TO: Interested Parties
FROM: DLCC Interim President Heather Williams
RE: There are no off-years for the DLCC
DATE: March 1, 2023

In the last few weeks, the DLCC won three special elections in Pennsylvania that upheld the will of the people and secured control for Democrats in the Pennsylvania House. On the heels of this victory, the DLCC won a critical special election in New Hampshire’s HD-Strafford 8, bringing Democrats just three seats away from an outright majority in the Granite State’s 400-seat chamber. In Virginia, just after the new year, Aaron Rouse flipped a Senate seat from red to blue — boosting Democrats’ margins as we work to defend control of the chamber ahead of elections in November.

Our wins in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and New Hampshire happened because the DLCC invested early and continuously in these states as a part of our Path to The Majority strategy. But here’s the reality: if we want to keep capitalizing on opportunities to win big in what some see as an off-year, we need significantly more resources from our donors to rebuild our war chest, leverage our strategy, and help our candidates across the finish line.

We need the full support of this grassroots movement standing with us right now. Will you invest in our work today to help build Democratic power in state legislatures this year and beyond?

In the 2024 cycle, other levels of the ballot will see their maps shrink while the state legislative maps for this decade offer us opportunities that span dozens of states and chambers. There will be fewer competitive races at the statewide and federal level of the ballot, while the DLCC is within striking distance of multiple GOP chambers and defending razor-thin new Democratic legislative majorities. To capitalize on these opportunities, we need to raise $10 million more than what is currently projected. Doing so would allow us to fund the work needed to build Democratic power through special elections, Virginia’s general election this fall, and give our battleground states an advantage over the MAGA GOP in 2024.

The DLCC is undefeated in competitive special elections this year thanks to our ability to identify specific campaigns and other levers of power that can move the needle on progress. This strategic approach has shut out MAGA Republicans and sent Democrats to the halls of their state capitol. Because there are no off-years in state legislative politics, we know that legislative majorities are won on the margins — every single move matters. As a result — we remain nimble. We provided our campaigns with critical political guidance, strategic communications planning, data analysis, and research support for earned and paid media.

But we can’t continue to give state Democrats the resources they need to defeat their Republican opponents without the help of our most dedicated grassroots supporters, so we need you to step up today. Chip in $7 now to give Democrats the key support they need to win →

Our wrap-around services alongside millions of dollars in contributions is why the DLCC was able to fend off big Republican spending in 2022, the first midterm election year since at least 1934 that the party in power didn’t lose a single legislative chamber. But now is the time to take full advantage of our momentum and work to seize every opportunity to build Democratic power that comes our way. Unlike federal committees, we don’t have the luxury of an off-year. While they are using this year to rebuild, strategize, and keep their powder dry, we have to drastically increase our spending to compete in these special elections.

Make no mistake – the DLCC can only continue building Democratic majorities across the country with the help of supporters like you, who are stepping up and doubling-down on investing in this committee. Making these investments in 2023 allows the DLCC to get a jump start on keeping MAGA Republicans out of power while setting Democrats up for another round of unprecedented wins in 2024. Doing so would rid Republicans of their grip on battleground states while we continue to build back power in the states, protect the path to the presidency, and ensure Democratic governors have the power to veto extreme Republican legislation.

But as of now, we're not getting the support we need to power this work. We also simply don’t have the resources of our Republican counterparts, who can call up any of Karl Rove’s billionaire pals to supplement their funding. This, paired with the fact that state legislatures don’t get as much investment as federal races, creates the perfect storm for us to fall behind – and we can’t let that happen.

Without question, the DLCC delivered the best midterm year for Democrats holding the White House in nearly a century. But we have a rare opportunity to keep our momentum going to flip more chambers and defend our razor-thin new majorities across the country. With more support, we can shore up Democratic majorities, advance the president’s agenda despite a gridlocked Congress, keep pressure on Republicans and even flip their chambers by seizing strategic opportunities as they arise. Democrats won and lost chambers by razor-thin margins: meaning that the balance of power within state legislatures is on the line in the off-year.

We’re fighting to keep up our momentum in 2023 — but we need your support to do it. Will you chip in $7 or $25 right now to help power state Democrats to more historic victories this cycle?

Together,

Heather Williams
Interim President, Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee