The Democratic National Committee will donate $2.5 million to more than 30 state and territory parties in the final weeks of the 2024 election cycle, the DNC said in a statement Friday.
With the recent grants, National Democrats will contribute to all 57 state and territory divisions for the first time in a presidential cycle, according to the party.
“From the school board to the White House, the DNC is doing the work to elect Democrats to office at all levels of government,” DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison said in a statement provided to States Newsroom ahead of the broader announcement.
“We are the only committee responsible for building Democrats’ infrastructure to win elections across the board, and with new $2.5 million in grants, the DNC is making a multimillion-dollar investment across all 57 state parties this cycle – a historic first for our committee.”
The recent grants extend beyond seven swing states considered extremely competitive in presidential elections that have attracted the lion’s share of national attention and spending, as well as a handful with key U.S. Senate races that have also attracted national attention.
While some of the grants are relatively diminutive, they represent a commitment from the national party to states across the country, including traditionally red states, Democrats say.
Field workers in Idaho
In Idaho, where Democrats hold just 18 of the 105 seats in the Legislature, the national party will fund two field workers in a pledge of more than $70,000 to reach Latino voters in two rural counties and tribal members on the Nez Perce Reservation, the state party said Chair and State Representative Lauren Necochea.
Necochea, who spoke to States Newsroom in an interview Thursday ahead of the official announcement, said the funding was significant both for the symbolism of the national party’s investment in a predominantly Republican state and for the fall election campaign.
“We’re just pleased that this investment has reached all 57 states and territories for the first time … so that no state is left behind,” she said. “We are a traditionally red state, and that means we need funding to fight back.”
Necochea said two nationally funded organizers will aid boost turnout in the battleground state’s four legislative districts.
“That level of investment also matters when it comes to winning races and getting votes,” she said, noting that the race was decided by 37 votes in the last cycle.
The results of these races could determine which faction of the state’s Republican Party – whether the far right or the more moderate wing – controls the legislative agenda next session, she added.
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Necochea said the Democratic minority in the Legislature sometimes works with moderate Republicans on legislation to fund education and health care programs, including maintaining the state’s Medicaid expansion.
“It is essential that state government continues to operate so that we have a critical mass of Democrats in the Idaho Legislature,” she said.
Other subsidies
The DNC provided a partial list of expenses included in Friday’s announcement. A DNC spokesman said state parties are free to exploit the funds as they see fit. The national party noted that some state organizations have already determined how to allocate the money.
Many state organizations planned to reach out to voters of color, including tribal communities.
According to the DNC, some examples of expenses and goals:
- Florida: More than $400,000 for statewide programs targeting “key coalitions.”
- Oregon: $125,000 to support state party efforts in three key U.S. House races.
- Pennsylvania: $100,000 ‘to expand voter outreach’ in the only presidential battleground state on the recent list. The DNC says some of the funds will go to the state’s vast Puerto Rican community.
- Minnesota: At least $100,000 to support the state’s paid canvassing campaign. The recent funding brings the state’s total DNC allocation to about $630,000, according to the party. The canvassing drive will aid protect Democrats’ slim majorities in both legislative chambers.
- Missouri: ‘Nearly $100,000’ for recent organizing staff focused on breaking GOP majorities in both chambers of the House of Representatives and on admission abortion ballot measure.
- Maryland: $75,000 for the state party’s mail program aimed at reaching Asian American and Pacific Islander voters, who make up a growing portion of the state’s voter base, the DNC said. The DNC noted its support for U.S. Senate candidate Angela Alsobrooks, calling her race against former GOP Gov. Larry Hogan crucial to protecting reproductive rights.
- South Carolina: More than $70,000 for a ballot worker tasked with reaching recent voters.
- Maine: $61,250 for three staffers to focus get-out-the-vote efforts in rural parts of U.S. Sen. Jared Golden’s swing district.
- Arkansas: Nearly $60,000 to hire six coalition directors targeting adolescent, Black and Latino voters, including Spanish-speaking organizers. This is the first DNC spending in Arkansas this cycle.
- Louisiana: $55,000 for an organizer to aid the state party reach voters in the recent majority-Black 6th Congressional District.
- Kansas: $50,000 for paid canvassing to break GOP majorities in both legislative houses.
- Oklahoma: $50,000 to aid state party reach out to tribal communities.
- Virginia: $50,000 for state party get-out-the-vote and voter outreach programs focusing on two competitive U.S. House races.
- West Virginia: $50,000 for voter incentives and paid mail programs targeting “young and minority voters” who could influence the state’s four competitive legislative races.
- North Dakota: Nearly $40,000 for get-out-the-vote efforts and organizing in tribal communities.
- New Jersey: A ‘five-digit amount’ will go towards get-out-the-vote operations in all states, with a particular focus on the Rep. race. Andy Kim for the US Senate with Republican Curtis Bashaw. This is the first DNC spending in the Garden State this cycle.
- Tennessee: An unspecified amount to aid the state party “take advantage of the organizational momentum” seen last year.
