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The Electing Women Alliance is thrilled to announce the launch of our 100-Day Down-Ballot Giving Plan. As a community of women donors with a track record of impacting electoral outcomes for women candidates, we have an opportunity this cycle to influence critical races at the state legislative level. Since this is an extension of our mission, we want to explain why support for down-ballot races is so important and why now.
The Critical Importance of Down-Ballot Races
With states increasingly gaining power, down-ballot races are pivotal in shaping policies that directly impact our lives, including reproductive rights, voting rights, and education. By investing in down-ballot candidates, we can advance policies that often face gridlock at the federal level – while also building the pipeline for women to run for higher office over time, with a particular emphasis on women of color.
There is also an enormous opportunity for women running for state legislative office in 2024. According to analysis from the Center for American Women and Politics, the number of women candidates running for federal office in 2024 has declined since last cycle, while there is a significant increase in the number of Democratic women running for state House across the country. These statistics pave the wave for women to flip chambers, increase representation, or in some cases break supermajorities in November.
Regular Slate Updates: Urgent Calls for Support
The 100-Day Down-Ballot Giving Plan focuses on the most competitive and consequential races across the country. As we shared with many of you at our annual convening in Washington, D.C., last October, we will be working with each of our groups to brainstorm the specific call to action in your states. On the national front, we will also regularly highlight a slate of candidates who urgently need our support to maximize our impact where it’s needed most.
Tracking Our Progress
Week 8: Breaking GOP Supermajorities
In Phase 3, we are laser-focused on four states that hold the key to reshaping the political landscape. We’re highlighting two states on the brink of breaking Republican supermajorities (North Carolina and Florida), one state (Nevada) that’s just one seat away from achieving a Democratic supermajority and one state (Tennessee) where we can make meaningful gains to eventually break the Republican Supermajority. These races offer a rare opportunity to transform state legislatures, paving the way for fairer representation and stronger advocacy for women and communities of color.
Here’s how we’re going to make an impact:
Florida
While chances of Democrats retaking control of either chamber are slim due to extreme gerrymandering, Democrats are fielding candidates in every state legislative district in an effort to break the Republican supermajority that has been rubber-stamping Gov. Ron DeSantis’ extreme agenda. The abortion rights and cannabis ballot measures along with increased excitement for Harris-Walz and Senate candidate Debbie Mucarsel-Powell will drive down-ballot wins.
- Sarah Henry (FL – HD38): In this tossup district, Henry, a nonprofit professional, is focused on healthcare and education, while her opponent, David Smith, supports reducing government regulation.
- Rep. Maria Revelles (FL – HD47): Latina union leader and affordable housing advocate, Revelles faces Paula Stark, a conservative prioritizing limiting housing programs in this closely watched race.
North Carolina
As one of the most pivotal swing states in the country, North Carolina’s House is held by a slim GOP supermajority—just one seat. With only 11% of women of color represented, these races are crucial not just for flipping seats, but also for ensuring diverse voices in policymaking. By winning these key races, we can upend GOP control and bring new leadership to the state legislature.
- Evonne Hopkins (NC – HD35): Hopkins, a lawyer and activist, is running against Mike Schietzelt, a former lobbyist for corporate interests, in a district that could flip either way.
- Rep. Diamond Stanton-Williams (NC – HD73): Incumbent Stanton-Williams, a nurse and volunteer with local community centers, is in a battleground district facing Jonathan Almond, who opposes expanding Medicaid.
- Sen. Lisa Grafstein (NC – SD13): In this highly competitive seat, Grafstein, a civil rights lawyer and incumbent LGBTQ senator, is up against Scott Lassiter, an education privatization advocate, and Susan Hogarth, a Libertarian.
- Dr. Kim Sexton Lewter (NC – SD34): Sexton Lewter, a public healthcare educator, is challenging incumbent Paul Newton, supporter of corporate tax breaks, and Libertarian Thomas B. Hill, in this tossup district.
- Woodson Bradley (NC – SD42): Bradley, a successful business owner running in this open seat against Stacie McGinn, who prioritizes tax cuts over public investment, in a race that could shift the balance of power.
Nevada
Nevada is a beacon of progress, boasting the nation’s only female majority in the legislature. However, the state Senate remains on the edge—just one more Democratic seat will secure a Senate supermajority and bolster our ability to pass pro-choice, pro-equality policies — even with a Republican Governor. While gender parity has been achieved, more representation from women of color is needed to reflect the diversity of the state.
- Sen. Nicole Cannizzaro (NV – SD6): Senate Majority Leader and lawyer, Cannizzaro, is facing tough competition from both Republican Jill M. Douglas & Independent Brad Lee Barnhill in one of Nevada’s most critical hold races.
- Sen. Dallas Harris (NV- SD11): Harris, an incumbent and attorney, is fighting to retain her WOC seat against Lori Rogich, a well-funded and connected conservative business executive.
Tennessee
In a state where Republicans have dominated for decades, with a Senate split of 27R/6D and a House at 75R/23D, the opportunity to crack the GOP’s supermajority this decade starts with this winnable race that needs the cash. This race in Tennessee represents our best shot at reclaiming power for working families and women’s rights, against a backdrop of far too long held conservative control.
- Allie Phillips (TN – HD75): In this Republican-leaning district, Phillips, a critical messenger in the fight for healthcare access, is challenging Jeff Burkhart, who supports strict abortion restrictions.
Week 5: Celebrating Women’s Equality Day
Big news: We surpassed our $5,000 fundraising goal for the first cohort of state legislative candidates! We are now pushing towards a new goal of $10,000 to ensure critical candidates have the resources to secure key victories in the state chambers.
In the spirit of Women’s Equality Day, which we celebrated on Monday, this week’s slate spotlights eight trailblazing women candidates in three states—Colorado, New Mexico, and Nevada—whose victories would help deliver gender parity in their states. In Nevada, we are seeking to hold two incumbents, while the candidates in Colorado and New Mexico are running to flip seats currently held by Republicans:
- Amy Paschal (CO – HD18): Paschal, a software engineer, will take on state Rep. James Boelens, a conservative running on pro-business issues.
- Jillaire McMilan (CO-HD19): McMilan, non-profit director and small business owner, is facing Dan Woog, a real estate developer.
- Vivian Smotherman (CO – SD6): Smotherman, a farmer and veteran, is up against state Sen. Cleave Simpson Jr., a farmer. This race is largely about agriculture and economy.
- Vicki Estrada-Bustillo (NM – HD31): Estrada-Bustillo, a small business owner, is challenging Nicole Chavez, a sales director with conservative views on community investments.
- Gabby Begay (NM – HD39): Begay, a middle school teacher, is challenging state Rep. Luis Terrazas, a business owner focused on cutting government spending.
- Michelle Sandoval (NM – HD57): Sandoval, an environmental lawyer, will compete against Catherine Cullen, a real estate broker with tough on crime interests.
- Assemblywoman Brittney Miller (NV – AD5): Miller, an experienced educator, is running for re-election against Kelly Quinn, a businesswoman who opposes funding for public education.
- Sen. Dallas Harris (NV – SD11): Harris, an incumbent state senator and attorney, is running against Lori Rogich, a business executive who favors corporate tax cuts.
Week 1: Primaries in Michigan, Washington, Wisconsin.
These states reflect time-sensitive opportunities to achieve gender parity and safeguard critical legislative chambers. Note that Electing Women has giving groups in all three of these states.
Wisconsin, Aug. 13: Republicans hold majorities in both chambers, and women make up only 31 percent of the state legislature.
- Karen DeSanto, Assembly 40: Desanto, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of West Central Wisconsin for the last 12 years, triumphed in her primary against two men and will now face a white man in the general.
- Angela Stroud, Assembly 73: Stroud, an educator and researcher based in Ashland, bested her primary opponent in this newly redistricted state House seat.
Michigan, Aug. 6: Democrats have a razor-thin majority in both chambers. We need to protect women incumbents and add new women to the caucus in this critical purple state.
- Tonya Myers Phillips, HD 7: Myers Phillips, an attorney and activist, was born and raised in Detroit and remains an advocate for her local community. She won her primary and is likely to hold this seat as a woman of color.
- Mai Xiong, HD 13: Xiong is a first-generation American born in a refugee camp in Thailand. She’s helped Democrats regain control of the state House with her special election win. She dominated her primary with 71.4% of the vote, ensuring a strong position for women of color.
- Aisha Farooqi, HD 57: Farooqi immigrated with her family to Michigan, where she served as president of her class at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. Farooqi defeated two male primary candidates and will go on to the general to flip the seat, which the sitting Republican won by less than 2,000 votes.
- Layla Taha, HD 25: Taha is running in Wayne County, where she was raised by a single mother. Despite a strong campaign, Layla lost her crowded primary to unseat a male incumbent who won a special election for this safe Democratic seat.
Washington, Aug. 6: Women are key to winning supermajorities in both chambers in a state with a closer-than-expected Governor’s race. Washington has a top-two primary system, where two candidates regardless of party advance to the general.
- Natasha Hill, HD 3, Pos.1: Hill is an attorney and current editor of the Black Lens in Spokane, where she was born and raised. She advanced to the general election after defeating a Democratic white man in the top-two primary.
- Janet St. Clair, SD 10: St. Clair had a 30-year career as a social worker while also serving as a volunteer foster parent. She currently serves as a County Commissioner in Island County. St. Clair secured a spot to in the top-two general, unseat a Republican incumbent first elected in 2018.
- Maria Beltran, SD 14: Beltran, the daughter of immigrants from Mexico, built her career as a community organizer. Over the last decade, she has helped elect candidates up and down the ballot across the state. A Latina, she is running to flip a newly redrawn district, long-held by white male Republicans. She will move onto the general.
- Marla Keethler, SD 17: Keethler, the mayor of White Salmon and a former teacher and journalist, is running for this newly redistricted open seat currently held by a Republican. She advanced to the general.
- Brynn Felix, HD 23: Felix, general counsel of Peninsula Health Services, is running in a four-way primary against an appointed male state House member. Unfortunately, Brynn did not advance, placing third in a four-way race.