With the November 3 general election fast approaching, it is important to understand where we need to focus our efforts. If we want to protect our democracy and create a progressive America, we not only need to remove Donald Trump from office, we need to keep the House of Representatives blue and flip the Senate blue. The former currently has the most diverse legislature (opens in new tab) our country has ever seen in its 230-year legislative history. The latter, led by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, has prevented the passage of bipartisan legislation like H.R. 8 (opens in new tab), which would mandate universal background checks that would save American lives.

With the help of Swing Left (opens in new tab) - a national grassroots organization founded after the 2016 election - we can make a difference by paying attention to the 12 Super States (opens in new tab), aka Swing States. These include Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin.

"Swing states are the most important states in the upcoming election. Swing states are the tipping point between winning the Electoral College and winning the presidency," explained Marisa Kanoff, Swing Left National Field Director. "You look at the 50 states, and there are 15 to 20 states where a Democrat is likely to win and 15 to 20 states where a Republican is likely to win. If you win enough states in the middle of those states, you can win the presidential election.

Because of the increase in mail-in ballots this election season, it is very likely that we will not know the election results (opens in new tab) on November 4. (Click here to register to vote (opens in new tab). But the first step is to be aware of the states that will determine the fate of the country, then (virtually) engage with voters, volunteer, and raise money for campaigns in these areas. Here, Marie Claire and Swing Left have listed the swing states to target after November, along with their specific goals.

Goals

1) Flip the federal Senate seat currently held by Martha McSally. She is running against Captain Mark Kelly (opens in new tab), husband of former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords (opens in new tab).

2) Win 11 votes of the state's Electoral College

3) Defeat unified Republican control of state government by flipping one or both state legislatures

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Goals:

1) Current Flip the federal Senate seat held by Cory Gardner. He will face former Governor John Hickenlooper (open in new tab).

2) Win the state's nine Electoral College votes

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Goal:

1) Win 29 state Electoral College votes

2) Flip the Florida House and break the unified Republican control of state government

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GOAL

1) Flip both seats of the U.S. Senate up for re-election

2) Contest 16 Electoral College votes in the state

3) Flip the Georgia House to defeat Republican break the unified control of state government

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Goals include:

1) Flip the federal Senate seat currently held by Joni Ernst. Her opponent is Teresa Greenfield (opens in new tab).

2) Contest the state's six Electoral College votes

3) Flip the Iowa House of Representatives to break unified Republican control of state government

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Goals:

1) Susan Collins currently 2) Flip the federal Senate seat currently held by Susan Collins. Her opponent is Sarah Gideon (opens in new tab).

2) Win 4 state electoral college votes

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Goals

1) Win 16 Michigan electoral college votes

2) Reverse Republican-led control of Michigan House

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GOAL:

1) Flip the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Tom Tillis. His opponent is Cal Cunningham (opens in new tab).

2) Win 15 state electoral college votes

3) Flip one or both legislatures and break Republican control of the state legislature

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Goals

1) Contest 18 state electoral college votes

2) Curb Republican dominance in state government by breaking the Republican supermajority in the Ohio legislature

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Goals include:

1) Win 20 Electoral College votes in the state [34 35] 2) Break Republican control of the state legislature by flipping one or both legislatures

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Goals

1) Flip the federal Senate seat currently held by John Cornyn. He is running against MJ Hager (opens in new tab).

2) Contest the votes of the state's 38 electoral college

3) Flip the Texas House of Representatives and break the unified Republican control of state government

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Goals:

1) Wisconsin's electoral Get 10 votes of the delegation

2) Protect Democratic Governor Tony Evers' veto by blocking Republican supermajorities in the Wisconsin State Senate and State Assembly

3) Lay the groundwork to flip the State Assembly in 2022

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If you want to help make a difference, learn more about how you can volunteer with Swing Left and invest in a progressive future here (opens in new tab).