Everyone loves to talk about the White House, Congress, and cable-news politics. But here’s the truth: the real battleground isn’t D.C. — it’s your state capitol. In this episode, we dig into The Bottom Up Approach and why state legislatures are the true frontline in the fight for democracy. From education funding to healthcare access, criminal justice to voting rights, statehouses shape your daily life far more than Congress does. We’ll trace how Republicans built a decades-long strategy to dominate local power through ALEC, gerrymandering, and redistricting schemes like REDMAP — and how Democrats can finally fight back by investing in grassroots infrastructure, running everywhere, and building from the schoolhouse to the statehouse. If you want to understand where the future of American politics will really be decided, this is the episode you can’t miss.
By the Ballot is an opinion series published on Substack. All views expressed are solely those of the author and should not be interpreted as reporting or objective journalism or attributed to any other individual or organization. I am not a journalist or reporter, nor do I claim to be one. This publication represents personal commentary, analysis, and opinion only.
