats, including former President Barack Obama, who called it a "resounding rejection of the far-right theory that has been peddled by election deniers and extremists seeking to undermine our democracy."
The US Supreme Court rejected the "independent state legislature" theory, which argued that state legislatures have the authority to set election rules with little oversight from state courts. The decision was made in a case about North Carolina's congressional map. The court maintained the power of state courts to review election laws under state constitutions, while urging federal courts to "not abandon their own duty to exercise judicial review."