(C) Daily Kos
This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered.
. . . . . . . . . .
Fighting for Virginia. Taking Back CD-2. Four women, blue power: turn red districts into real wins [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2025-09-13
Content originally published in the Grassroots Connector
By Michelle Moore
Virginia is one of only two states holding statewide elections this year and these results will serve as a national bellwether for the 2026 midterms. Winning big in Virginia doesn’t just matter for Virginians; it creates the momentum Democrats need to take back the U.S. House of Representatives.
Virginia will choose a new Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and all 100 members of the House of Delegates determining whether Virginia becomes the only southern state with a Democratic trifecta - control of the governorship, state senate, and House of Delegates. And importantly, the election will also determine whether Virginia remains the only bastion in the South where women can have full access to healthcare services.
Beyond this, Virginia is a pathway to a Democratic upset in the 2026 mid-terms – overwhelming Democratic wins will fuel the fires for Democratic resistance and organizing across the country leading up to the mid-terms. And in Virginia, we have the potential to flip one and possibly two Virginia Congressional seats – significantly closing the gap to Democratic control of the U.S. House.
The road to success in 2026 lies not only in flipping purple seats, but in mobilizing and galvanizing organization in red districts. Red districts, so-called ‘unwinnable’, are often written off—but it is precisely because they are neglected that they remain unwinnable. By investing in these districts, we change the map: grow vote share, generate optimism, open new opportunities, and build the foundation for durable, long-term victories up and down the ticket.
Strategy for 2025, 2026 and Beyond
Grassroots organizers in Virginia are taking on this challenge and directly supporting races in red districts in SE Virginia, specifically in House Districts that align with Virginia 2nd Congressional district – a district lost by the Democrats after redistricting. Though a Republican incumbent held the seat in 2024, Vice President Harris won 49% of the vote in CD-2 – it is a district clearly in play.
The current downward trajectory of the Republicans may help generate enough votes to win back that Congressional seat, but we believe that investing now through direct support to Democrats running in aligned House districts will have an out-sized impact: help these candidates win their races, help generate votes for the state-wide races and bolster volunteer groups and organizations on the ground laying the groundwork for 2026—a triple win.
Concurrently, our goal is to develop a sustainable, adaptable, and repeatable grassroots model for winning in red districts. Our intention is not to focus on picking the ‘right’ candidates to win; it is about creating the conditions that make winning possible again and again. It is a doable, grassroots approach, but it depends on a willingness to invest in creating momentum and narrowing margins rather than exclusively on tactical short-term “sure things”.
It Can Be Done
In 2017, grassroots volunteers in Virginia proved the skeptics wrong. They adopted and flipped nine House of Delegates campaigns that had been written off as unwinnable. Combined with six victories supported by the Virginia Democratic Party, Democrats picked up 15 seats in a single cycle. This surge, paired with sweeping wins at the top of the ticket, fueled the 2018 blue wave nationally and set the stage for Virginia’s Democratic trifecta in 2019.
That 2019 trifecta delivered real results: Virginia ratified the ERA, restored reproductive rights, expanded LGBTQ protections, broadened civil rights, and enacted voting reforms. Today, Virginia serves as a critical access point for reproductive care in a region dominated by bans—a vivid reminder of why state control matters.
Why Investing in Red Districts Matters
To gain and hold Democratic control, we cannot ignore rural and red districts—nor should we. There are both practical and moral reasons why this strategy of investing in rural and red districts is essential.
First, growth matters more than short-term wins. Building long-term infrastructure in red districts creates sustainable power—even if a particular race is lost today.
Second, margins matter. Every additional Democratic vote in a red district helps lift statewide totals for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General—and, in 2026, for Congressional and Senate races. Competing everywhere signals strength, builds long-term infrastructure, and encourages fence-sitters to vote blue.
Third, red does not mean unwinnable. Many districts remain Republican only because Democratic infrastructure is absent. Canvassing, yard signs, community events, postcards, and social media can all produce measurable shifts in vote share.
Fourth, long-term goals bring short-term gains. Flipping the 2nd Congressional District in 2026 begins by investing now in overlapping House races. By supporting candidates with the tools to win we help them build the Democratic path forward.
Finally, strategically, Republicans have more to lose. They currently hold the reins of federal power, and they built that strength by dominating local and state races - from attorneys general to judges and school boards. Playing not to lose makes no sense when the stakes are this high.
We owe it to voters - and to ourselves - to fight everywhere, not cede the battlefield. Facing the greatest threat to democracy in more than 150 years, we must be aggressive. Every race is one where we can move margins.
We are not waiting for luck. We are working in Virginia to create favorable conditions so that wins become probable rather than accidental. That requires a tolerance for risk and a recognition that progress is built in increments, not in sweeping victories.
Better, more reliable outcomes come from repeated micro-actions: growing volunteer networks, strengthening local organizing, winning school board and county races, and building candidate-ready infrastructure. Waiting for the perfect candidate to achieve the impossible is simply relying on chance. The real key to winning in red districts is systematic investment in people, infrastructure, and operations—and, perhaps most importantly, in hope.
When we invest in volunteers, local organizations, and campaigns, we create the foundation that attracts strong candidates and drives victories in state House districts and, eventually, Congressional districts in Virginia and beyond. Often, we do not know the true potential of a district until we take the leap and work intentionally there.
The Good News
Momentum is real. Catelin Drey’s special election win in Iowa—along with others in Iowa and Florida—prove that Democrats can win in tough districts.
Virginia can set the tone for the nation this year. If we invest in red turf, build across multiple cycles, and keep our organizing hopeful and disciplined, we won’t just win elections—we’ll grow the majority needed to protect rights and deliver results for years to come.
Join Us to Flip Virginia in 2025
Grassroots organizers are taking a bold step by supporting candidates in Virginia’s Southeast—all women, all running in red districts, with three of the four in rural areas: Mary L. Person (HD-83), Cat Porterfield (HD-99), Cheryl Smith (HD-98), and Liz Richardson (HD-100).
In partnership with grassroots organizations locally and nationally, we are delivering the support these candidates need: phone banking, texting, postcards, canvassing, social media, and a wide range of volunteer-driven assistance.
This level of investment, so often absent in red districts, is already changing the course of these races. It is generating energy, creating hope, and showing that what once seemed impossible can become possible. Momentum is building, and margins are closing.
This is our moment to reshape Virginia’s political dynamic. By contesting districts long ignored, building infrastructure, energizing local committees, and delivering messages that resonate with voters, we are laying the foundation for durable success.
Swing Blue Alliance and Network NOVA are co-sponsoring the “Fearless Four Fundraiser – Four for Virginia” on Wednesday, September 17, 7:00–8:30 pm ET (Zoom). Participants will hear from special guests Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan and activist and progressive content creator Jess Craven who recognize that together we can flip Virginia in 2025 and build the path to victory in 2026. Fearless Four for Virginia Event - Sign Up Here
[END]
---
[1] Url:
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/9/13/2343431/-Fighting-for-Virginia-Taking-Back-CD-2-Four-women-blue-power-turn-red-districts-into-real-wins?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=latest_community&pm_medium=web
Published and (C) by Daily Kos
Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified.
via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/
