DemDaily: The State of Eight Battleground States

October 1, 2019

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is expanding its operations in eight battleground states, underscoring the Party's investment in state-level organizing and in key constituencies that offer a path to victory in 2020.

The positions are just one in a wave of grants and targeted organizing efforts funded by the DNC's State Party Innovation Fund (SPIF) program which includes engaging African-American, Latino, Asian American and Pacific Islander, millennial, and rural communities.

The efforts support the ground game in states where elections up and down the ticket can make the difference in 2020 and/or control of redistricting in 2021.

The eight are just a partial snapshot of the Party's unfolding strategy as we countdown to 2020.

ARIZONA (11 Electoral Votes)
Presidential: 2016: Trump 48.1%-Clinton 44.6%.
Voted Republican since 1960, with the exception of Bill Clinton in 1996.
US Senators: Kyrsten Sinema (D) and Martha McSally (R)
US House: 5 Democratics, 4 Republicans
Governor: Doug Ducey (R)
State Senate: 17 Republicans, 13 Democrats
State House: 31 Republicans, 29 Democrats
Redistricting: Drawn by Independent Commission

Races Up in 2020: US Senate (McSally), US House (9), State Executive Offices (Corporation Commission), State Senate (all 30 seats), State House (all 60 seats), Supreme Court, Appellate Court. *The 2020 US Senate race is a special election to fill the remainder of the late John McCain's (R) seat through 2022.
New DNC Organizers: Latinx and Native American Outreach Directors

COLORADO (9 Electoral Votes)
Presidential: 2016: Clinton 48.2%-Trump 43.3%
Voted with winning Presidential candidate since 1980, with exception of 1996 and 2016.
US Senators: Michael Bennet (D) and Cory Gardner (R)
US House: 4 Democrats, 3 Republicans
Governor: Jared Polis (D)
State Senate: 19 Democrats, 16 Republicans
State House: 41 Democrats, 24 Republicans
Redistricting: Drawn by the Colorado State Legislature and subject to veto by the Governor

Races Up in 2020: US Senate (Gardner), US House (7), State Senate (18 of 35 seats), State House (all 65 seats), Supreme Court, Appellate Court, State Ballot Measures
New DNC Organizer: Grassroots Outreach Staff

NEVADA (6 Electoral Votes)
Presidential: 2016: Clinton 47.9%-Trump 45.5%.  Voted with winning Presidential candidate 1980-2012.
US Senators: Catherine Cortez Masto (D) and Jacky Rosen (D)
US House: 3 Democrats, 1 Republican
Governor: Steve Sisolak (D)
State Senate: 13 Democrats, 8 Republicans
State Assembly: 29 Democrats, 13 Republicans
Redistricting: Drawn by the Nevada State Legislature and subject to veto by the Governor

Races Up in 2020: US House (4), State Executive Offices (Board of Regents), State Senate (10 of 21 seats), State Assembly (all 42 seats), Supreme Court, Appellate Court
New DNC Organizers: Asian-American and Pacific Islander, and Latinx Organizing Staff

MICHIGAN (16 Electoral Votes)
Presidential: 2016: Trump 47.3%-Clinton 47.0%.  Voted Democratic 1992-2012.
US Senators: Debbie Stabenow (D) and Gary Peters (D)
US House: 7 Democrats, 6 Republicans
Governor: Gretchen Whitmer (D)
State Senate: 22 Republicans, 16 Democrats
State House: 63 Republicans, 46 Democrats
Redistricting: Drawn by the Michigan State Legislature and subject to veto by the Governor

Races Up in 2020: US Senate (Peters), US House (13), State Executive Offices (State Board of Education, Univ. of MI Board of Regents, MI State Trustees, Wayne State Board of Governors), State House (all 110 seats), Supreme Court, Appellate Court, State Ballot Measures
New DNC Organizer: African American Outreach Director

PENNSYLVANIA (20 Electoral Votes)
Presidential: 2016: Trump 48.2%-Clinton 47.5%.  Voted Democratic 1992-2012.
US Senators: Bob Casey (D) and Pat Toomey (R)
US House: 9 Democrats, 9 Republicans
Governor: Tom Wolf (D)
State Senate: 29 Republicans, 21 Democrats
State House: 110 Republicans, 93 Democrats
Redistricting: Drawn by the Pennsylvania State Legislature and subject to veto by the Governor

Races Up in 2020: US House (18), State Executive Offices (Auditor, Attorney General, Treasurer), State Senate (25 of 50 seats), State House (all 203 seats)
New DNC Organizers: Rural Organizing and Constituency Outreach Staff

WISCONSIN (10 Electoral Votes)
Presidential: 2016: Trump 47.2%-Clinton 46.5%. Voted Democratic 1988-2012.
US Senators: Ron Johnson (R) and Tammy Baldwin (D)
US House: 5 Republicans, 3 Democrats.
Governor: Tony Evers (D)
State Senate: 19 Republicans, 14 Democrats
State House: 63 Republicans, 36 Democrats
Redistricting: Drawn by the Wisconsin State Legislature and subject to veto by the Governor

Races Up in 2020: US House (8), State Senate (16 of 33 seats), State Assembly (all 99 seats), Supreme Court, Appellate Court, State Ballot Measures. A special election will also be held in Wisconsin's 7th CD to replace Congressman Sean Duffy (R), who resigned September 23, 2019.
New DNC Organizers: Youth Vote Director and Rural Organizing Staff

FLORIDA (29 Electoral Votes)

Presidential: 2016: Trump 48.6%-Clinton 47.4%.  Voted with the winning Presidential candidate since 1996.

Races Up in 2020: US House (27), State Senate (20 of 40 seats), State House (all 120 seats), Supreme Court, Appellate Court, Ballot Measures

New DNC Organizers: African American and Latino Constituency Directors

TEXAS (38 Electoral Votes)
Presidential: 2016: Trump 52.2%-Clinton 43.2%. Voted Republican since 1980.
US Senators: Ted Cruz (R) and John Cornyn (R)
US House: 23 Republicans, 13 Democrats
Governor: Greg Abbott (R)
State Senate: 19 Republicans, 12 Democrats
State House: 83 Republicans, 67 Democrats
Redistricting: Drawn by the Texas State Legislature and subject to veto by the Governor

Races Up in 2020: US Senate (Cornyn), US House (36), State Executive Offices (Texas Railroad Commissioner, State Board of Education), State Senate (16 of 31 seats), State House (all 150 seats), Supreme Court, Appellate Court
New DNC Organizers: Constituency Outreach Director

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Resources: DNC, Ballotpedia, Wikipedia, 270ToWin