Updated September 30, 2026

Plan to Win Downballot

Goal: Win governing power and break up GOP power across the country.

Why: Building Democratic and progressive power in the states will enable us to unrig GOP-gerrymandered congressional and legislative maps, pass crucial electoral reforms, block regressive policies, and advance progress.

How: MVP partners were instrumental in winning key state-level victories in 2020, 2022, and 2024. This year, our partners are organizing to gain state trifectas, win governorships, flip state legislatures, and win crucial races for state courts, secretaries of state, and attorneys general.

Video: The Minnesota Miracle Playbook

We know what's possible because we've done it in Minnesota.

In 2023, after MVP partners helped elect a Democratic trifecta, Minnesota passed the most ambitious legislative agenda since the New Deal. This didn't just come out of nowhere — it was the result of over a decade of organizing by MVP grantee partners and other organizations.

Electoral Targets

Target: State Trifectas

Reach 22 Democratic trifectas

by adding Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin to the 16 states currently controlled by Democrats.

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Target: Governors

Reach 26 or more Democratic governors

by defending vulnerable seats in Arizona, Kansas, Michigan, and Wisconsin, and flipping Georgia and Nevada.

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Target: State Legislatures

Gain ground in key states

by flipping chambers (Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, winning seats in Georgia and New Hampshire, and blocking a GOP supermajority in North Carolina.

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Target: State Supreme Courts

Defend, win, and expand Dem power in state courts

in Montana, Michigan, Nevada, and North Carolina.

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Target: Secretaries of State

Reach 23 Democratic Secretaries of State

by defending five seats (Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Wisconsin) and flipping one (Georgia).

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Target: Attorneys General

Reach up to 27 Democratic Attorneys General

by defending four competitive seats (Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin) and flipping up to four (Kansas, Georgia, Iowa, Texas).

More info forthcoming.

INTRODUCTION

Why State Power

In 2010, the GOP took over state legislatures to rig election maps and entrench right-wing rule. We are still paying the price.

After Obama’s 2008 election, GOP operatives launched REDMAP, a $30-million plan to flip state legislatures just in time to rig Congressional and legislative maps after the 2010 census.

It worked: In 2010, Republicans picked up 675 legislative seats and 20 state chambers, gaining control of 25 legislatures and the power to redraw 67% of swing House districts. We are still paying the price:

Thanks to gerrymandering, the GOP gained nineteen House seats on average for each election from 2012-2016, shrunk losses in 2018, and protected razor-thin majorities in 2022 and 2024.
In the states, GOP map-rigging enabled a partisan power grab that has stifled progress on gun safety, health care, voting rights, and more, and has helped entrench right-wing power. The GOP now controls 59% of state chambers, 57% of legislatures, and 23 trifectas (vs. Dems’ 16).

Screenshot: The Guardian, 8/9/2025

Section 1

State Trifectas

Expanding Progressive Governance

Goal: Reach 22 Democratic trifectas.

State Democratic trifectas give us our best shot at advancing progressive governance and improving people's lives until we regain Democratic control of the federal government. Democrats hold 16 trifectas. In 2026, we are investing to net six more:

Flip State Senate and House

Arizona

Democrats hold the governor’s office, while Republicans hold a 17-13 majority in the state Senate and a 33-27 majority in the state House. In a Blue-Wave environment like 2018, we may be able to flip both chambers in 2026, creating the first Democratic trifecta since 1966.

Flip State House

Michigan

Democrats hold the governor’s office and a one-seat majority in the state Senate. Republicans have a 58-52 seat advantage in the state House. Winning the governor’s race, holding the Senate, and flipping four House seats would restore the trifecta we lost in 2024. The governor’s race is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in the country.

Flip State House

Minnesota

The DFL (Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party) holds the governor’s office and a one-seat majority in the state Senate, with a tie in the state House. Winning the governor’s race, holding the Senate, and reclaiming the House will give us back the trifecta we lost in 2024, enabling us to build on enormous progressive achievements from the 2023 session.

Flip Governor's Seat

Nevada

Democrats hold majorities in the state House and Senate, and the Republican governor is up for re-election. Flipping the governor’s seat and holding majorities in both legislative chambers would give us back the trifecta we lost in 2022.

Flip State Senate

Pennsylvania

Democrats hold the governor’s office and a one-seat majority in the state House. If we win the governor’s race and hold the House majority while flipping three state Senate seats, we will achieve a trifecta for the first time since 1993.

Flip State Senate and House

Wisconsin

Democrats hold the governor’s office and picked up 14 legislative seats in 2024 (thanks to new fair maps), putting both chambers in reach in 2026. The state Senate currently has 15 Democrats and 18 Republicans, and the House has 45 Democrats and 54 Republicans. Winning the highly competitive governor’s race and flipping two Senate seats and five House seats would result in a Democratic trifecta for the first time since 2010.

Section 2

Governors

Vetoing Power Grabs, Enabling Executive Action

Goal: Reach 26 or more Democratic governors.

Governors are key to blocking MAGA, advancing progress, and building long-term power. They can veto GOP legislation (as well as rigged legislative and Congressional maps), appoint judges, shape budgets, and use executive orders to advance policy and uphold community rights. Our targets include but are not limited to the following:

DEFEND

Arizona

Democratic governor Katie Hobbs holds a critical role in a state with GOP House and Senate majorities. Hobbs is running for re-election, and the race is highly competitive.

FLIP

Georgia

Electing a Democrat to this open seat would mitigate harm from the GOP legislature.

DEFEND

Kansas

While Republicans hold supermajorities in the state legislature, Democratic governor Laura Kelly provides an important check. She is term-limited, opening the seat in 2026.

DEFEND

Michigan

The Michigan governor's race is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in the country. Defending this seat, holding the state Senate, and flipping the state House would restore the trifecta lost in 2024.

FLIP

Nevada

In Nevada, the Republican governor is up for re-election. Flipping the governor’s seat and holding majorities in both legislative chambers would give us back the trifecta we lost in 2022.

DEFEND

Wisconsin

Winning the highly competitive governor’s race and flipping two Senate seats and five House seats would result in a Democratic trifecta for the first time since 2010.

Section 3

State Legislatures

Gaining Ground, Stopping GOP Supermajorities

Flip State Senate and House

Arizona

Republicans hold a 17-13 majority in the state Senate and a 33-27 majority in the state House. In a Blue-Wave environment like 2018, we may be able to flip both chambers in 2026, creating the first Democratic trifecta since 1966.

Win Democratic Seats

Georgia

Over several cycles, Democrats have steadily gained ground in the Georgia House. Republicans currently hold a 100-80 House majority and a 33-21 Senate majority with 2 vacancies. Continuing to flip seats in 2026 could put us on the path to a majority by 2030.

Flip State House

Michigan

Flip State House

Minnesota

Win Democratic Seats

New Hampshire

Making progress toward a majority in the State House – where we came just 13 votes in a single race short of flipping the chamber in 2022 – would put us on a path to breaking the Republican trifecta. Democrats currently hold 177 of the 400 seats.

Block GOP Supermajorities

North Carolina

Republicans have a one-seat supermajority in the state Senate and are one seat short of a supermajority in the state House. This allows the Democratic governor (in office through 2028) to veto GOP bills, but only when no Democrat votes to override it. In July 2025, the legislature overrode eight of fourteen vetoes of the session, with one to three Democrats voting with the GOP. More Democrats in the legislature will help fortify this veto power.

Flip State Senate

Pennsylvania

Flip State Senate and House

Wisconsin

Democrats picked up 14 legislative seats in 2024 (thanks to new fair maps), putting both chambers in reach in 2026. Winning the governor’s race and flipping two Senate seats and five House seats would result in a Democratic trifecta for the first time since 2010.

Section 4

State Supreme Courts

Protecting Democracy and Freedoms

Goal: Defend, grow, and win Democratic majorities.

State Supreme Courts hold final say on a wide range of state-level issues: redistricting, election certification, voting rights, abortion access, workers' rights, and more.

Protect Democratic Majority

Michigan

Protect Democrats’ 6-1 majority by re-electing two incumbent Democrats.

Protect Liberal Majority

Montana

Protect liberals’ 4-3 majority by defending the open liberal seat.

Defend Democratic Minority

North Carolina

Defend Democrats’ 2-5 minority by re-electing Justice Anita Earls.

Section 5

Secretaries of State

Ensuring Free and Fair Elections

Goal: Reach 23 Democratic Secretaries of State.

Secretaries of State hold the keys to fair election administration, from managing voter rolls to setting procedures, ensuring voter access, countering election misinformation, and certifying results.

Defend

Arizona

Re-elect Democratic Secretary of State Adrian Fontes.

Defend

Minnesota

Re-elect Democratic Secretary of State Steve Simon.

Defend

Michigan

Elect Democratic Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II to the open seat being vacated by Democrat Jocelyn Benson, who is running for governor

Defend

Nevada

Re-elect Democratic Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar.

Flip

Georgia

Unseat GOP Secretary of State Tim Fleming.

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Movement Voter PAC

Movement Voter PAC is a federal political committee that primarily supports the political work of year-round organizing groups working to elect progressive candidates up and down the ballot.

PAC donations maximize impact on elections by giving voter organizing groups the most freedom to engage in partisan or political activity, such as endorsing candidates.

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