Last night was a resounding victory for our democracy, John.

Voters across the country — including in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and California — headed to the polls amid unprecedented attacks on our democracy and overwhelmingly rejected the cynical politics of those in power. Americans delivered a sharp rebuke to Republican attempts to silence the will of the people. We sent a clear message that democracy can win if we fight for it. 

Thanks to the persistence and grit of this movement, pro-democracy candidates and causes prevailed from coast to coast:

• In Virginia, voters elected pro-democracy Abigail Spanberger to be its next governor, and significantly expanded Democrats’ majority in the House of Delegates by flipping several seats in the legislature. The Democratic majority, which was just two seats, has grown by double digits, ensuring that the legislature is in an even stronger position to protect basic freedoms in the state — and allow Virginia to keep fighting back against Trump’s mid-decade gerrymandering crisis.
• Voters in California overwhelmingly approved Prop 50 to respond to the extreme, mid-decade redraws Republicans are perpetrating in states like Texas, Missouri, and North Carolina. And unlike those Republican-led states, California put power in the hands of the people to pass this temporary countermeasure. These results send a clear message to Republicans that voters won’t let their voices be silenced.
• The pro-democracy movement in Pennsylvania overcame an influx of billionaire and special-interest spending and retained Justices Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty, and David Wecht. The state’s highest court will continue to be a reliable backstop against anti-democracy efforts, including mounting pressure from the White House to impose GOP gerrymanders. 

It was a really good night for democracy. But make no mistake: The work gets harder from here — the year ahead will be one of the most consequential in the history of our republic.

Our mission now is to ensure the 2026 midterm elections are free and fair — and truly representative of the will of the American people. That’s why NDRC is prepared for any further escalation of Republican attempts to manipulate maps in their favor. We are ready to fight back fiercely. At the same time, we need to elect Democracy Defenders in dozens of critical state-level races next year — and need your help to build on this incredible momentum.

The scale of this work is unprecedented — and so it requires unprecedented resources. Will you power our strategy so we can fight hard on multiple fronts to ensure democracy prevails in the 2026 midterm elections?

Last night’s results send a strong message to everyone watching: As Attorney General Holder put it, “When people stand up, speak out, and get involved — we move our country forward.”

Thank you for being one of the millions of concerned Americans who are standing up and fighting for our democracy. We’re honored to fight alongside you.

— Biz

John Bisognano
President, National Democratic Redistricting Committee