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Press Releases |

ICYMI: DLCC President Heather Williams Joins National Journal for Q&A About Historic 2026 Strategy

WASHINGTON — Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams sat down with the National Journal to discuss the stakes of the midterms and how the DLCC plans to capitalize on this once-in-a-generation opportunity in 2026 to shift electoral power in the states to impact power in this country for years to come:

Read the full article here.

Check out some highlights from DLCC President Heather Williams’ answers below:

  • “We are at this incredible inflection point of realizing the potential and making the kind of meaningful progress in the states that not only provides the bulwark to the second half of the Trump administration, but really starts to build meaningful, durable power for Democrats for the long term.”

  • “The path to building power is not just about the wins in one election; it is about building towards the end of the decade and beyond, and seeing and working towards a future that is constantly unveiling itself. We know that we can’t keep solely competing in battleground states… Being able to show up for voters in red districts, in red states, isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s how you build for the future.”

  • “The success that we’ve seen in this election cycle—we’ve already flipped 30 Republican seats—has reinforced the notion that 2026 is a once-in-a-generation opportunity at the state legislative ballot level. We’ve been driving down-ballot momentum. We’ve been connecting the dots and telling these stories. We’ve got great candidates running on the issues that voters care most about, and I don’t know that there has ever been a time that we’ve been more prepared and fundamentally ready to take on the opportunities of 2026.”

  • “We are seeing candidates, certainly at our ballot level, and increasingly up and down the ballot, who are authentically connected to their community, that are able to speak firsthand about this crisis of cost and affordability, and are able to validate how voters are feeling because they’re experiencing it themselves.”

  • “It is state legislators who draw the [district] lines, who have an impact on that process, not only for their own lines in state legislatures but also for congressional lines. We cannot lose sight of that. We must begin the process by electing as many Democrats to power in the states as possible.

The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) leads the national strategy to secure Democratic power in our state legislatures. We are the campaign arm for more than 3,000 state legislators and thousands of candidates across all 50 states who are advancing Democratic values and standing up to the dangerous MAGA agenda every single day. Over the last decade, our work has flipped 10 new chamber majorities. Those new majorities have ensured Democrats in state legislatures are positioned to protect our democracy and fundamental rights, while addressing the high cost of living and advancing opportunities. The DLCC’s national strategy and target map continue to pinpoint the most efficient paths to Democratic power across all 50 states. 

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