State Power Series
In 2024, Sister District will be hosting virtual events in partnership with Teen Vogue, Red Wine & Blue, Daily Kos and The Downballot.
State legislatures are growing ever more powerful. The most critical and life-altering policies, from reproductive justice and trans rights to fair wages and conditions for working people and families, are increasingly coming not from Washington, but from our often-overlooked state legislatures. States also have tremendous authority over election rules and administration, so they are critical to our democracy’s future.
The purpose of this Series is to start a conversation to build narratives around the growing importance of states, provide context about the historical circumstances that have placed progressives at structural and ideological disadvantages in state power-building, and emphasize the urgent need for progressives to reimagine states as radical bastions of progressive power and commit to permanent, sustained state power-building efforts.
Hosted by Sister District + The Downballot + Daily Kos
As we gear up for the upcoming blockbuster November elections, the panel explores the stakes downballot. We cover what state legislatures do and why people should care, how and why their influence is growing, and unravel the concept of ballot roll-off, offering research-backed messages and strategies to combat it. We discuss the history of conservative efforts to leverage state power for their regressive policy goals, and conversely the historical disinvestment of progressives at the state level. We spotlight key states and chambers that are in play this year, as well as massive organizing efforts that are underway, unpacking opportunities and challenges for progressives. And drawing insights from the past and present, panelists share valuable lessons learned, and close with calls to action to get involved in state races. Transcript available.
Heather Cox Richardson is an author and historian. She has written about the Civil War, Reconstruction, the Gilded Age, and the American West in award-winning books whose subjects stretch from the European settlement of the North American continent to the history of the Republican Party through the Trump administration. She is the author, most recently, of the best-selling Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America. Richardson’s work has appeared in the Washington Post, the New York Times, and The Guardian, among other outlets. Her nightly newsletter, Letters from an American, reaches over a million readers.
Social: @HC_Richardson
TN State Rep. Justin Jones is an activist, organizer, legislator, representative, minister, community leader, environmentalist, and gun violence prevention advocate deeply committed to doing the justice work required to move Tennessee and our nation forward. He was elected in 2022 to represent the people of District 52, a culmination of years of advocacy work around Medicaid expansion, racial justice, police accountability, and the Green New Deal. Justin was expelled from the Tennessee legislature, daring to put purpose before title, and bringing a moral conscience to the deliberative process which puts the lives of kids against the proliferation of firearms. Justin is a leader for the next generation and the next several to come, and brings past, present, and future into the halls of power with him.
Social: @brotherjones
Senator Danica Roem is a lifelong Prince William County resident, hailing from Manassas, Virginia. After graduating in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communications from St. Bonaventure University, she authored more than 2,500 news stories as the lead reporter for both the Gainesville Times and Prince William Times, only stepping away when she felt called for something greater. Elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 2017—reelected twice since then and recently elected to the Virginia State Senate—Roem has earned both Inside NoVA and the Prince William Times’ “Readers’ Choice” awards for best local public servant. During her tenure as delegate and senator, she has passed 50 bills through the Virginia General Assembly — all with bipartisan support.
Social: @pwcdanica
Gaby Goldstein is an attorney, political strategist and researcher focused on the growing importance of state legislatures and state policy. As a Co-Founder at Sister District, she builds progressive power in state legislatures. She writes and speaks often about progressive federalism and powerbuilding, including recent contributions to The New Republic, CNN, Washington Post and The Guardian.
Social: @gaby__goldstein
David Nir is political director of Daily Kos, the largest online progressive community in the country. He oversees the site’s elections coverage and publishes its highly regarded newsletter, the Morning Digest, which covers every important competitive race around the country and goes out to over 80,000 subscribers daily. He is also responsible for the site’s candidate endorsement program, which raised $8.7 million in small donations for 80 different Democrats last cycle, 50 of whom won. David is lifelong New Yorker, Democrat, and Mets fan.
Social: @DavidNir
Hosted by Sister District and Red Wine & Blue
This panel examines what has happened to abortion in the two years since Dobbs, now that states fully control abortion access. As states gain increased authority, the panel will address the unequal impact of abortion restrictions, disproportionately affecting low-income individuals, Black, Latino, and Indigenous communities, young and LGBTQ+ individuals, as well as those in rural areas. Additionally, the panel will delve into recent and expected SCOTUS decisions on FDA’s approval of the abortion drug mifepristone, whether federal law (EMTALA) requires abortion care during medical emergencies, as well as state level decisions jeopardizing IVF. Join us as we assess the current state of reproductive rights, acknowledging both challenges and progress, and discuss collective actions needed to safeguard abortion access and advance reproductive freedom for all. Transcript available.
Lashrecse Aird is a mother of school-age boys, a wife and working families’ champion. Sworn in to the state Senate in 2024, she previously served three terms (2016-2022) in the Virginia House of Delegates where she held the distinction as the youngest woman ever elected to that body. The daughter of young working-class parents, Lashrecse grew up experiencing first hand the harsh reality of income inequality. Her unique perspective and family history has driven her legislative advocacy, earning her a reputation as a courageous and indefatigable champion for social, racial, economic and environmental justice issues. Lashrecse was named Legislator of the Year in 2021 by the Virginia Education Association in recognition of her bold education legislation. Professionally, Lashrecse serves as the Executive Director of the Virginia State University/Richard Bland College Institute of Professional and Technical Studies.
Social: @lashrecseaird
Jessica Craven is a community organizer, activist, mom, and elected member of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party. She’s also the author of “Chop Wood, Carry Water,” a daily actions Substack newsletter that’s been published five days a week since November of 2016. She’s a delegate to the California Democratic Party, a climate activist, and a grassroots volunteer who has helped hundreds of progressive candidates win their races. She’s also a political TikTok content creator and a correspondent for Courier News. Jessica has made it her mission to get regular people more engaged with politics on both a federal and local level, and she hopes she can inspire you to do the same.
Social: @jesscraven101
Asha Dahya is an Emmy-Nominated filmmaker, TEDx Speaker, author and mom with nearly 2 decades of experience creating content for major broadcast networks and digital platforms including FOX, ABC, MSN.com, MTV, Nickelodeon, Disney, Snapchat, ACLU, Supermajority and more. Asha is also the Founder and Editor in Chief of GirlTalkHQ.Com, an intersectional feminist online magazine promoting women’s voices and stories. Asha hosts a podcast series for RePROFilm.org, interviewing filmmakers, activists and repro health experts, and is the Board Chair for the national non-profit organization Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC.org). Passionate about gender equality and reproductive freedom, Asha directed a short documentary about later abortion titled SOMEONE YOU KNOW, which premiered at the Athena Film Festival in 2024. You can see more of her work at www.AshaDahya.com.
Social: @ashadahya
Kelsey Leigh (she/her) is an abortion rights activist and progressive leader. By telling her own story and bringing together others, she has played a powerful role in stopping restrictive abortion bans in Pennsylvania. She is proud to be a volunteer patient advocate with Planned Parenthood, notably serving on the National Storytellers Board in 2021 and testifying before the House of Representatives Committee on Oversight & Reform in 2022. Post-Dobbs, she worked full-time for six months at her local independent abortion clinic scheduling appointments and advocating for patients. Kelsey is a born and raised Pennsylvanian. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh and her master’s in public health from Boston University and has spent her career working in community engagement for nonprofits. She resides in Pittsburgh with her son, dog, and two cats.
Gaby Goldstein is an attorney, political strategist and researcher focused on the growing importance of state legislatures and state policy. As a Co-Founder at Sister District, she builds progressive power in state legislatures. She writes and speaks often about progressive federalism and powerbuilding, including recent contributions to The New Republic, CNN, Washington Post and The Guardian.
Social: @gaby__goldstein
Julie Womack is an Ohio suburban mom and the Head of Organizing for Red Wine & Blue, a community of over 500k suburban women who use digital media and friend-to-friend organizing to fight disinformation and win campaigns. She is a former prosecutor who specialized in domestic violence and abuse cases. She also practiced as an assistant city attorney for the City of Columbus, Ohio where she handled both state and federal litigation. After the 2016 election, Julie jumped into local organizing in her blue-trending conservative suburb to help start several women-led grassroots organizations and a political action committee. This experience led to her current position with Red Wine & Blue where she is connecting women across the country and teaching them to organize in their own communities. She resides north of Cincinnati and is the mom of three.
Social: @jwomack68
Hosted by Sister District and Teen Vogue
During Pride Month, this virtual event lifts up trailblazing pioneers from the LGBTQ+ community who have made history in state legislatures and beyond. This panel will discuss how important states are in protecting and expanding our rights, and why having more LGBTQ+ leaders in our state chambers results in legislative agendas and policy outcomes that better reflect the experiences, interests, and priorities of the communities in our states. Transcript available.
Erin Reed (she/her) is a transgender journalist based in Washington, D.C.. She tracks LGBTQ+ legislation around the United States for her subscription newsletter, ErinInTheMorning.com. Her work has been cited by the AP, Reuters, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and many more major media outlets. You can follow her on twitter and tiktok @ErinInTheMorn.
Clare Oumou Verbeten represents District 66 (Saint Paul, Roseville, Falcon Heights and Lauderdale) in the Minnesota Senate. She ran for office to advance racial justice and build a community that is safe for all. In 2022, Clare made history becoming one of the first Black Queer women elected to the Minnesota Senate. She is an Assistant Majority Leader and Vice Chair of the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee.
Social: @clareoumou | @SenClareOumou | @ClareOumou
Lorena Austin is a 5th generation Arizonan, whose lifelong love for advocacy and leadership has been rooted in their district for over 100 years. Rep. Austin is the first Chicane, non-binary person elected to any state legislature in the country and serves the residents of LD9 in West Mesa and Tempe. They sit on the House Commerce and Appropriations committees, and serve as Secretary of the Latino Caucus and the LGBTQ+ Caucus.
Social: @LorenaAustin4Az | @lorenaaustinaz
Emily Randall: Born and raised in Washington’s 6th Congressional District, Emily is the proud product of a Union, working-class family. A Planned Parenthood staffer turned State Senator, Emily is a leader on reproductive freedom. Emily is running for Congress to protect and expand abortion access, cut costs for regular people, and develop education pathways for her neighbors. Endorsed by Planned Parenthood Action Fund and U.S. Senator Patty Murray, Emily would be the first LGBTQ Latina ever elected to Congress.
Social: @EmilyRandallWA | @SenEmilyRandall | @senatoremilyrandall
Gaby Goldstein is an attorney, political strategist and researcher focused on the growing importance of state legislatures and state policy. As a Co-Founder at Sister District, she builds progressive power in state legislatures. She writes and speaks often about progressive federalism and powerbuilding, including recent contributions to The New Republic, CNN, Washington Post and The Guardian.
Social: @gaby__goldstein
Allegra Kirkland is the Politics Director at Teen Vogue. She previously worked at Talking Points Memo as a reporter covering voting rights and extremism, and as senior editor. You can find more of Allegra’s work at www.allegrakirkland.com.
Social: @allegrakirkland
Each event featured a panel of hosts from Crooked Media, political and legal experts, historians, elected officials and activists, moderated by Gaby Goldstein, co-founder of Sister District, and Shaniqua McClendon, Vice President of Politics for Crooked Media.
This panel, taking place just two weeks before the 2022 midterm elections, recapped the work done ahead of the midterms and highlighted key trends with a particular focus on critical state races and what to keep an eye out for on election night. The panel also explored differences in state power between the right and the left, and why it is so important that Democrats shift their focus to states—in these midterms and in the long-term. Importantly, the panel served as a call to arms to drive volunteer capacity to state legislative races in this critical GOTV period, as well as encourage listeners to commit to building power in statehouses every year.
Overview: This panel explored how state legislatures play an outsized role in the future of our democracy. The January 6th hearings provided us with explosive evidence of how Trump and key officials in his administration attempted to strong-arm state legislators into putting up fake electors and changing election outcomes. And in key states, Republicans are still building toward a future where they can engineer election outcomes, by modifying the laws and rules governing election administration and limiting the ability of state courts to curb partisan redistricting and subversion. On top of that, an arch-conservative Supreme Court appears likely to thwart a constitutional challenge to this state power grab via the Independent State Legislature theory — taking up a case next term which would provide state legislatures with complete control over election administration. We must pour resources and attention into state chambers. This panel explored these topics, as what we do now to build state power will determine the fate of our democracy. WATCH NOW!
Overview: This panel took place just a few days after the Dobbs decision was released by the Supreme Court. In the wake of Dobbs, abortion access now falls fully within the purview of states. Abortion access has never been universally guaranteed, and this development, as with prior restrictions, will disproportionately impact low income people, Black, Latino and Indigenous people, young and LGBTQ+ folks and people in rural areas. After decades of failed policies rooted in systemic racism and oppression, these folks will disproportionately lack the resources necessary to cross the expanding abortion desert to seek care. On the other hand, states including CO, CA, CT, and VA have expanded and enshrined the right to abortion services into state law. Panelists Imani Gandy, Erin Ryan and Leah Litman explored the conservative jurisprudential goal of narrowing federal protections and reverting civil and human rights issues back to states, and considered whether the end of Roe v. Wade is an example of how we may be experiencing the death of the ‘rights revolution.’ The panel explored these trends and discussed what can be done to bring the civil and reproductive rights (and justice) revolution to our states. WATCH NOW!
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