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.
For example, 71% of Republicans in GOP-controlled states say they would prefer redistricting done by a nonpartisan commission. Yet in the same week as the poll’s release,