Wednesday, November 6

As we move into 2025, Democracy Docket’s mission has never been more important. We remain committed to tracking lawsuits that affect voting rights and holding those who undermine democracy accountable. Thank you for your readership and support as the fight continues.

Harris commits to peaceful transfer of power and will fight for democracy

• “We must accept the results of this election,” Vice President Kamala Harris said during her concession speech today at Howard University. “We will engage in a peaceful transfer of power.”

  
  

• Harris added that “a fundamental principle of American democracy is that when we lose an election, we accept the results” and “that principle as much as any other distinguishes democracy from monarchy or tyranny.”

  
  

• “We will never give up our fight for democracy,” Harris said.

Two Black women make history in Senate

• History was made last night with the election of Angela Alsobrooks in Maryland and Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester in Delaware – marking the first time ever that two Black women will serve together in the U.S. Senate. Read here to learn how they'll fight for democracy.

Josh Stein defeats right-wing extremist to become North Carolina governor

• North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein (D) defeated Republican challenger Mark Robinson — a right-wing candidate who has said he doesn’t think women should be allowed to vote — to become the state’s next governor. Read here to learn more about Stein and his road to the 2024 election.

  
  

• “In our democracy, the people should choose their representatives, not the other way around, and the state should be about protecting people’s right to vote, not restricting it,” Stein said. “As Governor, I will never stop fighting to make sure the people’s voting rights are protected.”

Shomari Figures wins seat in new majority-Black district in Alabama

• Shomari Figures (D) flipped the 2nd congressional district of Alabama, a seat that was redrawn to have a Black majority following a court order. For the first time, Alabama will have two Black members of Congress serving simultaneously.

Other victories for pro-democracy candidates

• Over the last few months, we interviewed pro-democracy candidates running for various offices in states across the country. Here’s who won:

  
  

  • Angela Alsobrooks will become a U.S. Senator in Maryland.

    
    

  • Lisa Blunt Rochester was elected as a U.S. Senator in Delaware.

    
    

  • Kyra Harris Bolden will keep serving as a justice on the Michigan Supreme Court.

    
    

  • Tammy Baldwin was re-elected as a U.S. Senator in Wisconsin.

    
    

  • Bob Ferguson was elected as the governor of Washington.

Updates on democracy-related ballot measures

• Voters rejected an amendment to ban gerrymandering in Ohio and approved measures to ban noncitizen voting in multiple states where the practice is already illegal. Read here to learn how the democracy-related ballot initiatives fared last night.

DOJ to wind down cases against Trump

• U.S. Department of Justice officials will wind down the two federal criminal cases against President-elect Donald Trump before he takes office because a sitting president can’t be prosecuted, according to NBC News reporting.