SCOTUS Mail-In Voting Decision Underscores Statehouses' Importance in the Fight for Democracy

Building Democratic power at the state level is the strongest path toward protecting free and fair elections

WASHINGTON— This week, the Supreme Court rejected the Trump Administration’s executive order attacking mail-in voting. Trump’s executive order was just the latest Republican attempt to undermine our elections and meddle with the powers to govern elections that ultimately belong to the states. These unconstitutional attempts to rewrite the rules are likely to continue, and they underscore the importance of the state legislative election map this year.

Republicans are rapidly raising and deploying millions of dollars into statehouses around the country to erode the bulwark of the Democratic majorities and legislatures that are defending our elections. They know that the future of power, from redistricting to voting laws, runs through statehouses, which gives them an avenue to continue undermining our democracy even if they lose the U.S. majority.

This cycle, the DLCC is targeting more than 500 state legislative seats and working to grow eight new Democratic majorities, which would protect elections and voting for an additional 30 million Americans.

Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams issued the following statement:

“The fight to protect free and fair elections remains on the ballot this November – and it runs through our statehouses. State legislatures are our best line of defense against Republicans who are willing to rig maps, withhold ballots, disenfranchise entire communities, and intimidate voters to cling to power. Our fight to shift the balance of power in the states this year is a fight to protect elections for tens of millions of people and to protect our nation’s democracy going forward.”

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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