State Republicans Overcome Massive Spending to Make Strong and Meaningful Gains in Blue States

WASHINGTON, D.C. — State Republicans overcame over $175 million in national liberal spending to gain seats in predominantly blue states like California, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, and Vermont showing signs of increased momentum for state Republicans looking to make inroads in Democrat strongholds.   

• In California Republicans are on track to make net gains in both legislative chambers for the first time since 2014. 
• In Maine Republicans are on track to pick up as many as 9 legislative seats in the house and Senate combined.
• In Minnesota Republicans have flipped enough seats in the state House to break the Democrat Trifecta  
• In Nevada Republicans are on track to prevent a Democrat supermajority in both the Assembly and the Senate by picking up a seat in both chambers 
• In New Mexico Republicans prevented a Democrat supermajority in the state Senate and flipped a seat that has never been held by a Republican in NM history, as well as flipping a House seat in the Las Cruces suburbs 
• In New York Republicans broke the Democrat supermajority in the state Senate 
• In Vermont Republicans exited the superminority in the House and Senate; this is the first time in recent history the RSLC has invested in legislative races in the state 
• In Hawaii and Massachusetts, Republicans made significant gains in the state legislatures gaining a combined 6 seats
   

“State Republicans’ strong performances in predominantly blue states show that Americans crave balance in their state capitals,” said RSLC President Dee Duncan. “Tuesday’s victories underscore the growing momentum behind state Republicans and the demand for a more balanced approach to the top issues facing the American people. This is a major step for the state Republican coalition in its efforts to chip away at the control of legislative chambers in blue states and expand its majorities nationwide.”  

 
Earlier this year, the RSLC released a memo detailing the plan to strategically weaken Democratic strongholds and potentially flip crucial seats across multiple blue states. Targeting states like New Mexico and Minnesota where Democrats hold supermajorities, restoring balanced legislative power was the focus of efforts in these liberal strongholds. The wins this week will allow for more substantial influence in shaping state-level policies and strengthening the party’s national presence. The RSLC’s strategic investments in these key states are breaking Democratic strongholds and building towards new majorities through the decade.  
 
The RSLC’s early investment strategy was crucial in this success, with a total investment this year across 21 states that topped $49 million. 

 
ABOUT RSLC 

The Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) is the largest organization of Republican state leaders in the country and only national committee whose mission is to recruit, train, and elect Republicans to multiple down-ballot, state-level offices. Thanks to our growing network of grassroots supporters in all 50 states, we help deliver wins for Republican state legislators, lieutenant governors, secretaries of state, agriculture officials, and state judges across the country. 

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