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State races matter, even during a presidential election

Opinion

Massachusetts State House

Massachusetts State House

ak_phuong/Getty Images

Lala Wu is the co-founder and executive director of Sister District, an organization that works to build enduring progressive power in state legislatures. She joined the “Politics Is Everything” podcast to discuss how state races will continue to be important during the presidential election cycle and why the battle for redistricting will take center stage.


State legislatures are where the most impactful laws are enacted, such as abortion policies. They’re also critical because in most states, the legislatures control redistricting. Building progressive power is about winning elections, passing legislation, and then telling the story about legislative successes so that voters want to keep you in power and continue the work.

The Politics Is Everything podcast, produced by the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, focuses on the wide range of challenges facing democracy, including extreme partisanship, civic unrest and political equity.

Remember to check out The Democracy Group Podcast Fellowship, where passionate individuals, especially college and high school students, can learn to launch their podcasts. Apply at democracygroup.org/fellowship. The fellowship is sponsored by the Bridge Alliance, which operates The Fulcrum.


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Pritzker uses State of the State to defend immigrants, says Chicago targeted by federal actions

Governor JB Pritzker delivers his FY2027 state budget proposal at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield, Ill. on Wednesday, Feb. 18th, 2026.

Angeles Ponpa, Illinois Latino News

Pritzker uses State of the State to defend immigrants, says Chicago targeted by federal actions

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker used part of his State of the State address Wednesday to criticize federal immigration enforcement actions and contrast Illinois’ approach with federal policy.

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(Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

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In 1761, James Otis Jr., a 36-year-old lawyer, ignited an early spark of the American Revolution when he resigned his post as Massachusetts Advocate General to represent merchants challenging the British use of overly broad warrants. Though he lost the case, his speech electrified the colonies: John Adams later wrote that Otis’s argument was the moment when “the Child Independence was born.”

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Photo by Andy Feliciotti on Unsplash

Partial Shutdown; Congress Asserts Itself a Little

DHS Shutdown

As expected, the parties in the Senate could not come to an agreement on DHS funding and now the agency will be shut down. Sort of.

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