Dear Friend,
We’re so relieved and proud to congratulate President-Elect Biden and Vice President-Elect Harris. This is a momentous weekend for the country and for our democracy. Take time to celebrate, and then let’s roll up our sleeves, because the work is far from over.
While there is much from this week that still remains unknown, we wanted to share an update about where we are today in our states.
So far, we will gain seats in the North Carolina Senate, Maine Senate, Wisconsin Assembly, and potentially the Arizona Senate. And we are on track to hold our ground in the Kansas Senate, Michigan House, and Texas House.
In our second cycle in several states, we defended every single seat that we flipped in 2018 in Michigan, Arizona, and Maine. In North Carolina, we defended the broken supermajority that was achieved in 2018. In Maine, we helped expand the Senate majority to be the largest majority in thirty years.
These exciting achievements are accompanied by disappointment that the state legislative results were not what polling and modeling suggested was possible even a week ago. This was a hyper-partisan year without door-knocking. And many of our candidates were competing in gerrymandered districts where they often had to outperform the top of the ticket.
So where does this leave us? As Daniel shared in an op-ed this weekend:
“With a federal government that is likely to remain closely divided, state legislatures will have the chance to lead on the most important policy issues in the country.”
Future Now, our policy affiliate, is already convening lawmakers as they set legislative agendas for 2021. Whether they are in the majority or minority, Democrats or Republicans, Future Now is ready to work with state lawmakers across the country to improve lives throughout all 50 states.
At Future Now Fund, we’re diving into the data and applying what we learn as we prepare for 2021 and 2022. We are and always have been in this for the long game. We’re grateful to have you as a partner as we keep working to improve lives for millions of Americans through statehouses across the country. Onward,
Simone
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Simone Leiro
Director of Communications and Marketing
Future Now Fund & Future Now
