Regardless of the outcomes, this midterm election will be historic. Midterm turnout records are likely to be shattered. Enthusiasm, fueled by abortion restrictions and the Jan. 6 hearings, is high. Several high-profile contests for U.S. Senate and Governor are polling within the margin of error. These factors should give hope to the Democrats, even though the president's party historically loses ground in midterms.
But it's critical to remember that other, equally important races are also taking place this year. The future of our democracy is on the line — and it runs through our state legislatures. We know that Republicans plan to use their unearned state legislative majorities to compromise election outcomes. And the Supreme Court is poised to further expand state legislative power through the "independent state legislature" theory with the upcoming case Moore v. Harper. State legislatures are growing in power. It is existentially important for Democrats to build power at this level of government, which the party has overlooked for generations.
