State-level Democrats are raking in small-dollar cash
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The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, which heads the party's efforts to win control of state legislatures, is smashing records for off-year grassroots fundraising.
Why it matters: For decades, Republican have trounced Democrats at the state level — helped by their ability to control the redistricting process in key states. The record $5.5 million DLCC has brought in from small-dollar donors this year will be key for flipping seats in 2024.
- The fundraising numbers come after a series of special elections in which state-level Democrats have outperformed President Biden's 2020 results.
- Democrats also managed to take control of the Virginia General Assembly this year, despite significant effort and spending by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin to gain state control.
By the numbers: DLCC has already raised 145% of their total grassroots haul from 2019, the last comparable cycle, according to their stats provided to Axios.
- October 2023 was the highest-grossing month for online fundraising in an off-year — leading up to the Virginia elections.
- DLCC's off year fundraising overall is at a record-setting pace, with weeks left in the year.
- Meanwhile committees for both parties focused on federal elections have struggled with fundraising due to inflation and donor fatigue.
What they're saying: "Even amid new challenges around online fundraising across the industry, the DLCC has seen tremendous growth —and we plan to continue that momentum in the new year," Masha Anderson, Senior Director of Direct Response at the DLCC told Axios in a statement.
- "Our grassroots support makes it clear: 2024 will be the year of the states," Anderson added.
- The DLCC's Republican counterpart — the Republican State Leadership Committee — did not respond to Axios request for comment.
Between the lines: The U.S. Supreme Court's decision last year to allow state governments to decide abortion laws seems to be driving some of the DLCC's fundraising.
- In just 48 hours after Politico reported on a copy of the SCOTUS decision to last year, DLCC brought in stunning $650,000.
