Arena supports the groundswell of new leaders entering the political arena.

Since 2016, we have supported 61 candidates to victory up-and-down the ballot and across the country. And we were at the forefront of the effort to take back the U.S. House of Representatives, the New York State Senate, and the Virginia House of Delegates.

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This year, we’re focusing down ballot, because the path to protecting American democracy begins and ends in state legislatures.

From abortion, to climate change, to voting rights, to gun violence prevention, action – or inaction – on the issues that matter most happens at the state legislative level. 

For decades, Republicans have realized this, investing down-ballot to secure power in state legislatures across America. Today, Republicans have unilateral control of the legislature in 30 states, enabling them to gerrymander, suppress votes, and enact anti-democratic policies that turn back progress. Add to that a gridlocked Congress unwilling and unable to take action at the federal level, and the Republican play to control state legislatures is causing more damage than ever. 

But that’s not all. With the activist Supreme Court hearing Moore v. Harper next session, state legislatures could end up with the independent power to determine who wins or loses the 2024 presidential election, putting the very fate of our democracy in their hands. 

The time to act is now. 

Arena is meeting the moment by making unprecedented investments in the Arena Staff Fellowship, a strategic effort to place and fully fund Arena-trained staffers on the state legislative campaigns that matter most. The program works as follows:

  • Arena looks at critical legislative races in states where ending unchecked right-wing control is within reach.
  • We work with in-state partners and campaigns to assess staffing roles that the campaign would not otherwise be able to afford that could make a difference between winning and losing on election day.
  • Drawing from our pool of Arena-trained staff, we identify individuals that can meet the needs of targeted campaigns and fully fund their salaries and benefits.
  • We support placed fellows with ongoing training to help them be proactive problem solvers on their campaigns, help the fellows build community with each other to create a lateral support network, and make introductions to experienced campaign leaders who can act as mentors to guide our fellows through unique challenges.

Last year, we piloted the Arena Staff Fellowship in Virginia, placing and fully funding Staff Fellows on the five incumbent-protect seats most critical to retaining Virginia’s Democratic majority. Despite a tougher than expected political environment, Arena helped deliver victories in three out of the five incumbent-protect campaigns campaigns, with two others coming within 650 votes of victory.

This year, we’re expanding the initiative to Arizona, Michigan, and Pennsylvania where we know that strategic staff investments can deliver Democratic majorities for the first time in decades.

Sign up to learn more about the candidates we are supporting this cycle.

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Learn About Arena's Electoral Impact

We need your support.

Republicans have spent decades cultivating talent and investing for the long run, and right now we’re paying the price. Republicans control 30 state legislatures, 28 governors mansions, and are just a few seats away from regaining control of Congress. Together with an activist Supreme Court, they’re enacting policies that turn back progress on everything from abortion to voting rights to climate change. 

Arena is building a new generation of political leaders who will lead the fight to save our democracy and build progressive power for the long run. It’s going to take all of us to make change. Join us in this work.

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By providing your cell phone number you consent to receive periodic updates from Arena, including automated text messages and phone calls. Txt HELP for help, STOP to end. Msg & Data rates may apply. See our Privacy Policy.

Stay up to date with news and resources from the Arena community

By providing your cell phone number you consent to receive periodic updates from Arena, including automated text messages and phone calls. Txt HELP for help, STOP to end. Msg & Data rates may apply. See our Privacy Policy.