A Message from The States Project’s Political Team
To Our States Project Community,
This year, despite the presidential race dominating news stories and conversations, you chose to take strategic action in the states. You believed in our vision of a healthy, sustainable, and prosperous future for all Americans. And you stepped up as seed investors — powering victories that should have been impossible given the results at the top of the ticket. Thank you.
There were moments this year when we felt Giving Circles with us in the room — from the day we got to tell you about the first-ever Door Knocking Challenges in North Carolina and Arizona to the moment when we were able to tell our partners in Wisconsin that we had enough resources to invest in Senate races, where we would eventually sweep all our target seats.
Together this cycle, our community raised an unprecedented 70 million dollar investment in state legislative efforts including helping to hold the Pennsylvania House, breaking the rightwing supermajority in North Carolina, and flipping 14 seats across both chambers in Wisconsin to make significant progress toward new majorities, and more.
We didn’t win everywhere. But together, we’ve built and defended real governing power that can protect millions of Americans.
Given the margins in the presidential race, we should have lost resoundingly at the state legislative level. We didn’t. In crucial state legislative districts around the country, we powered campaigns where candidates overperformed Vice President Harris — a significant reversal of past trends, which have typically seen down-ballot candidates in competitive seats underperform the presidential candidate by 5 points. You have fueled bright spots that can lead us forward in this dark moment.
Your work mattered. For liveable wages, paid sick and family leave, affordable healthcare, protecting personal freedoms, investing in kids, and clean air and water. Giving Circles seeded the ground to make real policy change possible. Because of you, Governor Stein can block the most harmful pieces of the rightwing’s agenda in North Carolina. The Pennsylvania House majority can continue to work across the aisle to improve millions of lives. We’ve sent a message to Wisconsin’s rightwing majorities that their extremism has an expiration date. And you helped keep the margins close enough in our other states to keep our goal of winning governing power alive in 2026.
We wouldn’t be here without you, and we’re so grateful for all you do. Thank you for choosing to show up for this crucial work — again and again.
Onward.
TSP’s Political Team
2024 states
“As Governor of North Carolina, I am committed to bringing people together to build a safer, stronger state for every person — but that wouldn’t be possible without The States Project’s investment in breaking the supermajority, which has restored balance in Raleigh. I am grateful to TSP and the Giving Circles for investing their time, energy, and dollars into creating a better future for North Carolina.”
— North Carolina Governor-elect Josh Stein
“I trusted The States Project to understand the importance of breaking the right-wing supermajority and to provide significant help to achieve that goal. Now millions of North Carolinians will have more protection against extreme and harmful policies thanks to your commitment and expertise. Thank you for believing in our great state.”
We needed to win just one seat in either North Carolina chamber to break the rightwing supermajority in the legislature. And together, despite tough national headwinds, we broke the supermajority in the State House, reinstating Governor-elect Josh Stein’s veto power! The tipping-point seat came down to just 228 votes. When House Democratic Leader Robert Reives heard the news on election night, he turned to one of our team members who were in the boiler room with the caucus and said, “Can you imagine if you all hadn’t invested in us?”
We can. Because when the rightwing achieved the supermajority during the 2023 legislative session, they used their governing power to override Governor Roy Cooper’s veto 19 times. Rightwing lawmakers severely restricted abortion access for 2.4 million North Carolinians of reproductive age, made it more difficult for voters to cast a ballot, made communities less safe by eliminating widely popular background checks on gun sales, and more.
We knew that new, gerrymandered maps meant some incumbents would likely lose their seats this year. But we forged ahead because we still saw a path to breaking the supermajority. And together, we powered more than five times what any other national group spent in North Carolina. In addition to breaking the supermajority in the House, our investment also helped hold ground in the Senate.
When lawmakers in the minority head back to Raleigh in January, they will be a crucial check on the rightwing’s power, thanks to the work of our Giving Circles community.
The close partnership we built with both outgoing Governor Roy Cooper and incoming Governor Josh Stein was a major key to our success this cycle. Both Cooper and Stein understood that breaking the supermajority to restore the governor’s veto was essential, and they saw TSP as a crucial partner in achieving this goal.
TSP’s investment, along with the dollars contributed by the Governor’s campaign, made our Core Electoral Program possible, including getting tested ads on broadcast TV. We knew it would be critical for candidates to identify the messages that most resonated with voters in each unique tipping-point district. That’s why we made it possible to test over 30 different ads before they ran on TV in tipping-point districts.
We also fueled Local Press Projects in North Carolina, which helped candidates generate more than 600 press mentions in potential tipping-point districts.
In the weeks following the election, rightwing lawmakers overrode Governor Cooper’s veto and stripped power away from Governor-elect Stein — who their own voters had just elected — in a lame-duck session. This means that Governor-elect Stein will no longer have the power to appoint members to the state’s election board. Instead, the state’s rightwing auditor will now hold this power. Rightwing lawmakers tried to disguise this blatant power grab as a natural disaster relief policy as North Carolinians work to rebuild from Hurricane Helene.
However, with the seat we gained, starting in January, Governor-elect Josh Stein will have the power to veto harmful policies, including extreme restrictions on abortion access, attacks on voting, and rollbacks on clean air and water. That veto power will be crucial during Trump’s second presidency.
By The Numbers
State House
- Statewide swing toward Trump from ‘20-’24: 1.9%
- Pre-election chamber makeup: 48-72
- Chamber goal: Break the rightwing supermajority
- Number of seats needed: 1
- Post-election chamber makeup: 49-71
- Closest race: lost by 213 votes
- If 114 votes in the tipping-point district changed, the supermajority would not have been broken.
State Senate
- Statewide swing toward Trump from ‘20-’24: 1.9%
- Pre-election chamber makeup: 20-30
- Chamber goal: Break the rightwing supermajority
- Number of seats needed: 1
- Post-election chamber makeup: 20-30
- Closest race: won by 128 votes
- If 1,454 votes in the tipping-point district changed, the supermajority would have been broken.
our work in north carolina
2024
Broke a supermajority in the House to reinstate Governor-elect Josh Stein’s veto power.
2022
Prevented a supermajority in the House to protect Governor Cooper’s veto power, but when a state lawmaker changed parties, the rightwing supermajority was restored.
2020
Prevented supermajorities.
2018
Ended rightwing supermajorities.
WHAT YOUR DOLLARS MADE POSSIBLE
- Ad-testing, TV, and Radio 48.69%
- Digital & Mail 31.92%
- Research & Polling 4.71%
- In-State Staffing & Operations 14.68%
Ad-testing, TV, and Radio: High-impact TV and radio ads, including both broadcast and cable ads where applicable. Testing TV ads before they air to ensure that campaigns are airing the ads that will net the most votes.
Digital and Mail: Digital ads with a focus on non-skippable pre-roll videos that play before online videos on sites like Hulu and YouTube. Mail programs that include the optimal number of pieces sent to individual voters.
Research and Polling: Data that shows what messaging resonates with voters in each district, voters’ opinions about candidates, and facts that can be used in ads and voter contact.
In-state Staffing and Operations: Hire and retain staffers through the election cycle. Whether full-time staff or project consultants, key roles can include caucus leadership, operations, finance, canvassing and field, along with media specialists for Local Press Projects. Can also include hard costs like rent, utilities, software, etc.
As a result of funds contributed by the strategic partnership we established with the gubernatorial campaign, for the first time ever, we were able to offer a Governor’s Match to our community — Giving Circles met Governor Cooper’s $100k match in less than 48 hours!
“I started The Good Fight NC giving circle with a small group of friends and an initial goal of $2,500. Our initiative gained momentum, ultimately raising nearly $20,000 with support from 113 people. The States Project’s strategic backing of NC House candidates in competitive districts was crucial in dismantling the Republican supermajority and restoring veto power to the incoming Democratic Governor. Leading this Giving Circle and fostering a community of engaged activists has been incredibly rewarding, and I’m committed to continuing our efforts.”
— Maryjane, The Good Fight NC Giving Circle
Action > Despair • All in for NC • Bedtime Book Club • Blue Devils for NC • Burnt Toast Giving Circle • Cardinal Points: North Carolina • DC Blue Wave • Democracy En Vogue • Do Something! Giving Circle • Ever true • Fellow Americans Giving Circle • Flip & Defend Giving Circle • GoodTrouble • Grassroots Giving • Lean Left States NC • Legacy of Lufkin Giving Circle • Lynne & Elliot’s Finer in Carolina Circle • MAKE IT BLUE! • Morgan Baden & Barry Lyga’s Giving Circle • NC Canaries • Progressive Readers • Reclaim democracy in North Carolina! • San Francisco Black and Jewish Unity Coalition • Save Our States • Seniors Taking Action • State by State • Swing Blue Giving Circle • Tea Notes Giving Circle • Tending To Democracy • The Blue Ridge Sisters • The Double Shift + The Purse Giving Circle • The Good Fight NC • The Los Angeles Giving Circle • To What End (the Patriarchy) • We the People of Team USA Democracy
“A huge thanks to The States Project for your support and encouragement. I’m feeling energized, hopeful, and positive — I know our work has made a difference. And I am so grateful for this partnership that will shape the future of our caucus today and for years to come.”
— Senate Democratic Caucus Chair Maria Collett
“We would not be here without The States Project. You’ve stuck with us year after year, and together, we defied the odds to defend a House majority that will continue to deliver impactful policies for all Pennsylvanians. Thank you for believing in us.”
— Pennsylvania House Majority Speaker Joanna McClinton
Against the odds, we defended the one-seat majority in the Pennsylvania State House that this community first helped fuel in 2022! In a year when every Pennsylvania statewide election went to the rightwing, maintaining this majority should have been impossible. But with the help of our Giving Circles community, we defended every seat, including in some districts that went overwhelmingly for Trump.
We knew that in order to defend this majority, candidates would have to overperform Vice President Harris in some deep red districts. Historically, state legislative candidates underperform the top of the ticket by about 5%. But in three of our target districts, candidates overperformed Vice President Harris by double digits — including a district held by 2.6 percent that Trump won by more than 30 percent of the vote. About 3,000 voters across these three key seats made the difference in winning the majority.
In 2022, flipping this chamber came down to just 63 votes. This year, about 500 votes decided the closest race in the House — still narrow, but also reflecting the crucial work done to shore up these incumbent races in a tough national environment.
In the State Senate, where half the seats were up for election this year, we set out to flip three seats — working to tie the chamber to make progress toward winning a majority in 2026. Our investment helped defend one seat that the rightwing tried to pick off by targeting heavily late in the cycle. While we weren’t able to win additional seats, we held crucial ground. The chamber makeup will remain the same at 22-28.
TSP’s collaboration with the House caucus — our in-state strategic spending partner — on strategy, evidence-based tactics, and budget was honed through year-over-year work in the state. We haven’t stopped working in Pennsylvania since 2020. Candidates see TSP as a critical source of support, and having them aligned on the evidence-based tactics that make up our Core Electoral Program was critical in a tight election year when we could take nothing for granted.
We launched our signature Door Knocking Challenge in April — the earliest we’ve ever fueled this tactic. This was designed to help candidates learn what mattered most to voters so they could dial in on their core messaging before they locked in their ads. This was only possible because of early dollars from Giving Circles whose dollars fueled candidates to knock over 75,000 doors in the Door Knocking Challenge!
But we don’t just want candidates to focus on the quantity of doors knocked, we want them to focus on the quality of their interactions too. That’s why we layered clinch cards into our Door Knocking Challenge — personalized follow-up notes from candidates to voters they met on the doors. This tactic reinforced that the candidates voters met were really listening to them! In one of our closest victories in the House, the candidate wrote 940 clinch cards and won the seat by just about 1,000 votes.
Local Press Projects also played a critical role in helping candidates reach voters with their message. Our investment helped generate more than 100 local press stories for each candidate in potential tipping-point districts.
Governing power in state legislatures will be crucial for combating the worst impacts of a MAGA agenda under a second Trump presidency. Lawmakers in the Pennsylvania House majority that we have worked to build and defend since 2020, are well positioned to block the worst of Trump’s policies from impacting Pennsylvanians.
By The Numbers
State House
- Statewide swing toward Trump from ‘20-’24: 2.9%
- Pre-election chamber makeup: 102-101
- Chamber goal: Defend the majority
- Number of seats needed: 0
- Post-election chamber makeup: 102-101
- Closest race: won by 496 votes
- If 248 votes had changed across one seat, the rightwing would have won the majority.
State Senate
- Statewide swing toward Trump from ‘20-’24: 2.9%
- Pre-election chamber makeup: 22-28
- Chamber goal: Tie the chamber
- Number of seats needed: 3
- Post-election chamber makeup: 22-28
- Closest race: lost by 835 votes
- If 10,111 votes had changed across three seats, the chamber would be tied.
our work in pennsylvania
2024
Invested more than three times more than the next largest national coordinated funder to successfully defend every incumbent district and preserve the House majority; held ground in the Senate.
2022
Invested more than 80 times what the next national contributor; won a new majority in the House.
2020
Helped hold ground gained since 2016. Won 2 House seats, 1 district never before won by a Democrat, and an open seat President Biden carried by less than 1%.
WHAT YOUR DOLLARS MADE POSSIBLE
- Ad-testing, TV, and Radio 68.68%
- Digital & Mail 19.79%
- Research & Polling 1.90%
- In-State Staffing & Operations 9.63%
Ad-testing, TV, and Radio: High-impact TV and radio ads, including both broadcast and cable ads where applicable. Testing TV ads before they air to ensure that campaigns are airing the ads that will net the most votes.
Digital and Mail: Digital ads with a focus on non-skippable pre-roll videos that play before online videos on sites like Hulu and YouTube. Mail programs that include the optimal number of pieces sent to individual voters.
Research and Polling: Data that shows what messaging resonates with voters in each district, voters’ opinions about candidates, and facts that can be used in ads and voter contact.
In-state Staffing and Operations: Hire and retain staffers through the election cycle. Whether full-time staff or project consultants, key roles can include caucus leadership, operations, finance, canvassing and field, along with media specialists for Local Press Projects. Can also include hard costs like rent, utilities, software, etc.
“Joining The States Project and co-leading Wake Up PA has been one of the seminal experiences in my personal, as well as my professional, life. The Giving Circle model and TSP message — everything we care about starts in the states! — consistently strengthened our resolve, and also gave our members and donors a structure for informed and strategic giving. Without TSP, I’m certain we could not have held the House majority. And now, moving forward and facing the dark national political landscape, we can stand proudly behind that success and dare to hope to gain ground in the future. Onward, together!”
— Jan, Wake Up PA Giving Circle
A & L’s States Project Giving Circle • Act Now…Our Democracy Depends on it • All Friends United • All Hands on Deck • Blue Angels • Blue Rising • Blue Support Giving Circle • Bluebirds • Bluegrass Blue Wave • Book Club Giving Circle • Boston Protect Democracy Giving Circle • Caroline, Nicki & Melissa’s Channel Your Rage Giving Circle • Chop Wood Carry Statehouses! • Creatives for Democracy • DC Blue Wave • Democracy Doers Giving Circle • Democracy En Vogue • Democracy Rising • Devoted to Democracy • Dollars For Democracy (Alison Rempel) • Dollars for Democracy (Dana Thayer) • Evil Witches • Fated Mates Giving Circle • Fight for Democracy • Fighting for Justice in the States • Flip.Blue.Defend.Blue • Flipping Seats and Taking Names • For the People • Forever35 Podcast Giving Circle • Generations: A State Project Giving Circle • Green Lake Giving Circle • ImPAct The States • Indivisible Montgomery Donors • IndivisibleWeStand • Justice for All • Kim Daniels’s Giving Circle • Laura and Matt’s Giving Circle • MAKE IT BLUE! • Markers For Democracy • Michigan Strong • Network Giving Circle • Paint a State Blue! • Progressive Readers • PTSD: Project to Save Democracy • Puppies for Democracy AZ • Purple to Blue • Raising the States Giving Circle • Ready State Blue Giving Circle • Resilience Initiative • San Francisco Black and Jewish Unity Coalition • Save Democracy Now • Saving Democracy (again) in Pennsylvania • Seniors Taking Action • State Blue Action • State by State • State Democracy Matters! • States of Change • Take Back Abortion Rights via the States • Take Back Our States • Tangled Up in Blue • The Los Angeles Giving Circle • The Shirtwaists • The States Project of Central Pennsylvania (TSPCP) • The Wednesday Group • Tracy Place Giving Circle • True Blue 4 PA • True Patriots • Turn Arizona Blue • Uphold Democracy • Wake Up PA! • Wharton Blue
“Thanks to The States Project, people are paying more attention to state legislatures and in Wisconsin, that focus and energy paid off. We’ve put the state on a trajectory to build new majorities that can deliver policies that Wisconsinites want — and we would not be in this position without TSP’s Giving Circles community.”
— State Representative Deb Andraca
Because of extreme gerrymandering, there hasn’t been a path to the majority in either Wisconsin chamber — until this year. With new, fairer maps, our investments fueled significant progress toward a new trifecta in Wisconsin in 2026!
In the State Senate, we exceeded our goals: winning all four of the needed seats and breaking the rightwing supermajority. With all races called, the new chamber makeup is 15-18, just two seats away from a new majority. Staggered terms in this chamber mean that only half the chamber is up for election every two years, so there will be new opportunities to pick up seats in 2026, and flip the chamber in 2026.
Fifteen seats were needed to flip the Wisconsin Assembly, and our community successfully powered flips in 10 seats. While short of our goal, this chamber is within striking distance of a new majority in 2026.
While TSP has worked in Wisconsin since 2020, this was the first time we saw a clear path to building new majorities. We powered over nine times more than the next largest national coordinated funder.
One evidence-based tactic that was key in Wisconsin was ad-tested TV. The odds were stacked against us with the presidential campaigns driving up the cost of TV ads in Wisconsin, and individual rightwing donors gave millions to potential tipping-point seats, fueling early and heavy spending on TV. The candidates in those districts needed to be able to compete.
To make TV spending smarter and evidence-backed, we also made ad testing possible for campaigns in order to ensure that the ads that could potentially move the most voters were the ones placed.
Looking Ahead
Right now, even in the face of a second Trump presidency, momentum is on our side in Wisconsin. Pro-democracy lawmakers in both chambers have increased influence in a legislature that has been under rightwing control since 2010. They can introduce policies to draw a contrast with the rightwing majorities that could be a critical deciding factor for voters to shift the balance of power in 2026. Majorities in both chambers are possible in 2026 — and we can start the work right now to help flip these chambers.
By The Numbers
State Assembly
- Statewide swing toward Trump from ‘20-’24: 1.5%
- Pre-election chamber makeup: 35-64
- Chamber goal: Flip the chamber
- Number of seats needed: 15
- Post-election chamber makeup: 45-54
- Closest race: Steve Doyle won by 217 votes
- 1,890 votes changing across five seats would have broken the majority.
State Senate
- Statewide swing toward Trump from ‘20-’24: 1.5%
- Pre-election chamber makeup: 10-22
- Chamber goal: Make progress toward a new majority
- Number of seats needed: 4
- Post-election chamber makeup: 15-18
- Closest race: Jodi Habush Sinykin won by 1,788 votes
our work in wisconsin
2024
In the Assembly, we helped gain the largest number of seats since an extreme gerrymander was enacted after the 2010 Tea Party wave.
2022
We helped prevent a rightwing supermajority, protecting Governor Evers’ veto!
2020
In the Assembly, we helped gain the largest number of seats since an extreme gerrymander was enacted after the 2010 Tea Party wave.
WHAT YOUR DOLLARS MADE POSSIBLE
- Ad-testing, TV, and Radio 72.81%
- Digital & Mail 17.48%
- Research & Polling 2.26%
- In-State Staffing & Operations 7.44%
Ad-testing, TV, and Radio: High-impact TV and radio ads, including both broadcast and cable ads where applicable. Testing TV ads before they air to ensure that campaigns are airing the ads that will net the most votes.
Digital and Mail: Digital ads with a focus on non-skippable pre-roll videos that play before online videos on sites like Hulu and YouTube. Mail programs that include the optimal number of pieces sent to individual voters.
Research and Polling: Data that shows what messaging resonates with voters in each district, voters’ opinions about candidates, and facts that can be used in ads and voter contact.
In-state Staffing and Operations: Hire and retain staffers through the election cycle. Whether full-time staff or project consultants, key roles can include caucus leadership, operations, finance, canvassing, and field. Can also include hard costs like rent, utilities, software, etc.
“Leading our first Giving Circle was an incredibly inspiring experience, reminding us of the power of collective action. Seeing a community come together, driven by shared values and a desire to make an impact, gave us hope for what we can achieve when we work together with intention and heart. Plus, being part of a coordinated strategy and clear path that led to flipping 14 seats in the legislature and breaking the supermajority is proof that investment in state races pays off!”
— Kim, Kitty, Julie, Susan, and Bill, Grab ‘Em by the States
Wisconsin Giving Circles
BK-DC Pipeline for Progress Giving Circle • Blue Rising • Blue Support Giving Circle • Bluebirds • Downtown Nasty Women Social Group • Flip Service • Flip.Blue.Defend.Blue • Grab ‘Em by the States • Greater Boston Giving Circle • Legacy of Lufkin Giving Circle • Mary Nicholas’s Giving Circle • State Fair • The Fox Den Giving Circle • The Los Angeles Giving Circle • The Wednesday Group • Together For Choice • Tony and Joan’s Giving Circle
“The States Project’s partnership has been crucial. TSP understands the power state lawmakers hold to make life better for the people we serve and they invest resources and focus their work accordingly.”
— Michigan State Representative Penelope Tsernoglou
The Story in Michigan
From the start, we knew defending Michigan’s State House majority would be difficult — fewer than 400 voters made the difference in 2022. Every seat needed to be defended to hold the one-seat majority in the House. With four incumbent losses, the balance of power is now 52-58 — the same chamber composition following Biden’s win in 2020. But TSP’s impact can be seen in how close these House races were.
We invested double the next largest funder on the coordinated side of the campaign, and focused on potential tipping-point seats. These included the closest wins and losses in the chamber and, ultimately, the district that determined chamber control. Every flipped seat was decided by fewer than 10 points.
In four of the closest races we fueled, two won and two lost, the candidates all overperformed Vice President Harris. Historically, just meeting the presidential baseline means defying odds for state legislative candidates — exceeding is sometimes thought to be unthinkable. In fact, the three narrowest races proved just how tough the national environment was — they were decided by less than 1.5%. Trump won the state by the same margin.
Without TSP’s investment, there would almost certainly have been greater losses.
The Game Plan
With both presidential campaigns spending heavily in Michigan, we knew television ads would be expensive this cycle, but this tactic was crucial in districts where broadcast TV would be an essential vehicle to get candidates’ messages out to voters. To ensure broadcast ads had the biggest impact possible, ads in our target districts were tested before they aired — and testing helped candidates maximize their dollars on broadcast TV.
We worked with our in-state partners to make it possible to test 15-second ads against 30-second ads. The results showed that shorter — and less expensive! — ads were nearly as effective. That meant campaigns were able to reserve twice as many ads, increasing the amount of time that voters could see their ads for half the cost.
Local Press Projects also proved to be a critical tactic in Michigan. Media specialists focused on bringing press attention to key candidates in local media outlets generated more than 1,000 press mentions.
Looking Ahead
While we were not able to defend the House majority, the good news is that the pro-democracy majority in the State Senate that this community helped power in 2022 is still in place. Those Senators, along with Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer, still have the governing power they need to improve lives in Michigan. Governing will be tough but not impossible for these lawmakers, who used their majorities over the past two years to enact a wide range of policies that will protect against the worst of Project 2025.
These included tax cuts for working families and retirees, free school meals for 1.4 million students, and helping Michiganders pay for essentials like childcare and groceries by expanding the earned income tax credit. They also safeguarded abortion access, ensured that LGBTQ+ Michiganders have equal protection from discrimination under state law, made high-quality public education available for all families, and enacted widely popular gun safety policies that will save lives.
Holding the one-seat Senate majority through 2026 will be crucial but challenging given that there may be a special election sometime next year since State Senator Kristen McDonald Rivet won her race for Congress. Our team is also already strategizing how to rebuild power in the House as we look toward 2026.
By The Numbers
State House
- Statewide swing toward Trump from ‘20-’24: 4.2%
- Pre-election chamber makeup: 56-54
- Chamber goal: Defend every seat
- Number of seats needed: 0
- Post-election chamber makeup: 52-58
- Closest race: lost by 61 votes
- 2,877 votes changing would have made the difference in keeping the majority, while 1,724 votes changing would have led to a tied chamber.
our work in michigan
2024
With 4 seats lost, the balance of power shifted in the House; the chamber makeup is 52-58.
2022
We helped gain 3 seats in the House and 4 in the Senate, building a new trifecta for the first time since 1983.
2020
We helped defend 6 seats and flip 2 more in the House. 2 incumbent losses meant no change in the balance of power.
2018
We helped flip 6 seats in the Michigan House.
WHAT YOUR DOLLARS MADE POSSIBLE
- Ad-testing, TV, and Radio 74.84%
- Digital & Mail 17.01%
- Research & Polling 1.17%
- In-State Staffing & Operations 6.98%
Ad-testing, TV, and Radio: High-impact TV and radio ads, including both broadcast and cable ads where applicable. Testing TV ads before they air to ensure that campaigns are airing the ads that will net the most votes.
Digital and Mail: Digital ads with a focus on non-skippable pre-roll videos that play before online videos on sites like Hulu and YouTube. Mail programs that include the optimal number of pieces sent to individual voters.
Research and Polling: Data that shows what messaging resonates with voters in each district, voters’ opinions about candidates, and facts that can be used in ads and voter contact.
In-state Staffing and Operations: Hire and retain staffers through the election cycle. Whether full-time staff or project consultants, key roles can include caucus leadership, operations, finance, canvassing and field, along with media specialists for Local Press Projects. Can also include hard costs like rent, utilities, software, etc.
“It has been an honor to recruit Michigan folks to support The Resilience Initiative Giving Circle in 2020, 2022, and 2024 and spread the word about the great work that The States Project is doing. It was enormously gratifying to know that our Giving Circle helped flip the Michigan Legislature in 2022, get our local representatives re-elected to the Michigan House in 2024, and hopefully will help enable us to regain the Michigan House in 2026.”
— Christy, Resilience Initiative Giving Circle
Michigan Giving Circles
Blue Water Blue State • Change for MI Legislature • Democracy En Vogue • Downtown Nasty Women Social Group • Keeping Michigan • Keeping Michigan • La Resistance • Let’s Go Giving Circle • Make Winning Exciting (Team MWE)• Michigan Strong • One State at a Time • Purple to Blue • Resilience Initiative • ReSisters Giving Circle • States of Change • Swing These States • The Wednesday Group
“Because of The States Project’s partnership, we were able to keep the balance of power close in a tough year. I’m grateful to the Giving Circles who continue to do this work because they believe in the future of our state. I know they’ve got our back, and together, we’ll keep fighting!”
— Minnesota House Majority Leader Jamie Long
The Story in Minnesota
Protecting the majority in the Minnesota State House was always going to be tough. While Vice President Harris was expected to win Minnesota — which she did — she won by fewer than 150,000 votes, just 51 percent of the vote.
The Minnesota House is now tied, but it was very close. If just 80 votes had changed across one seat, the majority would have held. And the seat that tied the chamber was won by just eight votes. That’s right; if 8 votes had shifted in a single district, the rightwing would have won the majority.
The 16 closest seats in the chamber were won or lost by less than 5 percent of the vote. Four key seats were won by fewer than 300 voters, and the closest race came down to 15 votes — a stark indicator of what could have happened in the chamber if we weren’t there.
For context, in 2016, when Hillary Clinton won the state by a similar margin to Vice President Harris, there was a 20-seat rightwing House majority. In January, when newly elected lawmakers are sworn in, the chamber will be tied at 67-67.
Giving Circles’ work in Minnesota over the past two cycles helped fuel these results and, crucially, helped to hold the one-seat State Senate majority by powering a special election in November.
The Game Plan
Giving Circles seeded our earliest investment in Minnesota in TSP’s history, powering campaign infrastructure that was important in potential House tipping-point seats. In 2022 in the Minnesota Senate, our earliest dollars fueled staffers that could support candidates across several districts. This was a valuable part of our program again this year in our work in the House.
Digital ads are one of the most cost-effective platforms for candidates to get their messages out to voters in Minnesota. Because of this, a significant portion of our investment powered digital ads focused on reaching voters where they are, focusing on streaming services and social media with non-skippable pre-roll ads, which are proven to be more effective than static or banner ads.
Looking Ahead
While lawmakers are headed back to St. Paul with fewer seats in the House, they still have the ability to negotiate power-sharing with a tie in that chamber, plus the majority in the Senate, and Governor Tim Walz, whose term continues until 2026.
Lawmakers committed to improving lives can still defend democracy and safeguard Minnesotans’ personal freedoms, and they can make a strong case for majority power in 2026. The road to rebuilding this trifecta starts now!
By The Numbers
State House
- Statewide swing toward Trump from ‘20-’24: 2.9%
- Pre-election chamber makeup: 69-64
- Chamber goal: Defend the majority
- Number of seats needed to hold the majority: 68
- Post-election chamber makeup: 67-67
- Closest race won by: 15 votes
- If 80 votes had changed across one seat, the majority would have been held. And if 8 votes had changed across the seat that tied this chamber, the rightwing would have won the majority.
WHAT YOUR DOLLARS MADE POSSIBLE
- Ad-testing, TV, and Radio 45.92%
- Digital & Mail 49.53%
- Research & Polling 2.89%
- In-State Staffing & Operations 1.66%
Ad-testing, TV, and Radio: High-impact TV and radio ads, including both broadcast and cable ads where applicable. Testing TV ads before they air to ensure that campaigns are airing the ads that will net the most votes.
Digital and Mail: Digital ads with a focus on non-skippable pre-roll videos that play before online videos on sites like Hulu and YouTube. Mail programs that include the optimal number of pieces sent to individual voters.
Research and Polling: Data that shows what messaging resonates with voters in each district, voters’ opinions about candidates, and facts that can be used in ads and voter contact.
In-state Staffing and Operations: Hire and retain staffers through the election cycle. Whether full-time staff or project consultants, key roles can include caucus leadership, operations, finance, canvassing, and field. Can also include hard costs like rent, utilities, software, etc.
“I am so very proud of SeedMN this year. Our membership ‘stepped up’ with their ‘time and treasure’ and we grew, having become known in the community as being a positive force for MN.
With the unknown and challenging year coming nationally, we are more excited than ever to work for our state and embrace The States Project. We hear so much today about how the states will determine our quality of life in the future. Thus, we will plan for another dedicated and productive year ahead.
[Running our Giving Circle] is very rewarding. Our members are committed to our vision, they donate generously, and volunteer when we ask for assistance.”
— Susie and Carol, SEED MN Giving Circle
Minnesota Giving Circles
“Hold On” Minnesota • Housequake • Minnevota Blue • Pay It Forward Giving Circle (MN) • SEEDMN
“Keeping the balance of power close during a tough election year could be the difference between our ability to keep Arizonans safe from any rightwing attempts to prioritize special interests over people’s daily lives. Without a doubt, we’re in a better position than we would have been without The States Project’s support. I will not let disappointing election results keep me from fighting for Arizonans, and I’m grateful to TSP for continuing to fight alongside us.”
— House Democratic Leader Oscar De Los Santos
“The States Project has been an invaluable electoral partner, helping to keep the balance of power close cycle after cycle. But their support hasn’t ended there. Personally, I’m also grateful to The States Project for connecting me to a community of other state lawmakers, including women lawmakers who have helped me navigate being a mother of young children while simultaneously serving as a leader in my chamber.”
— Senate Democratic Leader Priya Sundareshan
We were not able to build a new majority in either Arizona chamber, but we kept the balance of power close in a state that saw the biggest swing toward Trump of any swing state. While he won the state by 6 points, 15 of the 18 potential tipping-point seats we fueled across both chambers were decided by less than 5 percent.
TSP invested 13 times more than the next largest national funder in Arizona’s state legislative races. Without our intervention, even more seats could have been lost to the rightwing.
Thanks to Giving Circles, we funded our full suite of data-backed tactics in Arizona this cycle, including, for the first time ever, adapting our signature Door Knocking Challenge, which incentivizes candidates to knock on doors and meet potential voters — the single most important thing they can do with their time.
Despite record-breaking heat, candidates were excited to participate and really compete, knocking a total of 40,801 doors across our targeted districts. In fact, one candidate knocked a record number of doors and reached voters in every precinct in his district on the way to flipping a seat previously held by a rightwing incumbent.
Giving Circle dollars also powered our partners to execute a Local Press Project in Arizona, which fueled the hiring of media specialists focused on earning candidates press coverage. With the help of the Local Press Project, candidates were mentioned more than 1,000 times in local outlets across Arizona, as well as national headlines in outlets like Politico.
While it is disappointing that ground was lost, despite strong national headwinds, our work helped keep the balance of power close. And we know from experience that close margins can make a meaningful difference in the legislature when it comes to actually improving lives. Earlier this year, lawmakers in Arizona’s minorities were able to successfully repeal the state’s archaic 1864 abortion ban, which made no exceptions for rape or incest, by creating enough public pressure to convince two rightwing lawmakers in the Senate and three in the House to vote for the repeal.
These state lawmakers have shown that it’s possible to work across the aisle to prevent some of the most extreme policies from harming the people they serve. We’re committed to equipping lawmakers who will fight to defend our democracy, protect personal freedoms, and improve lives with the tools to protect Arizonans from the worst impacts of a MAGA agenda under a second Trump presidency. And in 2026, we will have a better chance to flip a chamber in Arizona.
By The Numbers
State House
- Statewide swing toward Trump from ‘20-’24: 5.8%
- Pre-election chamber makeup: 29-31
- Chamber goal: Build a new majority
- Number of seats needed: 2
- Post-election chamber makeup: 27-33
- Closest race: Seth Blattman won by 928 votes
- If 4,253 votes had changed across 3 seats, the chamber would be tied. If 6,372 votes had changed across 4, there would be a new majority.
State Senate
- Statewide swing toward Trump from ‘20-’24: 5.8%
- Pre-election chamber makeup: 14-16
- Chamber goal: Build a new majority
- Number of seats needed: 2
- Post-election chamber makeup: 13-17
- Closest race: Eva Burch won by 2,811 votes
- If 3,407 votes had changed across 2 seats, the chamber would be tied. If 6,139 votes had changed across 3, there would be a new majority.
our work in arizona
2024
Though ground was lost in both chambers, we were able to keep the balance of power close despite strong national headwinds.
2022
The one-seat margin was held in each chamber, holding ground.
2020
TSP helped gain one new seat in the State Senate, bringing the chamber within one seat of a power shift; there were two flips in the House, but incumbent losses meant that chamber margins remained unchanged.
2018
TSP helped win 4 new seats in the House to create the closest balance of power in Phoenix since 1966.
WHAT YOUR DOLLARS MADE POSSIBLE
- Ad-testing, TV, and Radio 24.00%
- Digital & Mail 54.90%
- Research & Polling 1.03%
- In-State Staffing & Operations 19.34%
Ad-testing, TV, and Radio: High-impact TV and radio ads, including both broadcast and cable ads where applicable. Testing TV ads before they air to ensure that campaigns are airing the ads that will net the most votes.
Digital and Mail: Digital ads with a focus on non-skippable pre-roll videos that play before online videos on sites like Hulu and YouTube. Mail programs that include the optimal number of pieces sent to individual voters.
Research and Polling: Data that shows what messaging resonates with voters in each district, voters’ opinions about candidates, and facts that can be used in ads and voter contact.
In-state Staffing and Operations: Hire and retain staffers through the election cycle. Whether full-time staff or project consultants, key roles can include caucus leadership, operations, finance, canvassing and field, along with media specialists for Local Press Projects. Can also include hard costs like rent, utilities, software, etc.
“This Giving Circle is a group of friends and acquaintances located in Arizona who share a respect for the democratic principles necessary for a diverse, compassionate, and proud country to thrive. I promise you, the folks in Arizona will be standing up for democracy in the coming years.”
— Cathy, Arizona Pathfinders Giving Circle
Action Beats Inaction • All Hands on Deck • All In For 2024 • Altered States Giving Circle • American Dreamers • Arizona Pathfinders • BLUE AZ • Bluebirds • Bluegrass Blue Wave • Busy and Jenny’s Giving Circle • Candidates & Causes (C&C) • Chop Wood, Carry Statehouses! • Delicate Democracy • Democracy, Baby! Giving Circle • Democracy Jam Giving Circle • Democracy Rising • democracy? • Desert Blooms • Determined Desert Dwellers • Dollars for Democracy • Ever true • Fabulous Women’s Huddle • Fired Up for Democracy • Flip.Blue.Defend.Blue • Flipping Arizona • Forever35 Podcast Giving Circle • From Seattle with Love • Galvanized Givers • Game Changers • In It To Win It • Indivisible Euclid Giving Circle • Jodi and Susan’s Giving Circle • La Resistance • Markers For Democracy • Music for Arizona • Network Giving Circle • Potlucks and Politics • PTSD: Project to Save Democracy • Puppies for Democracy AZ • Purple to Blue • ReSisters Giving Circle • Save Our States • Seniors Taking Action • Shake It Off!! Get Active!! • Solidarity Across the States • State Blue Action • State Democracy Matters! • State Fair • Swing Blue Giving Circle • Swing Left West Valley • Swing These States • Take Back Our States • The Next 40 • The Pusch Ridge Patriots • The Riveters • Turn Arizona Blue
“To have the Giving Circle leaders adopt a state like Kansas is so valuable. It’s so important because our resources are relatively limited inside the state. Your dollars go a long way. We have a relatively low-cost budget and an inexpensive media market. Every dollar that comes in goes right back out into the field, so your dollars matter a lot.”
— Former Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius
The Story in Kansas
Donald Trump won Kansas by 16 points. And yet, if just 568 votes had changed across 5 seats, the supermajority would have been broken in the Kansas State House, and Governor Laura Kelly’s veto power — which would have allowed her to block some of the worst of the MAGA agenda — would have been reinstated.
Every seat that was won or lost within 5 percent of the vote across both chambers was a seat we invested in — margins came down to as few as 31 votes.
Bottom line: Breaking this supermajority was SO close. Less than 600 voters across Kansas’ more than 1.2 million voters would have made the difference. This is why we need more people to join us where we can make the biggest difference: in the states.
The Game Plan
It was critical to find an in-state strategic spending partner that would allow us to maximize our impact in Kansas. We selected a partner who has been the primary funder for gubernatorial and Supreme Court races in previous cycles and was already laser-focused and aligned with us on how to best use evidence-based tactics to power effective messaging.
We fueled mail and digital communications that maximized every dollar invested. We made it possible to highlight popular policies that voters supported and that rightwing state lawmakers voted against, like caps on the cost of prescription drugs and abortion access.
Looking Ahead
Because we were not able to break the supermajority, rightwing state lawmakers still have the power to override Governor Kelly’s vetoes in the upcoming legislative session.
By The Numbers
State House
- Statewide swing toward Trump from ‘20-’24: 1.5%
- Pre-election chamber makeup: 40-84
- Goal: Break the rightwing supermajority
- Number of seats needed: +2
- Post-election chamber makeup: 37-88
- Closest race: Allison Hougland lost by 106 votes
- If 568 votes had changed across 5 seats, the supermajority would have been broken in this chamber.
State Senate
- Statewide swing toward Trump from ‘20-’24: 1.5%
- Pre-election chamber makeup: 11-28
- Goal: Break the rightwing supermajority
- Number of seats needed: +3
- Post-election chamber makeup: 9-30
- Closest race: Jeff Pittman lost by 31 votes
- If 3,114 votes had changed across 5 seats, the supermajority would have been broken in this chamber.
WHAT YOUR DOLLARS MADE POSSIBLE
- Ad-testing, TV, and Radio 40.87%
- Digital & Mail 46.98%
- Research & Polling 3.89%
- In-State Staffing & Operations 8.26%
Ad-testing, TV, and Radio: High-impact TV and radio ads, including both broadcast and cable ads where applicable. Testing TV ads before they air to ensure that campaigns are airing the ads that will net the most votes.
Digital and Mail: Digital ads with a focus on non-skippable pre-roll videos that play before online videos on sites like Hulu and YouTube. Mail programs that include the optimal number of pieces sent to individual voters.
Research and Polling: Data that shows what messaging resonates with voters in each district, voters’ opinions about candidates, and facts that can be used in ads and voter contact.
In-state Staffing and Operations: Hire and retain staffers through the election cycle. Whether full-time staff or project consultants, key roles can include caucus leadership, operations, finance, canvassing, and field. Can also include hard costs like rent, utilities, software, etc.
“There’s no sugarcoating the losses suffered in Kansas this fall. But despite our temporary setbacks here on the range… the Ad Astra Per Aspera Giving Circle is gearing up now for our next electoral battles. I will see you there.”
— Anne, Ad Astra Per Aspera Giving Circle
Kansas Giving Circles
Ad Astra Per Aspera Giving Circle • Coast to Coast Giving Circle • Flip & Defend Giving Circle • One State at a Time • PTSD: Project to Save Democracy • Taking It To The States
“Even on the toughest days, I’m encouraged to know that The States Project deeply cares about not just the direction of this state, but the direction of our country. Now more than ever, we must look out for each other. And in this moment, when our country is facing so much uncertainty, I’m grateful to know that this community will continue to work toward a better future for Nevadans and for our fellow Americans.”
— Nevada Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager
The Story in Nevada
While we were not able to build a veto-proof supermajority, we successfully defended majorities in both the State Assembly and Senate even as Trump won the state. Nevada shifted 5.5 points towards Trump since the 2020 election, the largest movement outside of Arizona amongst swing states. Our focus on key races made it possible to maintain governing power in a difficult environment. While we weren’t able to fully overcome Nevada’s shift toward Trump, we were able to defend seats that likely would have been lost to the rightwing without our investment and expertise.
The Game Plan
Going in, we needed to hold every seat in the supermajority in the Assembly and flip just one more Senate seat to build a supermajority in that chamber and a veto-proof supermajority in the legislature.
We fueled a combination of research tactics — including focus groups, message testing, and polling — that indicated that communicating rightwing Governor Lombardo’s veto record, where he blocked many popular policies, was effective for candidates in the districts where we invested. Some of this messaging was used in the Local Press Project, which helped generate more than 500 press mentions for candidates running in key districts.
Looking Ahead
Through the focus groups we fueled, it became clear that independent voters are not familiar with Governor Lombardo’s record of striking down broadly popular policies like free school meals for public school students and caps on prescription drug costs. As lawmakers in the majority work to achieve the American Promise in the upcoming legislative session, they will be sending life-improving policies to the governor’s desk. And if Lombardo continues to veto popular bills, those will be moments for state lawmakers to highlight and help voters remember in the 2026 elections.
By The Numbers
State Assembly
- Statewide swing toward Trump from ‘20-’24: 5.5%
- Pre-election chamber makeup: 28-14
- Chamber goal: Defend veto-proof supermajority
- Number of seats needed: 0
- Post-election chamber makeup: 27-15
- Closest race: Sandra Jauregui won by 257 votes
- 1,683 votes changing would have flipped the seat needed to hold ground in the Assembly.
State Senate
- Statewide swing toward Trump from ‘20-’24: 5.5%
- Pre-election chamber makeup: 13-8
- Chamber goal: Defend veto-proof supermajority
- Number of seats needed: 0
- Post-election chamber makeup: 13-8
- Closest race: Dallas Harris lost by 1,053 votes
- 527 votes changing would have made the difference in winning a supermajority in the Senate.
WHAT YOUR DOLLARS MADE POSSIBLE
- Ad-testing, TV, and Radio 0.20%
- Digital & Mail 53.93%
- Research & Polling 1.60%
- In-State Staffing & Operations 44.26%
Ad-testing, TV, and Radio: High-impact TV and radio ads, including both broadcast and cable ads where applicable. Testing TV ads before they air to ensure that campaigns are airing the ads that will net the most votes.
Digital and Mail: Digital ads with a focus on non-skippable pre-roll videos that play before online videos on sites like Hulu and YouTube. Mail programs that include the optimal number of pieces sent to individual voters.
Research and Polling: Data that shows what messaging resonates with voters in each district, voters’ opinions about candidates, and facts that can be used in ads and voter contact.
In-state Staffing and Operations: Hire and retain staffers through the election cycle. Whether full-time staff or project consultants, key roles can include caucus leadership, operations, finance, canvassing and field, along with media specialists for Local Press Projects. Can also include hard costs like rent, utilities, software, etc.
“I’d never raised money before but The States Project equipped me to achieve a totally new goal I’d never attempted before so I could make a difference for my friends and neighbors. Although we didn’t reach the supermajority this election, we did manage to keep the majority and I made new relationships with like-minded people throughout Nevada and beyond. Going forward my Giving Circle is facing the 2026 Midterms with more knowledge and a community of people who care about Nevadans.”
— Deborah, Blue Nevada Giving Circle
Nevada Giving Circles
Blue Nevada 😉 • Democracy Jam Giving Circle • Dollars for Democracy • Indivisible Euclid Giving Circle • Propeller • State Fair
“Our partnership with The States Project has been invaluable. We may not hold governing power, but the work continues and we’re grateful to have TSP in it with us.”
— New Hampshire Senate Minority Leader Rebecca Perkins Kwoka
The Story in New Hampshire
While Vice President Harris narrowly won the presidential race in New Hampshire, voters elected a rightwing governor by nearly 10 points — a margin that was too big for many down-ballot candidates to overcome. In the State House the margins were razor thin with 20 seats lost by around 200 votes or less.
Unfortunately, we weren’t able to achieve our goals in either chamber, and with all races called, the new chamber makeup in the House will be 179-221. In the State Senate, two seats were lost for a new chamber makeup of 8-16.
The Game Plan
Our work in New Hampshire focused on elevating and professionalizing campaigns in a state where the sheer number of races can be an obstacle. In the House, there are 400 districts, a mix of single-member and multi-member districts. Historically, campaigns used a “one size fits all” approach — running ads featuring full slates of candidates, with no opportunity for individualized messaging. But after 2023, when TSP fueled several successful special elections, we worked with our in-state spending partners to build individualized ad campaigns in key districts — honing messages that were unique to each candidate.
While New Hampshire districts can be small, which makes these races more cost-effective than in other states, the tactics that are most impactful in the state’s unique landscape are time-intensive. Because New Hampshire is mostly part of the Boston media market, the number of voters who would see a TV ad does not justify the cost of purchasing one. Getting candidates out in their communities to meet voters is a better use of time and dollars. That’s why we supported an adaptation of our signature Door Knocking Challenge in both chambers to incentivize candidates to prioritize door-knocking.
Despite the losses this cycle, our investments powered huge strides in seeding a more structured campaign operation in New Hampshire. With the margins as narrow as they were in this election, there is a clear path to achieve our goals in the New Hampshire House in 2026.
Looking Ahead
Pro-democracy lawmakers in both chambers will fight to protect Granite Staters from the impact of a second Trump presidency and have a newly configured leadership team: Senate Democratic Leader Rebecca Perkins Kwoka, former House Leader Matt Wilhelm serving as campaign chair, and House Democratic Leader Alexis Simpson. TSP is positioned to help these leaders make a strong case for rebuilding governing power in 2026.
By The Numbers
State Assembly
- Statewide swing toward Trump from ‘20-’24: 3.5%
- Pre-election chamber makeup: 195-200
- Chamber goal: Build a new majority
- Number of seats needed: 2
- Post-election chamber makeup: 178-222
- Closest race lost by: 7 votes
- 1,406 votes changing across 22 seats could have tied the House. 1,507 votes changing could have won the 23 seats needed to get to a majority.
State Senate
- Statewide swing toward Trump from ‘20-’24: 3.5%
- Pre-election chamber makeup: 10-14
- Chamber goal: Tie the chamber
- Number of seats needed: 2
- Post-election chamber makeup: 8-16
- Closest race lost by: 673 votes
- 2,999 votes changing across 4 seats would have tied the New Hampshire Senate.
our work in new hampshire
2024
20 seats were lost across New Hampshire’s tiny House districts, along with 2 in the Senate.
2022
We netted 12 seats, bringing the House within two seats of a new majority.
2020
We identified the Senate as the most endangered majority in the country, after helping to flip it in 2018 by only 300 votes. This time the margin was similar, but with the opposite outcome.
2018
We helped flip the Senate, fueling five candidates to victory, including four new seats.
WHAT YOUR DOLLARS MADE POSSIBLE
- Ad-testing, TV, and Radio 0.00%
- Digital & Mail 65.97%
- Research & Polling 9.06%
- In-State Staffing & Operations 24.98%
Ad-testing, TV, and Radio: High-impact TV and radio ads, including both broadcast and cable ads where applicable. Testing TV ads before they air to ensure that campaigns are airing the ads that will net the most votes.
Digital and Mail: Digital ads with a focus on non-skippable pre-roll videos that play before online videos on sites like Hulu and YouTube. Mail programs that include the optimal number of pieces sent to individual voters.
Research and Polling: Data that shows what messaging resonates with voters in each district, voters’ opinions about candidates, and facts that can be used in ads and voter contact.
In-state Staffing and Operations: Hire and retain staffers through the election cycle. Whether full-time staff or project consultants, key roles can include caucus leadership, operations, finance, canvassing, and field. Can also include hard costs like rent, utilities, software, etc.
“While the results in New Hampshire weren’t what we wanted, I was floored to learn that nearly 20 races were decided by fewer than 100 votes. Giving Circles are on the frontlines of some of the closest races in America, and our team is grateful to have this community by our side in this work.”
— Sarah, Onward Giving Circle
New Hampshire Giving Circles
Coast to Coast Giving Circle • Granite State Giving Circle • Minutemen and Women for Democracy • Swing Blue Giving Circle • Team We The People • The Mainiacs • The Wednesday Group
The Closest Races
Governing power is literally won on the margins — almost 60 races across our states were won or lost by fewer than 1,000 votes!
| Seat | Candidate | Votes that decided the race |
|---|---|---|
|
AZ-HD-002 |
Stephanie Simacek
|
991 |
|
PA-HD-072 |
Frank Burns |
929 |
|
AZ-HD-009 |
Seth Blattman |
928 |
|
NC-HD-024 |
Dante Pittman |
918 |
|
MN-HD-035A |
Zack Stephenson |
872 |
|
WI-HD-043 |
Brienne Brown |
847 |
|
WI-AD-026 |
Joe Sheehan |
845 |
|
WI-AD-089
|
Ryan Spaude |
826 |
|
MN-HD-036B |
Brion Curran |
825 |
|
KS-HD-053 |
Kirk Haskins |
814 |
|
NV-AD-009 |
Steve Yeager |
775 |
|
KS-HD-048 |
Dan Osman |
723 |
|
MI-HD-061 |
Denise Mentzer |
721 |
|
MN-HD-033B |
Josiah Hill |
718 |
|
MI-HD-031 |
Reggie Miller |
696 |
|
WI-HD-096 |
Tara Johnson |
652 |
|
NV-AD-021 |
Elaine Marzola |
535 |
|
PA-HD-172 |
Sean Dougherty |
496 |
|
KS-HD-095 |
Tom Sawyer |
483 |
|
MN-HD-032B |
Matt Norris |
410 |
|
NV-AD-012 |
Max Carter II |
277 |
|
MN-HD-035B |
Kari Rehrauer |
260 |
|
NV-AD-041 |
Sandra Jauregui |
257 |
|
NC-HD-032 |
Bryan Cohn |
228 |
|
MN-HD-048B |
Lucy Rehm |
225 |
|
WI-AD-094 |
Steve Doyle |
217 |
|
NC-SD-042 |
Woodson Bradley |
209 |
|
MN-HD-014B |
Dan Wolgamott |
191 |
|
KS-HD-049 |
Nikki McDonald |
148 |
|
NC-SD-018 |
Terence Everitt |
128 |
|
MN-HD-054A |
Brad Tabke |
15 |
|
KS-SD-005 |
Jeff Pittman |
-31 |
|
MI-HD-044 |
Jim Haadsma |
-61 |
|
KS-HD-015 |
Allison Hougland |
-106 |
|
KS-HD-028 |
Ace Allen |
-155 |
|
MN-HD-003B |
Mark Munger |
-159 |
|
KS-HD-088 |
Veronica GIllette |
-187 |
|
NC-HD-105 |
Nicole Sidman |
-213 |
|
WI-AD-089 |
Christy Welch |
-220 |
|
KS-HD-102 |
Jason Probst |
-294 |
|
KS-HD-041 |
Aimee Bateman |
-324 |
|
MN-HD-041A |
Lucia Wroblewski |
-327 |
|
WI-AD-053 |
Duane Shukoski |
-364 |
|
KS-HD-014 |
Dennis Miller |
-404 |
|
KS-HD-039 |
Vanessa Vaughn West |
-419 |
|
KS-SD-022 |
Usha Reddi |
-437 |
|
NC-HD-025 |
Lorenza Wilkins |
-461 |
|
MN-HD-041A |
Jen Fox |
-510 |
|
KS-HD-067 |
Kim Zito |
-529 |
|
KS-HD-096 |
Dan Johnson |
-535 |
|
KS-HD-030 |
Betsey Lasister |
-607 |
|
MN-HD-011A |
Pete Radosevich |
-664 |
|
NH-SD-011 |
Shannon Chandley |
-673 |
|
NH-SD-018 |
Donna Soucy |
-748 |
|
MN-HD-018A |
Jeff Brand |
-802 |
|
PA-SD-005 |
Jimmy Dillon |
-835 |
|
MN-HD-002A |
Reed Olson |
-851 |
|
WI-AD-021 |
David Marstellar |
-930 |
|
KS-HD-087 |
Mike Snider |
-965 |
Because the New Hampshire House has 400 seats — the largest state legislative chamber in the country! — and tiny districts, many of these races were even closer. These are the races there that were decided by fewer than 100 votes!
| Seat | Candidate | Votes that decided the race |
|---|---|---|
|
Hillsborough 12 |
Wendy Thomas |
95 |
|
Strafford 9 |
Amy Malone |
89 |
|
Hillsborough 2 |
Loren Foxx |
80 |
|
Hillsborough 9 |
Sanjeev Manohar |
78 |
|
Hillsborough 4 |
Ray Newman |
77 |
|
Carroll 1 |
Tom Buco |
75 |
|
Grafton 9 |
Thomas Oppel |
68 |
|
Hillsborough 22 |
Nicole Leapley |
64 |
|
Cheshire 10 |
Barry Faulkner |
63 |
|
Merrimack 8 |
Stephanie Payeur |
57 |
|
Rockingham 6 |
Eric Turer |
38 |
|
Hillsborough 17 |
David Preece |
36 |
|
Hillsborough 24 |
Donald Bouchard |
33 |
|
Grafton 7 |
Janet Lucas |
23 |
|
Strafford 4 |
Heath Howard |
16 |
|
Hillsborough 18 |
Juliet Smith |
-7 |
|
Cheshire 9 |
Daniel Eaton |
-39 |
|
Merrimack 11 |
Al Turcotte |
-54 |
|
Hillsborough 29 |
Jim Craig |
-82 |
|
Coos 1 |
Cathleen Fountain |
-88 |
FUEL OUR IMPACT
If you’re ready to take the most strategic political action possible, work with us in the states.
The States Project in the News
In a year when headlines were fixated on the race for the White House, we shined a light on the importance of state legislative races. Here’s a roundup of our favorite stories about the work we did together in the states.
Reasons for hope as Democrats prevent Trump-led red wave in state races
“It’s not rocket science that dollars, tactics and message are potent ways to communicate with voters. We provide the dollars to candidates that let them get off the phones, separate themselves from in-state special interests and allow them to talk to voters and to treat these campaigns like the big-league contests they are.” – Daniel Squadron, TSP Founding Partner
DANIEL SQUADRON
TSP Founding Partner
Democrats Plan to Turn Statehouses Blue by Dishing Out Green
“In North Carolina, for example, the difference between just like a draconian abortion ban and a more moderate policy can come down to one seat,” Pritzker said. “That really demonstrates the impact legislatures have kind of under this framework of American federalism.”
ADAM PRITZKER
TSP Founding Partner
“In the last decade, whether it comes to the right to reproductive health care or policies to raise wages for full-time workers, state legislatures have done more good — and more harm — than any other level of government, so that’s what’s on the ballot across these states this election.”
DANIEL SQUADRON
TSP Founding Partner
Dems eyeing battleground state legislatures make their democracy pitch
“The importance of these state legislative elections cannot be overstated. Majorities elected this November could be in office when their state’s electors are sent to DC and having majorities that will respect the will of the voters and stay out of their ability to elect their next president is critical to ensuring free and fair elections for every voter this fall.”
SIMONE LEIRO
TSP Chief Communications Officer
These are the battlegrounds where state legislative control is up for grabs
“The real governing power that [NC gubernatorial candidate Josh] Stein will have will come from his veto. That veto power is contingent on a single seat flipping.”
DANIEL SQUADRON
TSP Founding Partner
Women lag men in political donating. Why giving circles like J. Smith-Cameron’s could help narrow that gap
“Because our donations are combined, we can see our total grow, and that’s incredibly motivating. Part of the brilliance of the model is the exponential growth… It’s just about the best way to counteract the Koch brothers of the world.”
JESSICA
TSP Giving Circle Leader
In North Carolina, the Math for a Supermajority May Come Down to One
“The States Project, a Democratic-aligned group, is spending $70 million on legislative races in nine states, including ones for several House seats in North Carolina.”
THE NEW YORK TIMES
Harris is swimming in cash — but Democrats may still have a fundraising problem
“Tossing another $20 (or even $2,000) onto Harris’s $540 million pile is much less likely to meaningfully change Americans’ lives than making a similar contribution to a pivotal state legislative campaign.”
VOX
TSP on MSNBC: Our personal freedoms are on every state legislative ballot
A COMMUNITY OF CHANGEMAKERS
Strength in Numbers
This year, more people than ever before said yes to joining this community to take action in the states. We had 227 active Giving Circles organize their networks, resulting in 23,973 total donations from across 49 states (call a friend in South Dakota!), the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico!
new Giving Circles formed in 2024
Giving Circles have worked with TSP since 2020
Giving Circles have focused on states with TSP since 2018
Giving Circles have more than 100 members
Giving Circles have more than 300 members
Whether you’ve worked with a million-dollar Circle since day one or you just made your first contribution this cycle, know that you’re part of a community that has fueled power in state legislatures for lawmakers who will fight against the Project 2025 agenda over the next four years.
Downtown Nasty Women Social Group
which started in 2018
One State at a Time
which started in 2018
The Los Angeles Giving Circle
which started in 2020
A WOMAN-LED COMMUNITY
Whether abortion, maternal mortality, affordability, and more, state lawmakers decide the issues that directly impact women. Yet research shows that women represent only:
< 30% of state-level political donations
33% of all political donations
TSP’s Giving Circles are defying this trend, building a majority-women donor community that continues to grow year-over-year:
Between 2020 and 2023, women gave 72% of all Giving Circle dollars raised
The bottom line? TSP Giving Circles are changing the game when it comes to political giving, making it possible for everyday folks, especially women, to build unprecedented political power.
Giving Circle dollars are essential to The States Project’s work, worth two times more than dollars raised outside of the program. Why? Because Giving Circles organize their networks to pool individual contributions — and dollars in relatively small amounts from individuals are the most nimble and powerful in state legislatures.
100% of the amounts raised by Giving Circles goes out the door to the states to support the evidence-based tactics in TSP’s Core Electoral Program. Giving Circle contributions can fuel candidates to produce data-backed messaging, leverage local press support, and get out in their communities to talk directly to voters.
Together, we’re helping candidates committed to improving lives run the most effective and efficient campaigns possible. This is what it looks like to tend to democracy at a foundational level.
LETTER FROM GIVING CIRCLE LEADERS
Karen and Mark, Co-leaders of the For the People Giving Circle, sent this letter to their members after Election Day 2024 that gets to the heart of the work Giving Circles do, and why it will be so crucial over the next four years. With permission, we share it with all of you.
To our dearest friends, family, and fellow changemakers,
You have joined us in the incredibly important work of fighting to protect and strengthen our democracy, and in doing so, you have joined us in making hope together. These are a few learnings that matter to us and that we hope may be helpful to you:
- Remember the long-short road. There is a story in the Talmud that helps us see that sometimes when we take what feels like the shorter route to our destination, it doesn’t get us where we want to go. The longer way, in the end, is the best way to get there. We’ll be on the long-short road because the path toward a healthy, prosperous, and sustainable future for all Americans will take time. But we will get there.
- To remain resilient, we must pay attention to what we’re paying attention to. Companies that profit from keeping us engaged online rely on our fear and anger. Keeping us in a heightened emotional state is profitable, but it wears out our nervous systems, harms our health, and does not achieve anything positive that we care about. Unplug and recharge, because the work continues.
- Joy and well-being are our birthright, and we cannot allow anyone to steal them from us. Please know that we distinguish joy from happiness and hope from optimism. The joy humans feel is anything deeply felt — love, excitement, connection, exuberance, delight — and also brokenheartedness. We have cried a lot lately because we are so deeply saddened by what is happening in our country. And, we are also prioritizing moments of laughter, awe, and heartfelt connection.
We will make hope and build toward a country that lives up to the American Promise, over time, together. Working alongside this community of activists, optimists, and changemakers is an honor. We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished and are committed to continuing this journey — together.
— Karen and Mark, Co-leaders of the For the People Giving Circle
A Matter of States Giving Circle • Across State Lines • Americans Abroad Defending Our Democracy • Awareness Into Action • Better Future For Our Kids Giving Circle • Blair Holt’s Giving Circle • Blue Revolution Flips A State Legislature Blue • “Blue Women, Red State” • “Bradley, Liles & Friends Giving Circle” • Building Power From the Ground Up • Californians Fight for Democracy • “Caroline, Nicki & Melissa’s Channel Your Rage Giving Circle” • Ceramics for Change • Chalk It Up for Democracy • Comrade Besties • Defense Against the 19th Century Fund • Democracy Groupies • Democracy With Broads • Dems Can Win Giving Circle • “Dems Forever, Dems for Good” • Doing Our Best New England • Fallopians 6:24 • Fight for Democracy • Fight for Democracy • Fighting for Justice in the States • Fire Rabbit’s Revenge Giving Circle • Flipping Seats and Taking Names • FLIPPING(State)HOUSES! • Fraskinsons for Democracy • GingerKids • Good Trouble MD • Green Lake Giving Circle • Harvey Goldman’s Giving Circle • In Pursuit of Clean Countertops Giving Circle • Jill’s Giving Circle • Katy Decker’s Giving Circle • Kirstin’s Circle • Kitchen Table Democracy • Laura Lowell’s Giving Circle • Little Bites to Blue • Local Level Donors • Maggie and Nicole’s Giving Circle • Mass&More24 • Mom’s Body for Change • Move the Needle • Moving The Branch • Northridge Indivisible • Not Too Late for States • Ohio Women for Blue States • Onward – The States Project’s Giving Circle • Orange is the New Blue • OY VEY THINGS ARE NOT OK! • Partners 4 Democracy • PENT UP • Phillip Baltz’s Giving Circle • Positive Changemakers • Protect the States! • Rebecca Leicht’s Giving Circle • Rick Sanchez’s Giving Circle • Sarah Kruse’s Giving Circle • Senate Circle • Small But Mighty • Solid States • States Squad • Stop the Spiral • Sullivan Wayne Action Network (SWAN) • Take Back Abortion Rights via the States • The Blue Crew • The Fight of Our Lives • The Golden Girls Giving Circle • The Konewago Crew • THE POWER CIRCLE: An eclectic group empowering change and defending our democracy • The States Project – Malibu • The Village – because it takes one • Therapists In Action Giving Circle • Treat People with Kindness • TurnUSBlue • United Flippin States • Virginia Giving Circle • We Dissent • We The Women • Whitney DeMartino’s Giving Circle • WWZF
Star-studded states
Your commitment to improving lives at the state level has not gone unnoticed. From artists and actors to influencers and state lawmakers, stars from across the country came together this year to feature The States Project’s work and bring attention to state legislatures.
From Our Head of Giving Circles
Dear Giving Circles,
There is a certain numbness that came with the 2024 election. I felt myself protecting my heart, minute by minute on election night, then hour by hour, and then day by day after November 5th. The pain of the results at the top of the ticket didn’t hit me like a sledgehammer as it had in 2016 — it seeped in like water dealing more damage to a boat that I already knew had holes.
Over the past eight years, a lot of us have had to come to terms with who we are as a country. Pondering that — questioning our neighbors, our family, our friends, and their choices — can be particularly painful in moments like these.
I have been lucky enough to spend these eight years building and being part of a community of Giving Circle Leaders and Members, people who know just what the not-yet-fulfilled American Promise means. It means effective government, fair markets, personal freedom, representative democracy — that’s good schools, affordable healthcare, abortion access, jobs that can support our families — and it’s worth fighting for.
That’s why we remain committed to building governing power in state capitols; this power is an insurance policy against the worst of a MAGA agenda. And when it comes to state legislatures, together, we know we have the ability to have real impact. Indeed we have had an impact even in a national environment as tough as this year.
Our greatest electoral victories of 2024 were at the state level, where States Project Giving Circle Leaders, this community, has been focused all along. Today, our team remains standing and ready — because Giving Circles are with us.
Over the next four years, the rightwing will do everything they can to break our government down and dismantle it. But because of folks who are with us — folks like you — we have a shot to protect the aspiration of the American Promise. A good shot. Because we are staying in the fight.
This is not a flash-in-the-pan project, not a reactive and exhausting endeavor. No. We Giving Circle Leaders? We tend steadily to democracy at its foundational power centers — in state capitols. We love a win, we do, but we are in it for the fight.
Onward.
Melissa
Head of Giving Circles
