Democrats are building a multimillion-dollar machine to focus on winning back state offices and legislatures lost under former President Barack Obama.
Some of the Democratic Party’s wealthiest backers have joined the effort, according to the Associated Press. Billionaires George Soros, Donald Sussman, and Fred Eychaner have together contributed at least $15 million.
The Tea Party wave of 2010 installed six new Republican governors, flipped 21 state legislative chambers, and replaced nearly 700 Democratic state legislators with members of the GOP. The sweep gave Republicans an advantage in state politics and, even more importantly, greater control over the once-a-decade redistricting process to cement their gains.
Now, Democrats want the same power in 2020. The Supreme Court ruled in June that gerrymandering cases cannot be challenged in federal courts. The decision gives state politicians more confidence to move forward redrawing district maps, knowing the boundaries likely won’t be challenged by federal judges.
“Everybody knows everything is at stake,” EMILY’s List President Stephanie Schriock said. “We just have to go in and win chambers.”
Republicans are gearing up to combat the quickly growing Democratic machine. Notably, the GOP possesses an advantage Democrats lacked in the 2010 midterm elections; in 2020, President Trump is at the top of the ballot to propel Republican turnout.
“It is serious as a heart attack, and we’ve got to do everything we can to prepare for it,” said Austin Chambers, president of the Republican State Leadership Committee.
