FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Eme Crawford, eme@stateinnovation.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the nation reflects on the first 100 days of the Trump administration, the federal government’s failure to safeguard freedoms and secure a just future for all has never been more apparent. Yet across the country, state legislators are stepping into the void—championing bold, community-rooted solutions and showing what real leadership looks like.
From rural towns to major cities, lawmakers in statehouses nationwide are resisting harmful federal policies and leading the charge to build a government that serves all people—not just the wealthy and well-connected.
“State legislators are fighting back tooth and nail against harmful legislation nationwide and winning, even in swing states and conservative strongholds,” said Georgia Senator Kim Jackson, senior vice president of programs at the State Innovation Exchange (SiX). “Lawmakers are standing up, speaking out daily, and winning—leading their communities.”
As Washington, D.C. descends further into uncertainty, state legislatures are becoming crucial battlegrounds for democracy and equity. In Iowa, lawmakers are pushing back against efforts to roll back rights and dismantle public trust. “Despite federal chaos, Iowa’s people are showing that their voices matter,” said Iowa Representative Megan Srinivas. “They're stopping deleterious things that could have happened, and instead using their voices to create the positive change we need.”
The Trump administration’s approach—marked by deregulation and decentralization—is shifting more responsibility to the states, often without the necessary resources. “They’re trying to decentralize government and push that responsibility out to states, where we are more reliant on regressive taxes than the federal government,” explained Washington Senator Noel Frame.
Despite these challenges, state lawmakers remain focused on what matters most: protecting their constituents and advancing a vision rooted in justice, opportunity, and care. Wisconsin Representative Sylvia Ortiz-Velez summed it up: “The mission's the same—save as many people as we can.”
Organizations like SiX are working alongside these leaders to support a new kind of governance—one that centers community, collaboration, and equity. “These leaders show us what's possible when we lead in a new way—by listening, by sharing power, and by working with people and not just for them,” said Eme Crawford, SiX’s senior director of communications.
At a time when federal leadership is faltering, states are stepping up—not just to resist, but to build a future where every community can thrive.
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