Aaron Lieberman
HD-28, Arizona
Arena Candidates in 2020
We supported promising candidates in 2020.
In 2020, the entire House of Representatives, one third of the Senate, the Presidency, and hundreds of state legislative seats were up for grabs. Recognizing the importance of investing in Democratic gains at the state level, we partnered with Future Now Fund to target state legislative races in five key swing states: Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, and Texas.
Targeting
We applied Future Now Fund’s proven district analysis to 133 potentially competitive districts across these five states to identify where our support could be the difference between a win and a loss.
Funding
We helped raise nearly $6 million for 84 candidates to address strategic gaps and budget deficits in staffing and voter contact programs.
Staffing
We matched 133 Arena Academy graduates with jobs on campaigns in our five target states, and supported them through ongoing 1:1 coaching.
Partnerships
Our deep and longstanding partnerships with campaigns, caucuses, and legislative leadership in each state enabled us to identify staffing and other needs.
The States + Candidates
Arizona
GOAL
Flip a chamber
CHAMBER BREAKDOWN
State Senate
13 Democrats / 17 Republicans
State House
29 Democrats / 31 Republicans
THE STAKES
In Arizona, the current governing majority has led a coordinated, multi-year effort to undermine fundamental democratic processes and Arizonans’ ability to get a good education and quality healthcare.
THE PATH TO VICTORY
In 2020, the entire House and Senate are up for election and just two seats in the Senate and one seat in the House will break the current majority. If Democrats win two House seats they will control the chamber outright for the first time in five decades.
AJ Kurdoglu
SD-17, Arizona
Christine Marsh
SD-28, Arizona
Coral Evans
HD-6, Arizona
Domingo DeGrazia
HD-10, Arizona
Doug Ervin
SD-20, Arizona
Felicia French
SD-6, Arizona
Jennifer Jermaine
HD-18, Arizona
Jennifer Pawlik
HD-17, Arizona
Judy Schweibert
HD-20, Arizona
Kathy Knecht
HD-21, Arizona
Stephanie Stahl Hamilton
HD-10, Arizona
Florida
GOAL
Flip the state house
CHAMBER BREAKDOWN
State House
47 Democrats / 73 Republicans
THE STAKES
The majority in the Florida legislature is doubling down on the same strategy that has kept them in power since the 1990s: preventing Floridians from exercising their right to vote and selling the state to vested special interests.
THE PATH TO VICTORY
In 2020, the entire Florida House is up for election, and Democrats need to flip thirteen seats to tie or fourteen to achieve a majority. There are 21 Republican-held seats that are competitive for Democrats, including 15 that voted for either Hillary Clinton or Bill Nelson.
Andrew Learned
HD-59, Florida
Annette Collazo
HD-110, Florida
Dolores Guzman
HD-27, Florida
Drake Buckman
HD-72, Florida
EJ Bernier
HD-83, Florida
Franccesca Cesti-Browne
HD-115, Florida
Jessica Harrington
HD-64, Florida
Jim Bonfiglio
HD-89, Florida
Julie Jenkins
HD-60, Florida
Kayser Enneking
HD-21, Florida
Linda Thompson Gonzalez
HD-93, Florida
Maureen Porras
HD-105, Florida
Pasha Baker
HD-28, Florida
Patrick Henry
HD-26, Florida
Ricky Junquera
HD-118, Florida
Tracey Kagan
HD-29, Florida
Michigan
GOAL
Flip the state house
CHAMBER BEAKDOWN
State House
52 Democrats / 58 Republicans
THE STAKES
Michigan’s politics show that a Democratic Governor is not enough. The existing majority in the legislature still won’t play ball. They used a lame duck session after the 2018 elections to undermine the will of voters at almost every turn. Plus, the DeVos family — the same family who sponsored the recent protests at the capitol — is bankrolling Republican candidates running throughout the state.
THE PATH TO VICTORY
In 2020, the entire House is up for election and Democrats only need to net four out of 58 Republican seats to flip the chamber. It seems exceedingly unlikely the state will be ignored by the Democratic presidential candidate again and a big effort would pay major dividends in this traditionally blue state.
Angela Witwer
HD-71, Michigan
Barb Anness
HD-45, Michigan
Chokwe Pitchford
HD-79, Michigan
Christine Morse
HD-61, Michigan
Dan O’Neil
HD-104, Michigan
Jim Haadsma
HD-62, Michigan
Julia Pulver
HD-39, Michigan
Kelly Breen
HD-38, Michigan
Laurie Pohutsky
HD-19, Michigan
Mari Manoogian
HD-40, Michigan
Matt Koleszar
HD-20, Michigan
Padma Kuppa
HD-41, Michigan
North Carolina
GOAL
Flip a chamber
CHAMBER BACKGROUND
State Senate
21 Democrats / 29 Republicans
State House
55 Democrats / 65 Republicans
THE STAKES
For six years, the majority in North Carolina ran unobstructed in implementing the greatest hits of the corporatist, far right-wing playbook, sharpening the state’s partisan divide and hurting its citizens. These significant legislative gains of 2018 broke Republican supermajorities, but failed to break their penchant for political machinations and gerrymandering to keep their power intact.
THE PATH TO VICTORY
In 2020, the entire House and Senate are up for election. A state court has imposed new, fairer districts in many areas across North Carolina. In the House, there are 5 Republican-held seats that have been carried by statewide Democrats in this decade and six more where they came close, many in areas that are trending Democratic. And Popular Democratic Governor Roy Cooper is running for re-election and will be working to ensure he finally has a legislature able to partner with him to improve lives.
Aimy Steele
HD-82, North Carolina
Ashton Clemmons
HD-57, North Carolina
Brandon Lofton
HD-104, North Carolina
Brian Farkas
HD-9, North Carolina
Christy Clark
HD-98, North Carolina
Dan Besse
HD-74, North Carolina
Frances Jackson
HD-45, North Carolina
Gail Young
HD-83, North Carolina
James Galliard
HD-25, North Carolina
Joe Sam Queen
HD-119, North Carolina
Julie Von Haefen
HD-36, North Carolina
Kandie Smith
HD-8, North Carolina
Kimberly Hardy
HD-43, North Carolina
Nicole Quick
HD-59, North Carolina
Rachel Hunt
HD-103, North Carolina
Ray Russell
HD-93, North Carolina
Ricky Hurtado
HD-63, North Carolina
Sydney Batch
HD-37, North Carolina
Terence Everitt
HD-35, North Carolina
Wesley Harris
HD-105, North Carolina
Texas
GOAL
Flip the house
CHAMBER BACKGROUND
State Senate
12 Democrats / 19 Republicans
State House
67 Democrats / 83 Republicans
THE STAKES
For decades, the Texas legislature has been swept up in racism and right-wing ideology. Today, the legislature is defined by its meanness and intolerance.
THE PATH TO VICTORY
In 2020, the entire Texas House is up for election, and Democrats need to net nine of 83 Republican-held seats to flip the chamber.
Akilah Bacy
HD-138, Texas
Angela Brewer
HD-64, Texas
Ann Johnson
HD-134, Texas
Brandy Chambers
HD-112, Texas
Celina Montoya
HD-121, Texas
Eliz Markowitz
HD-28, Texas
Elizabeth Beck
HD-97, Texas
Jeff Whitfield
HD-92, Texas
Joanna Cattanach
HD-108, Texas
Likeitha “Keke” Williams
HD-54, Texas
Lorenzo Sanchez
HD-67, Texas
Lydia Bean
HD-93, Texas
Natali Hurtado
HD-126, Texas
Sharon Hirsch
HD-66, Texas
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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Paid for by Arena Summit, a section 501(c)(4) organization, and Arena PAC.
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.