DLCC Vice-Chair Steven Horsford, who also serves as Nevada’s state Senate Majority Leader, has been named to the 2011 edition of The Root 100, “a list of the most influential African Americans between the ages of 25 and 45.” The list is compiled each year by The Root, a publication founded by Harvard University Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

Senator Horsford, the first African American ever to serve as Nevada Senate Majority leader, shares this year’s stage with other Democratic rising stars like U.S. Rep André Carson and Newark mayor Cory Booker, as well as a host of other prominent voices in news media, art, and entertainment. But editors were clearly impressed with Senator Horsford’s leadership this session:

Democratic state Sen. Steven Horsford. Need we say more? Nevada's cutting-edge Senate majority leader has been making a name for himself since his election in 2004, battling Republicans to protect dollars for education, health care services and job creation. He was co-chair of President Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign in Nevada. Word is that he is considering a run for a House seat. He's always looking for the next challenge.

That last part, by the way, is no longer rumor, and at least one local opinion leader is so impressed with Horsford’s performance in Nevada that he wishes the Senator didn’t have to go:

Horsford is bright, hardworking and capable, with a remarkable personal story.

His father was murdered, and he was forced to leave UNR after his first semester to care for younger siblings while his mother struggled with addiction. He is the head of the Culinary Training Academy, the management-labor partnership that prepares workers for their jobs on the Las Vegas Strip. He has deep legislative experience and is known as collegial but tough.

In short, he’ll make probably make a fine congressman, which is why I wish he wouldn’t run. The real work must be done here, not in Washington.

We wish to congratulate Senator Horsford for this recognition, as it is extremely well deserved.

At its most recent meeting, the DLCC Board of Directors voted to formally welcome Arizona House Minority Leader Chad Campbell as its newest member.

Leader Campbell adds a strongly progressive voice to the national political scene. At a time when Republicans have launched unprecedented attacks against public education across the country, Leader Campbell has remained a tireless advocate for children and educational issues through his ongoing work with Communities in Schools of Arizona and the Center for Progressive Leadership, as well as his former work with Children's Action Alliance, the state's leading non-profit organization fighting for children and families.

As a legislator and a caucus leader, Campbell has earned frequent honors for his effectiveness on behalf of early literacy, environmental protection, and the working families of Arizona.

And best of all, Leader Campbell knows that deepening GOP radicalism must be confronted repeatedly and tirelessly, and he’s willing to bypass the traditional media filter to do it. We were particular fans of his 2010 Huffington Post column, “A Top 10 List of the Absurd Republican Legislative Ideas in Arizona.” (Sadly, some of the most extreme ideas on that list were actually passed by the GOP-controlled legislature.)

Leader Campbell represents Legislative District 14, based in Phoenix, Arizona.

Evan McMorris-Santoro at Talking Points Memo recently sat down with Indiana House Democratic Leader (and DLCC Board of Directors member) Pat Bauer, who urged national Democrats to stand up for core Democratic values in budget negotiations with Republicans.

We urge you to read the full article, but here's a quick excerpt of Leader Bauer's analysis:

"You're talking about the heart of the Democratic party," Bauer said, referring to those who rely on government entitlements. "We need clear differences between Republicans and Democrats."

Bauer said Obama should end the wars in Afghanistan, Libya and Iraq along with calling for new taxes on the rich if he wants to close the budget hole. Entitlement programs -- especially Social Security -- should be off the table entirely. That will help Democrats draw a contrast with Republicans on the campaign trail next year.

"[It would show] we know where we're at," Bauer said, and would paint a picture of "greedy Republicans" bent on paying for tax cuts for the rich on the backs of those who rely on government support.

The full article is available at Talking Points Memo.

State legislatures are the staging ground for tomorrow’s political leaders and provide the farm team for congressional, senatorial, gubernatorial, even presidential (Barack Obama’s first elected office was that of Illinois state Senator) candidates. Steven Colbert acknowledged this (in a way) in his “Mr. Smith Goes to the State Legislature, Then Later Possibly Washington” segments on The Colbert Report.

Now Governing has sifted through the thousands of Democratic state legislators across the country to select a dozen up-and-comers to watch. Criteria included demonstrated leadership qualities, a record of leading the party to noteworthy gains, and likelihood of having a long political future. 

We’re highlighting a few below, but don’t miss the full article. 

Maine state Rep. Emily Ann Cain 

Cain was born in Kentucky and grew up in Illinois and New Jersey before studying vocal music education at the University of Maine. At just 24, she was elected to the state House in 2004, and only six years later is the House Democratic Leader for the current legislative session. In the midst of a difficult economic period for the state, she served as House Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs in 2009 and 2010. 

California House Speaker Pro Tempore Fiona Ma 

Ma, who plans on running for state Senate, is the daughter of Chinese immigrants. Ma started her political career as an aide to former influential state Sen. John Burton, a Democrat. She won election to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors before winning an Assembly seat in 2006 and quickly ascending the leadership ladder. Her legislative agenda has included restrictions on chemicals in toys, tools to fight domestic violence, expansion of high-speed rail and awareness of hepatitis B -- a problem disproportionate among Asian and Pacific Islanders, including Ma herself, who learned at age 22 that she had been infected at birth. 

Indiana state Rep. Scott Pelath 

Pelath, first elected in 1998, is assistant minority leader and a leader of the "Hoosier 39," who boycotted the Legislature for almost five weeks in a bid to deny Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels a quorum on right-to-work legislation. The Republicans decided to ultimately not pursue the legislation. An Army reservist, Pelath previously worked as an aide to former Democratic-U.S. Rep. Tim Roemer.

The Des Moines Register has published an excerpt from its January 7 editorial board meeting with DLCC Chair and Iowa Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, during which he was asked about his commitment to protecting the Iowa Supreme Court decision legalizing gay marriage. A sample of the exchange and the video are below.

Q: I want to ask you specifically about your position on a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. You have been criticized a lot for one person stopping the will of Iowa voters. What's your answer to that?

A: First of all, I'm not convinced it's the will of the Iowa voters. Two-thirds of Iowans voted against a constitutional convention. Two-thirds. Two to one voted against a constitutional convention.

That was a larger issue than just gay marriage.

Q: Two-thirds of them voted not to hold a convention to amend the state constitution, to propose amendments to the state constitution. So, your interpretation of what Iowans' will may or may not be ... everybody kind of has their own ability to interpret that.

A: We did not put it to a vote of the people when Iowa took out ... the prohibition on interracial marriage. We did not put the right of different-race couples to a vote of the people. We didn't put to a vote of the people whether or not women should be admitted to the bar. We didn't put to a vote of the people whether Ralph should be put back into slavery - in the first decision of the Iowa Supreme Court.

I don't think it's appropriate to put your rights to a vote of the popular will of the people. I believe that's what the constitution is there for, to protect everybody's rights and to avoid the tyranny of the majority. You could get to the point where you could say, "Well, I don't think anybody in our religion should be able to marry anybody of another religion."

I don't think we want to go down that road where we put people's rights to a popular vote of the people.

Click HERE to read the rest of the interview on the Des Moines Register's website.

In Iowa, the governor's legislative will can be overridden; Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal's cannot.

And that means if Iowa Republicans expect any of their agenda to be enacted over the next two years, they’ll first need permission from the famously thoughtful and pragmatic Gronstal:

His position as majority leader gives him sole authority to decide what bills the Senate will debate. Republicans will take control of the governor's office and Iowa House next month, but Gronstal will control the fate of their agenda for state government.

Everyone who knows him well, Republican or Democrat, describes him as a brilliant strategist. Although his wit and genial disposition usually mask his competitive side, he can be a bare-knuckled brawler.

At stake for Iowans will be action or stalemate on bills to ban same-sex marriage, restrict abortion, cut taxes and make the regulatory climate more business-friendly.

In sessions past, Senator Gronstal has had good working relationships with colleagues of all political stripes, no matter which party held the majority. But he knows that this year, it could be more difficult than ever to convince GOP legislators to behave reasonably.

Senator Gronstal earned national prominence for his promise to uphold the Iowa Supreme Court ruling that established Iowa as a marriage equality state – a promise he’s kept, repeatedly, using the full authority of the Majority Leader’s office. That, in turn, means Senator Gronstal will probably be the #2 target of national conservative groups in 2012, second only to President Obama.

But Senator Gronstal has built a long record as a thoughtful pragmatist and a brilliant legislator, able to tackle complex issues and build support for legislation across the political spectrum. And the former shipping clerk’s notorious frugality means he’ll always be in touch with the day-to-day struggles of working families in western Iowa:

For Gronstal, repairing a vacuum cleaner has a quick and satisfying finish, unlike crafting legislation, where the end game often isn't clear. A determined Mr. Fix-it, he once jacked up his house and built a new foundation entirely on his own. (He was the only guy in his neighborhood with a 30-ton hydraulic jack. He had his own dump truck, too, purchased for $400 with a blown engine that he replaced himself.)

Gronstal is one of five children of the vice president of Council Bluffs Savings Bank - a bank he and relatives still own - and he was taught to live beneath his means. When his two daughters were little, if a balloon popped, they'd say: "Save the pieces. Daddy will fix it."

Life in the Gronstal household has long meant used clothing, well-worn furniture, infrequent vacations, no credit card debt, and no-frills cars.

Since Senator Gronstal became the Chairman of our DLCC Board of Directors, he’s brought that same combination of earnestness, brilliance, and frugality to our organization. And as any of our visitors will attest, we have the well-worn furniture to prove it.

This morning TIME released this year’s list of 40 Under 40, a veritable Who’s Who of rising political stars across the country.

In an epic election cycle, a new generation of civic leaders is already at work trying to fix a broken system — and restore faith in the process. Meet the rising stars of American politics.

Many of those who made this list are creatures of the DC “inside the beltway” culture, but some civic leaders listed stand apart from this crowd. TIME featured no fewer than five Democratic state legislators from across the country.

State legislatures are where many of today’s most successful political leaders cut their teeth and begin honing the skills and qualities that will make them great leaders on the national stage. The DLCC is pleased that TIME is recognizing some of those we’ve worked to hard to help elect.

We’ve already featured OH Rep. Jay Goyal, CO Sen. Mike Johnston, ME Speaker Hannah Pingree, and SC Rep. Bakari Sellers.

And now, the DLCC is pleased to present Arizona state Representative Kyrsten Sinema (HD 15- Phoenix).

A former Phoenix social worker, Sinema, 34, lobbied on housing, education and tax issues before joining the legislature herself. A third-term Democrat who co-sponsored a bill to bring high-tech jobs to Arizona to bolster its slumping economy, she's running this fall for the state senate.

Who is your political hero/inspiration?
I have great respect for Sandra Day O'Connor. She has broken so many barriers for women in the law, and was a master negotiator and pragmatist in her days on the Supreme Court. She represents what's best about Arizona — seeking practical, common sense solutions to everyday problems.

What's your go-to political blog?
Huffington Post

If you weren't working in politics, what would you be doing?
International relations, with some fashion on the side!

What's the most overlooked issue facing America these days?
I'm very concerned about the tone of politics in recent years. We've seen a decline in civility and bipartisanship, and a rapid increase in hostility between those who have differing opinions. I think this has led to the alienation of the public in governance, which jeopardizes democratic participation. I also have grave concern over the 24 hour media news cycle and how that's helped created an expectation of immediacy in public policy — this encourages public officials to make short term decisions that aren't always good for the long term health of our country.

Where do you see yourself professionally in five years?
I hope to continue serving Arizona in public office, although I'm not sure exactly what that may look like in 5 years.

The DLCC is pleased to announce another state legislator listed on TIME’s 40 Under 40 list.

We already highlighted OH Rep. Jay Goyal, CO Sen. Mike Johnston, and ME Speaker Hannah Pingree. Now we’re pleased to present South Carolina state Representative Bakari Sellers (HD 90 – Bamberg).

When he was elected at age 22, Sellers became the youngest member of the South Carolina General Assembly. Active in the fight against child obesity, Sellers graduated from Morehouse College in 2005 and got his law degree at the University of South Carolina in 2008. He just turned 26 in September.

Who is your political hero/inspiration?
My father [civil rights activist Cleveland Sellers]. His search for social justice and equality, as well as his never-ending desire to attain the highest level of education possible, is my number-one inspiration.

What's your go-to political blog?
It's actually a conservative blog in South Carolina. It's called FITSNews. It's not too friendly to my side of the aisle, but it's interesting reading.

If you weren't working in politics, what would you be doing?
I would like to think that I would still be practicing law somewhere.

What's the most overlooked issue facing America these days?
I think it's the issue of my generation, and it's not race any longer: It's the haves versus the have-nots. Until we address that growing divide, whether it be narrowing the socio-economic divide, narrowing the technological gap or just making sure that everyone is healthy, we will continue to not see the progress that we want in the country.

Where do you see yourself professionally in five years?
That's a hard question for me to answer because I truly live day by day ... I do love our lieutenant governor's office. That would be a good window to look out of. And the governor has a nice house. But we'll see.

The DLCC is pleased to announce another state legislator listed on TIME’s 40 Under 40 list.

We already highlighted OH Rep. Jay Goyal and CO Sen. Mike Johnston. Now we’re pleased to present Maine’s Speaker of the House Hannah Pingree (HD 36 – North Haven).

While Maine has a long tradition of formidable female politicians, the Democrat is a star in her own right. At 33, the speaker of the Maine house says her youth is not an obstacle. "Once you prove you care about the issue and that you're smart," Pingree says, "you earn your colleagues' respect."

Who is your political hero/inspiration?
"My mom. When I was 14 years old, she ran for office. To see her succeed in politics, that had a huge impact on my life. She's one of my political heroes. Also, in high school, I worked for then-U.S. Sen. George Mitchell, in Washington. He's one of the most thoughtful statesman-like politicians I've ever encountered. I think his level of calmness, his ability to get things done for Maine, at the time, and for the country, I had a lot of respect for him.

What's your go-to political blog?
"I like to see what my constituents are saying on Facebook. That's not a blog, really. But Talking Points Memo is a good one. I read the Maine newspapers, the New York Times.

If you weren't working in politics, what would you be doing?
"I love politics. Even in these times, politics is hard, the word 'politics' isn't popular, and politicians aren't the most poplar people. But being able to serve in the stage legislature, where a lot of the work we do is bipartisan, there are decent people on both sides of the aisle. You can make a difference. I've been able to pass a lot of bills or make an impact on the people I grew up with: fishermen in my district, people who need good housing, environmental policy that impacts kids' health. If I hadn't been able to do that in politics, I would have given up a long time ago. All the challenges and, sometimes, meanness and frustration you encounter in politics is worth it, if you can make good things happen."

What's the most overlooked issue facing America these days?
"Poverty. People understand there's a recession, that people are struggling for jobs. There are a lot of people in this country, in my district, who are in poverty. We've done very little to actually deal with it. My other issue that is becoming a little more looked at is toxic chemicals that mostly end up in our homes. I've been working on it in children's products.

Where do you see yourself professionally in five years?
"I'm a woman in her 30s who wants to have a successful career in politics, and a family. Hopefully, in 5 years, I'll be finding a way to do both. How? That's a great question.

In its 40 Under 40 list today, TIME gave a nod to multiple state legislators.

We already highlighted OH Rep. Jay Goyal as an “outside the beltway” civic leader and rising star. Now we’re please to present Colorado state Senator Mike Johnston (SD 33- Denver).

A former high school principal who advised Barack Obama on education policy, Johnston, 35, of Colorado, sees poor test scores and dropout rates as nothing short of a civil rights issue.

Who is your political hero/inspiration?
Dr. King

What's your go-to political blog?
coloradopols.com

If you weren't working in politics, what would you be doing?
Principal of an urban high school

What's the most overlooked issue facing America these days?
Ensuring working class Americans access to college

Where do you see yourself professionally in five years?
Hopefully still in the state senate, or head coach of the Denver Broncos :-)

State legislatures are where many of today’s most successful political leaders cut their teeth and begin honing the skills and qualities that will make them great leaders on the national stage. The DLCC is pleased that TIME is recognizing some of those we’ve worked to hard to help elect.