The fight continues.

At a time when elections are decided by dozens of votes and Presidents are chosen by swing states, competitive districts have never been more consequential.

Illinois sits at the heart of the Midwest and Chicagoland is within three hours of some of the most competitive, most pivotal swing states and swing districts in the United States.

In 2026, Michigan and Iowa will elect U.S. Senators with tiny margins who could swing the Senate back to Democrats. Congressional races in Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, and Michigan will determine control of the U.S. House of Representatives. Meanwhile, in Illinois, critical state legislative and local races could elect Democrats in places held by Republicans for decades.

Operation Swing State was founded in 2024 by Patrick Hanley and Ben Head, under the tutelage of U.S. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle to bring together as many organizations as possible: Democratic township and ward organizations, state parties, advocacy groups, unaffiliated volunteers, and Indivisible chapters and help our coalition energize, mobilize, and empower volunteers who will make the difference in swing districts.

In 2024, we mobilized ten thousand canvassing shifts, knocking a quarter million doors in Wisconsin and Michigan. In 2025, we re-energized Democrats to win a crucial off-year judicial race in Wisconsin. Now, we’re reactivating the coalition to take back the houses of government, starting in the Midwest.