Our Two-Pronged 2026 Political Strategy
Electing Democrats has been our top priority since our founding, because we believe that, when guided by compassion and principle, government can be one of the greatest forces for good. Democrats are committed to using the enormous power of the federal government to expand opportunity, protect vulnerable communities, and strengthen democracy. But as new threats to our democracy have arisen, our strategy has evolved to also include resisting authoritarianism.
The 2026 Midterms
The outcome of the 2026 midterm elections will play a critical role in shaping the balance of power in Washington. Winning back the House in 2026 will create an essential check on MAGA extremism, help protect democratic institutions, and build momentum toward Democratic victories in 2028. As Trump’s presidency has demonstrated, when presidential power goes unchecked by Congress, democratic norms erode, corruption flourishes, and our institutions are weakened.
Democrats are well-positioned to take back the House of Representatives because we only need to net three seats; midterm elections historically favor the party out of power, and this is especially true when the President is extremely unpopular and when Americans have a negative view of the economy. While unprecedented Republican mid-decade gerrymandering has reduced the number of House pickup opportunities, we remain the favorites to take back the House. Democrats also have a reasonable chance of winning the Senate.
Electoral Prospects
ELECTING DEMOCRATS
Target Races, Target States
Together with our partner organizations, Crimson Goes Blue identifies races for U.S. Congress, U.S. Senate, and Governor where investing our time and money will have the greatest impact. We choose races in swing districts where current polling or previous election results show a competitive race, and where many CGB members live and/or are available to assist with our efforts.
These target races are where we concentrate our efforts. States with one or more of these races are our target states, shown on the map. Click on any of the state links below the map to learn more about those races.
In some of these states, we are also working to preserve or expand Democratic power in state legislatures. Click to read more about gaining federal and state power.
The CGB Fundraising Portfolio
One of the most important ways to elect Democrats is to ensure that their campaigns are adequately funded. Our political fundraising team compiles a Portfolio of candidates, as well as a select set of proven organizations that mobilize Democratic voters in key districts, protect election integrity, and fight election subversion. You can make a single donation, and we’ll automatically divide it among the current Portfolio participants. Think of us as your financial advisor for political giving.
We research. You give. Together we win.
Direct Voter Contact
Crimson Goes Blue offers volunteers multiple opportunities to engage voters directly through activities such as:
Voter Registration
Phone Banking
Canvassing
These activities are organized by our Action Team leaders. No experience is necessary. We provide training and guidelines for talking to voters.
RESISTING AUTHORITARIANISM
Safeguarding democracy requires more than winning elections. Authoritarianism advances not only through electoral victories but also through intimidation, disinformation, attacks on democratic institutions, and efforts to discourage public opposition.
Drawing on the experience of citizen-led anti-authoritarian movements, CGB is mobilizing our members to oppose these threats. Our goal is to help build a resilient democratic culture capable of resisting authoritarianism over the long term.
Protest Team
Our Protest Team helps organize participation across the country to publicly challenge authoritarian overreach and demonstrate broad democratic resistance. Authoritarian movements rely on the illusion of overwhelming public support. Visible opposition matters. That is why Crimson Goes Blue actively encourages members to participate in public demonstrations and collective civic action.
Voter Protection Team
Our Voter Protection team works to ensure free and fair elections by mobilizing members to track disinformation, serve as poll observers, support safe voting environments, and help voters resolve ballot issues.
STEP Task Force
Our Strategic Taskforce for Election Protection (STEP) is monitoring emerging risks to our elections and supporting legal preparedness initiatives, including a recent national preparatory exercise by state Attorneys General to anticipate and prepare for possible election threats.
Ready to get involved?
Join Us if you are not yet a member.
Click here to reach out to one of our Action Teams to get involved in their efforts.
A Deeper Dive into Gaining Federal and State Power
The outcome of the 2026 Congressional elections will significantly shape the balance of power in Washington. As Trump’s term has demonstrated, when the president’s powers are unchecked by Congress, the norms of governance are discarded, and corruption and chaos undermine our institutions. Winning back the House will provide a bulwark against the actions of the president and MAGA extremists. It will also prevent further erosion of democratic institutions and norms and create Democratic momentum for consolidating gains in the Senate and winning back the Presidency in 2028.
Given how our electoral system works, the outcome of the midterms will be determined by the margin of victory in just a few critical districts. Congressional races are not all created equal. Decades of redistricting by politicians and self-selection by voters mean that most congressional districts are a lock for one party or the other. A Democratic candidate is simply not going to win in a district where >75% of voters supported Trump in 2024, nor will a Republican win where >75% of voters supported Harris. Time and money spent on races in either of those situations is basically wasted.
Targeting
That’s why Crimson Goes Blue selects only the most competitive races, at both federal and state levels, where we can have the biggest impact. Among these, we especially target races where our members live, since we organize in-person activities (such as canvassing and poll observing) to support our candidates in those locations.
FEDERAL POWER
HOUSE
In order to flip the House back to Democratic control, we must net three seats. Out of 435 races, approximately 35 are competitive. And we expect some of our targeted races will shift as a result of primary results, candidate quality, fundraising information, etc. Across the country, there are 17 seats where Republicans are serving in districts that Biden won in 2020, making those races prime targets. California and New York each have 4 competitive House races, while Michigan and Pennsylvania each have 3-4.
SENATE
The most competitive Senate races are in GA, ME, MI, NC, NH, and OH. And AK, IA, and TX are moving into competitive territory. Any gains we make in the Senate will chip away at the current six-seat Republican majority and position us for winning the chamber back, if not in 2026, then in 2028 or 2030. And since there’s a significant overlap between presidential and Senate battleground states, Senate victories in 2026 lay the groundwork for a presidential victory in 2028.
STATE POWER
Governors and state legislators hold the key to many important issues affecting their constituents, like abortion rights, gun rights, and voting rights. These electeds will be controlling how the maps for the 2028 election and the redistricting after the census in 2030 proceed.
GOVERNORS
We will focus on flipping the governor's seat in GA and OH and holding the Democratic-held governor seats in AZ, ME, MI, and WI.
STATE HOUSES
Currently, Republicans hold trifectas (meaning they hold the State House, State Senate, and the Governor's Office) in 23 states, and Democrats hold 16.
We have identified six states (AZ, ME, MI, NC, PA, and WI) where Democratic victories will be key to holding power. In three states (ME, MI, and PA), Democrats hold a 1 or 2-seat majority in at least one chamber and are within reach of flipping the other chamber. In NC, we have the opportunity to hold enough seats, so the Republicans don’t have sufficient votes to override the Democratic governor's veto, which empowers the Democratic Governor to block the worst laws passed by the Republican legislature. In AZ, Democrats have a chance of taking back both houses, and in WI, Republicans currently maintain majorities in both chambers, but new maps and Democratic gains in 2024 have made a shift in control possible for the first time in over a decade.
