DemocraticNationalCommittee.org 50 state

A 50-State Strategy

How Democrats can and will win in every state, every county, and every precinct.

The ultimate goal? An active, effective group of Democrats organized in every single precinct in the country. Here's what we're doing to get there:

The Democratic Party hired organizers chosen by the state parties in every state -- experienced local activists who know their communities.
We brought those organizers together for summits where they learned from each other the best practices for getting organized to win elections.
Armed with the knowledge they've shared with each other, Democratic organizers returned to the states and recruited and trained leaders at the local level.
Those local leaders recruited more leaders and volunteers until every single precinct in their area has a trained, effective organization of Democrats dedicated to winning votes for Democrats.

Curt Hanson wins Iowa House special election

September 2, 2009 - Democrat Curt Hanson won a special election to replace former representative John Whitaker who was appointed to a role with the USDA. Iowa Democratic Party chair Michael Kiernan commented on the victory.

We congratulate Curt Hanson on a successful campaign. His was a local campaign about local issues, and it is not surprising he was successful. Curt will make an excellent addition to the Democratic majority in the Iowa House. Congratulations to Speaker Murphy, Majority Leader McCarthy and the staff of the Iowa Democratic Party, for their outstanding effort and teamwork, and the victory that has followed.

Democrats have been successful in the last two election cycles and tonight because we have recruited great candidates, followed through on the promises we've made and are governing the state responsibly.

We will continue to build upon this strong organization and team approach as we prepare for statewide elections next fall. Tonight's results don't change our strategy for 2010. Tomorrow we will get back to work on candidate recruitment, fundraising and organizing. We have every reason to expect continued success.

Chabert wins Louisiana state Senate special election

September 1, 2009 - In Louisiana Norby Chabert won a special election runoff to hold onto the 20th Senate district deat. Democrats continue to hold a 23-16 advantage in the state Senate. Chabert's 54-45% victory drew considerable attention and participation from voters.

About 26 percent of the district’s 67,950 eligible voters turned out for Saturday’s runoff, an increase from the 20 percent voter turnout in the Aug. 1 primary.

Kentucky Democrats win state Senate special election

September 1, 2009 - In Kentucky Democrats won a special election state Senate race when State Rep. Robin Webb won the 18th Senate district seat. The seat was made available when Gov. Beshear (D) appointed Sen. Borders to the Kentucky Public Service Commission. This victory pulls the Democrats in the state Senate to within two seats of sharing power.

Senate Minority Leader Ed Worley, D-Richmond, said: “This is a huge victory for the Senate Democratic caucus and a huge loss for the Republican Senate caucus.

The Democrats have won the last two special elections. So if there is another special election this year, momentum is clearly on our side, Worley said

Republicans Fear Losing Texas Senate Seat

January 15, 2009 - Republicans are afraid of losing another Senate seat -- this one in "deeply red Texas" -- should Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison resigns to pursue her state's governorship.

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) is reconsidering a plan to resign from the Senate this year, a huge relief to Republicans who fear that a special election — even in deeply red Texas — could give Democrats a 60-seat, filibuster-resistant majority in the Senate.

Hutchison, who plans to run for governor in 2010, has been under pressure from Republican colleagues to stay in her Senate seat as long as she can.

Republicans Seek to Emulate Gov. Dean, 50-State Strategy

December 9, 2008 - Following the Democratic gains across the country at the local, state and federal levels, Republicans are left looking for inspiration in unfamiliar places -- Governor Howard Dean

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, in politics and elsewhere. And after two straight cycles of congressional pickups, outgoing DNC chair Howard Dean is no longer a boogeyman for his Republican counterparts -- he's a template for success.

This past weekend, a candidate for RNC Chair, Michigan Republican Party Chair Saul Anuzi, said the Grand Old Party would do well to follow the example set by the former Vermont Governor.

There is a perception that we are a regional party and that we are a party from the South because that's the region we're consistently winning today," Anuzis told Politico. "I do think we need to have our version of the 50-state program that [Democratic National Committee Chair Howard] Dean had.

Contract on America

For the better part of the past year, Republicans have tried to come up with a new agenda for the American people with mixed results. However, the Tea Party is now the most potent force in Republican politics.

Will Hillary Clinton run for Office

SurveyUSA poll shows that Hillary Clinton would defeat President Barack Obama by a 20-percentage-point margin in a head-to-head race for the presidency.

Ethanol Subsidy nearly 6 billion dollars a Year

Critics of the ethanol program noted that energy legislation enacted in 2007 requires oil companies to produce 36 billion gallons of biofuels like ethanol by 2022, arguing that refiners will have to rely on ethanol whether it is subsidized or not.

President Obama Signs Hate Crimes Prevention Act Into Law

Today President Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act into law, legislation that will extend new federal protections to people who are victims of violent crime because of their gender, sexual orientation or identity, or disability.