Iowa Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal is staying on as board chairman of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, the group announced today. I’ve enclosed the full statement after the jump.
The DLCC focuses on state legislative elections around the country. The group has its work cut out, because Republicans made huge gains in state legislatures in November. In fact, “The GOP now controls 68 out of 98 partisan state legislative chambers — the highest number in the history of the party.” Holding the 26-24 Iowa Senate majority was one of the few bright spots for Democrats, along with maintaining a majority in the Kentucky House of Representatives (which complicates life for potential presidential candidate Rand Paul).
The Iowa GOP will have more state Senate pickup opportunities in 2016 than they did this year. Twelve Iowa Senate races saw significant spending by one or both parties in 2012, whereas only a half-dozen or so Senate seats looked competitive going into 2014. By October of this year, most of the spending by Iowa Democrats and Republicans was concentrated in four state Senate races. Depending on retirements and candidate recruitment, at least ten Iowa Senate districts will be potentially competitive during the 2016 cycle.
Incidentally, the only other Iowan on the DLCC’s board of directors is Senator Wally Horn of Cedar Rapids. Just re-elected to another four-year term in Senate district 35, Horn has served in the Iowa legislature for 42 years (10 in the state House and 32 in the Senate), longer than any other sitting lawmaker.
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee press release:
DLCC ANNOUNCES 2015 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
New board will continue efforts to grow number of Democratic chambers and cut into Republican majorities
WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 11, 2014) – At their annual winter meeting today, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) Board of Directors elected seven new Board Members and its national Executive Board officers for 2015. Drawn from legislative leaders in every region of the country, the DLCC’s Board of Directors is the national governing body of the organization, whose leadership are deeply involved in legislative campaigns in their states and drive Democrats’ nationwide strategy to win elections in state legislatures.
Iowa State Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal will continue his service as Chairman and will be joined on the Executive Board by:
DLCC Vice Chair – Speaker of the House Frank Chopp, Washington
DLCC Treasurer – Speaker of the House Tina Kotek, Oregon
DLCC Secretary – House Democratic Leader Paul Thissen, Minnesota
DLCC Finance Chair – Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk, Minnesota
The seven new members of the DLCC Board of Directors are:
Senate Democratic Leader James Ananich, Michigan
Speaker of the House Michael E. Busch, Maryland
Senate President Kevin de León, California
Senate Democratic Leader Aaron Ford, Nevada
House Democratic Leader Larry Hall, North Carolina
Speaker of the House Dickey Lee Hullinghorst, Colorado
House Deputy Majority Leader Lou Lang, Illinois
“I am honored to work with these amazing leaders as Democrats fight back against extreme Republican agendas in state legislatures across the country,” said DLCC Executive Director Michael Sargeant. “The diversity of the DLCC board is truly representative of what makes America great. Our members are drawn from every corner of America and come from all walks of life. They bring a wealth of insight that will bolster Democratic efforts in future cycles.”
“I am excited to welcome seven exceptional new members to the DLCC leadership team,” said DLCC Board Chariman Mike Gronstal. “They each bring new energy and winning track records to our organization, and I look forward to working with them and our returning board members to win Democratic gains in 2016 and beyond, especially as we look ahead to redistricting at the end of the decade.”
Guided by its mission to produce winning Democratic majorities in state legislatures, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) builds and maintains the progressive infrastructure that enables Democrats to protect and pick up legislative chambers and seats across the country. Since 1994, the DLCC has followed a 50-state strategy that allows Democrats to go on the offense in state capitols.
The full DLCC Board of Directors for 2015 will consist of:House Democratic Leader Stacey Abrams, Georgia
Senate Democratic Leader James Ananich, Michigan*
Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk, Minnesota (Finance Chair)
Speaker of the House Michael E. Busch, Maryland*
Speaker of the House Frank Chopp, Washington (Vice Chair)
Representative Garnet Coleman, Texas
Senate President Kevin de León, California*
Senate Democratic Leader Aaron Ford, Nevada*
Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, Iowa (Chair)
House Democratic Leader Larry Hall, North Carolina*
Representative Barry Hobbins, Maine
Senator Wally Horn, Iowa
Speaker of the House Dickey Lee Hullinghorst, Colorado*
Senator Christine Kaufmann, Montana
Speaker of the House Tina Kotek, Oregon (Treasurer)
House Majority Leader Val Longhurst, Delaware
House Deputy Majority Leader Lou Lang, Illinois*
Senator Mark Miller, Wisconsin
Senate Democratic Leader Dick Saslaw, Virginia
Speaker of the House Shap Smith, Vermont
Senator Mimi Stewart, New Mexico
House Democratic Leader Paul Thissen, Minnesota (Secretary)
*denotes new board member