How We Win: The Blueprint for Flipping 5 Seats by 2026

We all remember that gut-wrenching feeling last November when the news broke that Donald Trump had won a second time. It was that kind of moment when you sit staring at the TV in disbelief, your heart sinking with every flashing number, every county and state turning red. You just keep hoping that something will change. But once the race was called, that’s when your mind started racing with questions: How did this happen? What does this mean for my family, my community, my future? 

In Kentucky over the years, Democrats have seen the landscape shift dramatically. Once competitive districts have turned deep red, and local offices that used to reflect the values of working families have become nearly impossible to win. The Republican supermajority in Frankfort doesn’t just pass laws — it shapes the story of who Kentuckians are, often in ways that don’t match the reality of our communities. Schools struggle for funding, rural hospitals face closure, and everyday Kentuckians feel the weight of policies that don’t reflect their needs or priorities.

And yet, there is still hope — pockets of blue that remind us what’s possible, communities where Democratic values still resonate, and families who refuse to be silent in the face of policies that hurt them. This blueprint shows how Democrats win in Kentucky: by listening to neighbors, showing up in every county, and focusing on the issues that truly matter — healthcare, education, and economic opportunity. It’s about building campaigns rooted in the real lives of Kentuckians, not just running for the sake of running.

Because winning isn’t just about election night. It’s about creating momentum, breaking the cycle of inevitability, and proving that change is possible — even in a deeply red state.

How We Got Here

The decline of Democratic strength in the Kentucky state legislature didn’t happen overnight. It was the result of decades of national Democratic focus on Washington, D.C., while state-level politics were largely left behind. Presidential races, Senate campaigns, and congressional contests captured attention and resources, leaving statehouse seats as an afterthought — sometimes not even worth the investment.

Republicans, on the other hand, recognized that true power in America is built at the state level. Laws that shape who represents us, healthcare access, education funding, workers’ rights, and voting policies aren’t written in Washington; they’re written in Frankfort. For more than a decade, Republicans have invested deeply in these local and state contests. They recruited candidates who reflected their communities, built messaging operations to define Democrats before Democrats could define themselves, and poured resources into long-term organizing instead of just flashy ads. 

Honestly Democrats have been asleep at the wheel for far too long. 

The results are undeniable. Today, Democrats hold only 20 seats in the Kentucky House of Representatives and just 6 in the state Senate. Republicans don’t just have a majority — they have a supermajority, allowing them to override vetoes, pass legislation without compromise, and shape Kentucky’s political narrative in ways that don’t reflect the reality of our families, communities, or values. Frankfort has become a one-party state, and the consequences are visible in every corner of the Commonwealth.

Understanding this history is essential to understanding how Democrats win in Kentucky. It’s not about luck, charisma, or national trends. It’s about strategy, persistence, and building a presence that can challenge the long-standing dominance of the GOP at the state level. If we know how we got here, we can also see the path forward.

The Reality We’re Facing

In the months after the November election, when asking Democratic politicians and strategists how we got here, the refrain was almost always the same: “It’s just how the pendulum swings.” Some even said we should simply wait it out until 2032, when the math might finally tilt back in our favor. But waiting has consequences. And honestly, we’ve never been good at waiting for our turn. 

But this isn’t about some pendulum swinging back and forth. Democrats held the majority in the Kentucky House of Representatives as recently as 2016 — the last Democratic-controlled chamber in the South. We didn’t lose that majority because of some natural cycle. We lost it because Republicans out-organized us, invested in local candidates, and built a long-term strategy while Democrats looked the other way. Now we’re living with the consequences. 

Democrats hold only 20 seats in the House and just 6 in the Senate. That means we have zero ability to block destructive legislation. In real terms, that translates to public schools under constant attack, healthcare cuts that threaten rural hospitals, and laws written by and for corporate donors instead of Kentucky families.

It also breeds a culture of inevitability. When people believe Democrats “can’t win here,” they stop showing up. Voter turnout drops. Volunteers don’t sign up. Donors close their wallets. That cycle reinforces itself until the supermajority feels permanent.

That’s what Republicans want. 

They want us to believe this is permanent — that we’re powerless, that the fight is already lost. But history proves otherwise. The question isn’t whether Democrats can win here. The question is how Democrats win in Kentucky — and the answer starts with refusing to wait our turn, rebuilding from the ground up, and showing voters a vision bold enough to believe in again.

The Blueprint for Flipping 5 by 2026

This isn’t theory. It’s a plan for how Democrats win in Kentucky through our PAC lens: listen first, talk with voters—not at them—and help candidates show up where it matters most. Stronger in numbers, clearer in message, and intentional in execution.

Listening to Voters

For too long, Democrats have talked at voters instead of with them. The first step is structured listening—figuring out what the community actually cares about.

PAC-led listening strategies:

• In-Person Listening Tours: Candidates and messengers engage with voters at town halls, community centers, small businesses, churches, and local events. The focus is on hearing concerns and connecting with voters where they are.
  
• Community Service Events: Monthly events like park cleanups, school supply drives, or senior check-ins show action, not just words. Serving communities builds credibility and demonstrates commitment.
  
• Local Messengers: Identify trusted voices—teachers, nurses, veterans, farmers, small-business owners, faith leaders—and help them tell authentic stories about local issues. Short videos or posts translate voter concerns into concrete narratives.
  

Why it works: When voters see candidates listening and acting on real concerns, they start to trust that the candidate understands and represents their priorities. This builds a foundation for support that can’t be bought with ads alone.

Talking to Voters (Messaging as a Conversation)

Presence beats press releases. Republicans dominate because they show up everywhere and control the story. For Democrats to compete, candidates need consistent, approachable, and trustworthy messaging — amplified through every opportunity a PAC can support.

Messaging approach:

• Shared Talking Points: Equip candidates with clear, repeatable messages that everyone on the team can use. This ensures consistency across events, interviews, and interactions.
  
• Approachable Framing: Present problems in ways voters relate to — for example, healthcare access, school funding, or local infrastructure — without political jargon or abstract arguments.
  
• Trust and Credibility: Candidates should convey authenticity by acknowledging real challenges and showing a willingness to act. Sharing stories from constituents or community experiences builds trust.
  
• Omnipresence: Repetition matters. Voters should feel like they “know” the candidate through multiple touchpoints — town halls, local media appearances, micro-content, and trusted messengers.
  

Scaling the message:

• PAC-supported events ensure candidates are present in key districts, community gatherings, and local media opportunities.
  
• Trusted local messengers amplify the message across neighborhoods, making the candidate feel relatable and connected.
  
• Short, authentic content like videos, social posts, and op-eds reinforce talking points and maintain a consistent narrative.
  

Why it works: Consistent, relatable, and omnipresent messaging makes candidates feel trustworthy and familiar. When voters see the same message reinforced through multiple channels and voices, it builds credibility and connection — essential for how Democrats win in Kentucky.

Mobilizing Voters (From Awareness to Action)

The voters most critical to winning aren’t hardened Republicans—they’re Kentuckians who feel ignored or disconnected. Mobilization means giving these voters a reason to believe their voice matters.

PAC-supported strategies:

• Candidate Visibility: Help candidates attend key events, meet with constituents, and show up where they’re needed most.
  
• Community Engagement: Organize and highlight local service projects, town halls, and listening tours.
  
• Trusted Voices: Amplify local messengers who can speak to issues like healthcare, education, and economic opportunity.
  

Why it works: People act when they feel seen, when stakes are local, and when someone they trust shows up on their behalf. PAC efforts make candidates more visible, more credible, and more relatable. That’s how Democrats can start flipping districts—even in a deeply red state.

PAC Promise:

• Show Up: Candidates and messengers are visible and accessible.
  
• Listen: Community concerns guide messaging and priorities.
  
• Amplify: Trusted voices and real stories bring local issues to the forefront.
  
• Act: Fundraising, events, and visibility help candidates compete effectively.
  

This blueprint is disciplined, repeatable, and designed specifically for Kentucky. Do it well in five districts—and we don’t just flip seats. We change the story of what’s possible.

Why Flipping 5 Seats Matters

Our goal is clear: flip five seats from red to blue in the Kentucky state legislature. This isn’t about aiming too high and missing; it’s about setting a realistic, achievable target that builds momentum for the future.

Flipping five seats may not immediately end the Republican supermajority, but it does something just as crucial—it shatters the myth of inevitability. It proves that Democrats can win in Kentucky legislative races. This success builds confidence among voters, volunteers, and donors, encouraging them to commit more resources and energy in future cycles.

Moreover, this effort lays the groundwork for 2028 and beyond. Once voters see that Democrats can compete and win, the map opens up. Districts previously considered unwinnable become targets for future campaigns, expanding the possibilities for Democratic success across the state.

This is the first step. It’s a step worth taking because small wins today pave the way for a stronger, more competitive Democratic presence tomorrow. This is how Democrats win in Kentucky—one seat, one district, and one community at a time.

How Democrats Win in Kentucky

We’re asking for something bold: flip five seats in the Kentucky legislature. No one’s pretending that’s going to be easy. It’s going to take money, volunteers, relentless organizing, and candidates who will knock on doors until their shoes wear thin. But here’s the truth—giving in to hopelessness is the surest way to lose before the fight even begins.

Kentuckians don’t give up. We don’t back down when the odds are stacked against us. We dig in, we show up, and we prove people wrong. Every seat flipped, every conversation had, every voter mobilized—it all matters. This is how we chip away at a supermajority that doesn’t represent us. How we start building a legislature that finally listens to its people instead of one party’s agenda.

This is how Democrats win in Kentucky—not with one big swing, but with steady, determined effort that grows into unstoppable momentum. The blueprint is in our hands. The time is right now. And together, we can flip those five seats by 2026.

Join us. Be part of the fight. Let’s prove that hope isn’t naïve—it’s powerful. And it’s exactly what Kentucky needs.