Good stuff from Swing Left:
Swing Left Mobilizes National Grassroots Power in Virginia to Counter Trump’s Authoritarianism and Build 2026 Momentum
National organization’s network of 1 million grassroots members helping Democrats flip three statewide offices—including its first-ever AG and LG races—expand their legislative majority, and lay the groundwork to win back the House in 2026
15 SEPTEMBER 2025 (WASHINGTON, DC) – Today, Swing Left, one of the largest drivers of grassroots action to help Democrats win competitive races nationwide, announced its slate of Virginia electoral targets, building on the work its volunteer groups have already been doing in the state in recent months. Swing Left is mobilizing its grassroots community of 1 million members to fundraise and contact voters in support of flipping three statewide offices—Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General—and expanding the Democratic majority in the state legislature by targeting eight flippable House of Delegates seats. Since 2019, Swing Left’s members have helped Democrats win Virginia’s most competitive elections, donating nearly $2 million directly to candidates and making more than 2.2 million voter contact attempts—including door knocks, phone calls, and Vote Forward letters.
“In Virginia and across our country, Trump and the GOP are escalating their attacks on Americans’ rights, safety, and well-being—resorting to force and coercion because they know their agenda is deeply unpopular. Americans have had enough. Virginia is central to the fight to stop Trump’s authoritarian agenda,” said Yasmin Radjy, Executive Director of Swing Left. “Swing Left volunteers have been organizing on the ground for months because they know that state power provides an essential firewall from Trump’s overreach. Winning a state Democratic trifecta would send a powerful message to the country: Virginians are leading the way in rejecting far-right extremism and the GOP’s assault on our freedoms.”
On November 4, Virginians will decide the direction of their state at a moment of extraordinary consequence. With Republicans controlling all three executive offices, this election is a rare opportunity to flip statewide power in a single cycle and block the far-right’s efforts to roll back basic rights. Electing leaders like Abigail Spanberger for Governor, Ghazala Hashmi for Lieutenant Governor, and Jay Jones for Attorney General — alongside expanding the Democratic majority in the legislature — would secure state power to protect Virginians from growing federal authoritarianism. With state governments increasingly on the front lines, these victories are essential to defending and advancing voting rights, reproductive health care, equality, and the values Virginians hold most dear.
Why Winning All Three Statewide Races Matters
This election also marks Swing Left’s first-ever engagement in races for state Attorney General and Lieutenant Governor — a reflection of just how critical these offices are in Virginia in the fight to stop Trump’s abuse of power and protect the fundamental rights of its residents.
“Flipping these offices and expanding our majority means protecting the rights of all Virginians, energizing Democrats nationwide, and building the grassroots power needed to stop Republican extremism and take back the House in 2026,” Radjy continued. “But winning all three statewide offices is essential. A Republican in even one of these positions would have tremendous power to decide whether Trump’s extremist agenda advances in Virginia, or whether the Commonwealth defends democracy, makes progress on key issues, and helps lead a national movement against authoritarianism. None of these victories is guaranteed. We must ensure these candidates have the grassroots energy, funding, and people-powered infrastructure they need to win.”
National Republican groups have made the re-election of Attorney General Jason Miyares, a Trump ally, their top statewide priority because they know how much power he would hold to block progress and enable Trump’s agenda at the state level. Miyares has already shown a willingness to politicize his office — and if re-elected, he would be a key player in weaponizing state power against democracy. By issuing partisan legal opinions and filing Trump-aligned lawsuits, he could undermine a Spanberger-led Democratic trifecta and grind progress to a halt. He could also refuse to challenge illegal actions from the Trump administration, allowing federal abuses to go unchecked and leaving Virginians—especially the most vulnerable—without legal protection.
Democrat Jay Jones, a former delegate and civil rights attorney, presents a powerful alternative. As Attorney General, he would use the full power of the office to proactively defend Virginians’ rights, challenge federal overreach, and ensure state laws are enforced fairly and without political bias. But after a competitive primary, he enters the general election significantly outfunded in a state that allows unlimited contributions. Miyares currently holds nearly $7 million in cash on hand, compared to just $1.2 million for Jones. National Republicans are already exploiting that imbalance to flood the race with money and influence—because they know how high the stakes are, and how close the race is. Closing that gap will require urgent grassroots support.
“One of the most important levers in the fight against Trump’s authoritarian overreach is the courts,” said Radjy. “Republicans know that—which is why they’re pouring millions of dollars into Attorney General races like this one. We need to win this race so we can fight Trump in the courts and protect millions of Virginians.”
The Lieutenant Governor plays a similarly pivotal role. As the presiding officer of the state Senate, the LG casts tie-breaking votes on critical legislation. With Democrats holding a narrow Senate majority, this race could decide the fate of bills protecting abortion rights, LGBTQ+ Virginians, public education, and more. A Republican in this role could block a Democratic agenda from within, stall appointments, and give the GOP a powerful foothold in a divided government. Electing Ghazala Hashmi is essential to securing a fully functional Democratic trifecta and advancing meaningful policy in 2026 and beyond.
Supporting a Path to Winning the House in 2026
State-level victories in Virginia will not only push back against Republican extremism, they will help build the grassroots power and momentum needed to win back the U.S. House in 2026 and put an even stronger check on Donald Trump.
Virginia has long been a bellwether state, signaling the national mood ahead of midterm and presidential election years. And some of this year’s most competitive races carry even broader implications. Virginia’s 64th and 89th districts, for example, are located in key congressional battlegrounds. Wins there would help lay the groundwork to re-elect Rep. Eugene Vindman in VA-07 and defeat anti-abortion Rep. Jen Kiggans in VA-02 next year.
These races also determine who holds power in Richmond when future redistricting decisions are made, at a time when GOP-led states are aggressively redrawing maps mid-decade. What happens in Virginia this year can shape political power for the midterms and beyond.
Swing Left’s Targets
This cycle, Swing Left is targeting the following flippable seats in Virginia:
Statewide Offices:
- Abigail Spanberger | Governor
- Ghazala Hashmi | Lieutenant Governor
- Jay Jones | Attorney General
House of Delegates:
- Elizabeth Guzman | HD-22
- John McAuliff | HD-30
- Stacey Carroll | HD-64
- Jessica Anderson | HD-71
- Leslie Mehta | HD-73
- Lindsey Dougherty | HD-75
- Virgil Thornton | HD-86
- Kacey Carnegie | HD-89
Alongside its 2025 Virginia campaign, Swing Left also remains focused on the early work to win the competitive congressional elections needed to secure a Democratic House majority in 2026. This includes supporting the upcoming California redistricting ballot measure in November, and the recent launch of “Ground Truth”, the organization’s multi-million dollar initiative to transform how Democrats engage voters by starting earlier, going broader, and using smarter, tech-forward tools.
Currently piloting in key districts nationwide, Ground Truth combines face-to-face conversations with better data and modern technology to expand participation, rebuild trust, and give Democrats a decisive advantage going into 2026 and beyond.
