Florida state capitol | AP Photo Democratic super PAC targeting legislatures in Florida and other key states

TALLAHASSEE — A Democratic super PAC focused on flipping state legislatures is set to pour at least $10 million into four states it wants to turn blue ahead of political redistricting in 2021.

Forward Majority, founded in 2017, is focusing on 50 legislative seats in Florida, Texas, Arizona and North Carolina that Democrats nearly won in 2018, according to a Roadmap 2020 plan the group released Friday.


“There are four states that represent the most powerful points of leverage to fortify our democracy,” Forward Majority co-founder Vicky Hausman said. “These states are where Democrats face the greatest risk of being locked out of power nationally for the next 10 years.”

State legislatures are in the spotlight headed into 2020 because of the huge influence the 2021 redistricting process will have on national elections. After the 2020 census, the four states are expected to account for 82 congressional seats.

“Right now in these states, Republicans have total control over the redistricting process and/or have been among the worst actors in voter suppression, fueling political extremism, and distorting national outcomes,” Forward Majority wrote.

The group's rallying cry has been amplified by off-year wins in Louisiana, where Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards won reelection in August, and Virginia, where Democrats took control of the Legislature in November.

“The electoral realignment that has taken place under [President Donald] Trump, decisive for Democrats in Louisiana and Virginia in 2019, has made the suburbs the most hotly contested battleground in 2020,” the group said in a release announcing its plans.

In Florida, the group spent $2.2 million in 2018, an effort that helped Democrats snag a five-seat increase in the Florida House, a chamber still heavily controlled by Republicans.

Forward Majority says it will “significantly scale up” 2020 Florida spending, targeting 22 “close loss” Florida House seats.

Texas is considered the group’s “crown jewel,” according to its 2020 plan. Forward Majority is targeting 20 close-loss seats in the Texas House, where Democrats need to flip nine to take a majority. The group is targeting seven seats in Arizona and finalizing its plans for North Carolina.