August 29, 2025 Insider: Expanding the Maps

We have quite a bit happening to round out the summer, from redistricting to new US Senate candidates in Republican-held seats and this fall’s marquee races heating up. But first, a quick reminder that registration and the room block for this fall’s convening are now open:

10th Anniversary Update

Electing Women Alliance 10th Anniversary Convening

Oct. 22-23, 2025
Washington, DC
Registration fee: $500
Click here to register

The Dupont Circle Hotel

1500 New Hampshire Ave NW
Washington, DC 20036
Room block rate: $299
Click here to book

And in case you missed the announcement earlier this month, this year’s reception will be at the Woolly Mammoth Theatre, located in Penn Quarter. The $500 Convening registration reserves your spot at the opening-night reception as well as the next day’s programming.

We’ve also opened an RSVP link for those interested in canvassing in Northern Virginia Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. You can RSVP for one day or two:

Electing Women Canvassing Trip

Northern Virginia, Oct. 24-25
Click here to sign up

US Senate: Expanding the Map

Even if we get a blue wave in 2026, Democrats are underdogs to take back the US Senate. If we want to have any chance, we have to expand the map. Luckily, Democrats did that in August.

On August 5, Des Moines school board chair Jackie Norris announced her campaign to challenge Sen. Joni Ernst (IA). And then this morning, news leaked that Ernst would be retiring.

Possibly contributing to Ernst’s pending retirement: 1) A new poll this week shows her essentially tied in the mid-40s with every potential Democratic nominee, and 2) a Democratic special election win on Tuesday in a Republican-held state Senate. Norris has three male primary challengers, including former Iowa Senate Minority Leader Zach Wahls and state Rep. Josh Turek. Two-time congressional nominee and former state Rep. J.D. Scholten looked like the frontrunner until he dropped out earlier in August and endorsed Turek, leaving the Democratic primary field wide open.

On August 18, former Sen. Sherrod Brown (OH) announced he would mount a comeback bid against Sen. John Husted.

Brown raised $3.6 million in the first 24 hours of his new campaign, which is more than most US Senate candidates raised in the second quarter of this year. The only two US Senate candidates with more fundraising largess at this point are Sen. Jon Ossoff (GA) and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL). We’ll be adding this as another entry in our gender fundraising gap ledger. Current polling has former Sen. Brown down significantly against Husted.

On August 27, Maine Gov. Janet Mills announced she would make a decision on mounting a challenge to US Sen. Susan Collins in November.

News Clips

Senate Dems Eye a Perilous but Plausible Path to the Majority [Cook Political Report]

As GOP Struggles To Find a Candidate, Minnesota Shifts to Likely Democrat [Cook]

Des Moines school board chair, launches U.S. Senate campaign [IA Capital Dispatch]

Sen. Joni Ernst struggling against Democratic challengers [Little Village Magazine]

OH U.S. Senate race expected to have record-breaking spending [OH Capital Journal]

Sen. Husted Starts Matchup with Six-point Lead Over Sherrod Brown [Emerson]

Janet Mills says decision on challenge to Susan Collins may come in November [Portland Press Herald]

US House: Redistricting Chaos

Normally there is little political horserace news in the dog days of summer. Not so this year, as both Texas and California undertake redistricting efforts.

To recap: Earlier this month, Texas Republicans passed new congressional maps that eliminated five Democrat-held districts, including Rep. Julie Johnson’s (TX-32). The new maps would also force US Rep. Jasmine Crockett into a primary. In response, California Democrats created new maps of their own that eliminate five Republican-held seats while shoring up Democratic incumbents in five others.

The Texas districts on the move:

TX-09, Rep Al. Green — Solid D to Solid R
TX-28, Rep. Henry Cuellar — Lean Democrat to Toss Up
TX-32, Rep. Julie Johnson — Solid D to Solid R
TX-34, Rep. Vicente Gonzalez — Toss Up to Lean R
TX-35, Rep. Greg Casar — Solid D to Likely R

The California districts on the move:

CA-01, Rep. Doug LaMalfa — Lean R to Likely D
CA-03, Rep. Kevin Kiley — Likely R to Likely D
CA-22, Rep. David Valadao — Lean R to Toss Up
CA-41, Rep. Ken Calvert — Lean R to Lean D
CA-48, Rep. Darrell Issa — Solid R to Toss Up

Note that while the Texas maps will take effect, California’s new maps must be approved by voters this November.

News Clips

The New Maps Are Just the Beginning [Cook Political Report]

Districts affected by Newsom’s redistricting plans [Cal Matters]

Republicans are going outside of Texas to try to redraw more US House seats [CNN]

The Texas redistricting fight has been the backdrop for the Trump administration to test a new legal strategy [TX Tribune]

Democratic women in the House are trying to grow their ranks to 100 [The 19th]

State & Local: Race to Election Day in NJ + VA

We’re about to enter the final stretch for state elections in New Jersey and Virginia. Here’s where the key races stand:

New Jersey Governor

Polling: The most up-to-date polling shows Mikie with a nine-point lead, though 17 percent of voters remain undecided.
Raising: Both candidates have raised similar sums, with Mikie at $9.3 million for the cycle compared to Jack Ciattarelli’s $9.2 million.
What’s next: The candidates will meet for their next debate on Sept. 21 at Rider University. You can watch it via the NJ Globe.

Virginia Governor

Polling: The most up-to-date polling shows a slightly tightening race, with Abigail leading by seven points. No candidate has a majority.
Raising: Abigail has raised $26.7 million for the cycle, more than double what Republican Winsome Earle-Sears has raised—$11.6 million.
What’s next: The candidates will meet for their first debate on Oct. 9 at Norfolk State University. You can livestream it via WAVY-TV.

Virginia Lieutenant Governor

Polling: The same Roanoke poll shows a much tighter race for lieutenant governor, with Ghazala Hashmi leading by just 3 points and more than a quarter of the electorate undecided.
Raising: Ghazala has raised $3.4 million while her opponent, John Reid, has raised only $440,000, and has only about a third of that in cash-on-hand.
What’s next: There are no scheduled debates in this race.

California Governor

Since former VP Kamala Harris decided not to run in late July, this 2026 race has changed dramatically. Former US Rep. Katie Porter is now considered the frontrunner, though there are still nearly a dozen other candidates in the race, including former Speaker of the State Assembly Toni Atkins and former State Controller Betty Yee. Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis has dropped out to run for state Treasurer. California, which recently became the fourth largest economy in the world moving past Japan, has never had a woman governor.