State Democrats flipped another seat in Republican territory – bringing our total to 27 flips this cycle – as GOP leadership faced bruising losses this week
WASHINGTON — As primary season officially kicks off, Tuesday was a brutal night to be a state Republican. State Democrats have been clinching upset wins and connecting with voters everywhere since Trump’s election, and this week was no different as we delivered the 27th decisive flip of the cycle – this time in Arkansas. The split screen couldn’t be starker as Republicans are flailing and GOP voters are even rejecting party leadership.
DLCC President Heather Williams put it simply: “I’d rather be us than them.”
Here’s a quick highlight reel of Tuesday’s results:
- In Arkansas, Democrat Alex Holladay flipped HD-70 with a resounding double-digit swing. This marks the first time a Democrat has won this part of northern Little Rock in 12 years. Holladay’s win adds to Democrats’ impressive overperformance in special elections, as we’ve now flipped 27 seats to Republicans’ zero since Trump’s election.
- Also in Arkansas, Senate Majority Leader Blake Johnson lost his primary in the safe Republican seat of SD-21, dealing a significant blow to Republican leadership in the state legislature.
- In North Carolina, Republican leadership is teetering as State Senate Leader Phil Berger’s race in SD-26 remains too close to call. Keep in mind, Berger is considered “the most powerful Republican politician in the state,” and he’s flailing despite a record $10 million spent to protect his bid. NC Republicans in disarray set the stage as the DLCC aims to break the GOP Senate supermajority this November.
- By contrast, in North Carolina and Texas, current and former Democratic state legislative stars swept some of the highest-profile victories of the night with James Talarico and Roy Cooper’s wins. James Talarico has been serving in the state House since 2018, while Roy Cooper served in the state legislature for nearly 15 years. The pipeline of Democratic talent coming out of statehouses is undeniable, and both states are on the DLCC’s target map this November.
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) is the campaign arm of Democratic state legislatures and leads the national strategy for building power and winning new majorities. Over the last three decades, we have strategized cycle over cycle to win majorities and lead the effort to bring national attention and investment to our ballot level, winning nearly a dozen new chamber majorities over the last decade. Our work has ensured that nearly half of Americans are represented by at least one Democratic majority in their statehouse. State legislatures are the building blocks of our democracy and have the closest connections to Americans’ day-to-day lives. From protecting fundamental freedoms and voting rights to growing the middle class and advancing opportunity, the DLCC and state legislators are moving the Democratic agenda forward and shaping the future of this country.
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