Democrats rising? Early statehouse wins test new faces(Reuters) - Democrats desperate to rebuild after losing the White House last year have scored a string of election victories for statehouse seats, testing a new generation of candidates and activists eager to resist President Donald Trump’s conservative agenda. From New Hampshire to Oklahoma, Democrats have flipped eight Republican-held seats in special legislative elections, having spent millions of dollars on low-turnout contests mostly being fought over local issues. The wins showcase how Democrats want to fight back after losing to Trump and hitting historic lows in statehouses. But the party faces challenges carrying this momentum into the 2018 midterm elections when thousands of seats are at stake, interviews with nearly two dozen Democratic leaders, campaigns and other political experts show. “Can we recruit enough capable candidates, and can we run enough modern races?” asked Simon Rosenberg, a Democratic political strategist. He said the party must test its future leaders in real time. “Are they ready? The answer is: We don’t know.” In November, Democrats will get an early read.  One critical test is in Washington state, where first-time candidate Manka Dhingra is running for an up-for-grabs senate seat in Seattle’s suburbs. A victory on Nov. 7 would give Democrats full control of the state.     A prosecutor and school parent volunteer, Dhingra is a Sikh Indian American whose political awakening began with businessman Trump’s surprise election victory over experienced politician Hillary Clinton. Still, Dhingra steers clear of mentioning the president in her pitch to swing voters. “The Trump reaction, the way it works is by invigorating volunteers,” Dhingra said. “There are a lot of people, like myself, who decided we cannot be bystanders.” Nearly 2,000 volunteers have signed up through her campaign website alone, evidence of what the party calls unprecedented interest in legislative contests.  An August primary, where Dhingra finished 10 points ahead of her Republican competitor, had a relatively robust turnout, including nearly 6,000 voters who normally skip primaries. Outside of Washington state, however, a few Democratic wins  will do little to change the political map going into the 2018 midterm elections. Republicans control 26 state governments and two-thirds of legislative chambers. Democrats hemorrhaged power at the state level during President Barack Obama’s eight years in office with their attention on national elections. Now Democrats see the states as critical for rebuilding, and an opportunity to advance legislation pushing back against Trump’s agenda of gutting Democratic health care reforms and environmental protections and cracking down on immigration. The party plans to recruit hundreds of thousands of volunteers to contact more than 30 million voters - double their outreach in statehouse contests in the 2016 presidential cycle.  “Because of the gridlock in Washington, people are turning to statehouses for security from Donald Trump,” said Jessica Post, executive director of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee. But the party’s many inexperienced candidates must beat battle-tested incumbents in elections next year with greater voter turnout.     “If the Democrats have every bit of momentum and the wildest day they could think of, they may take us from super majorities to majorities,” said David Avella, chairman of the Republican group GOPAC. “But we will still have majorities.” Democrats have flipped legislative seats in Florida, Oklahoma, New Hampshire and New York in 2017. Republicans picked up an uncontested seat in Louisiana. In Oklahoma, where Trump won 65 percent of the vote in the 2016 general election, the Democrats flipped three seats in districts he carried. Candidates doubled down on local issues, such as a budget crisis forcing four-day school weeks. They had a chance to “represent themselves as real people that weren’t actually attached to Nancy Pelosi, or Hillary Clinton, or Barack Obama,” said Anna Langthorn, Oklahoma Democratic Party chairwoman. Some of the special elections success reflects startup progressive groups rallying voters. But they have yet to figure out how to expand their scope for 2018. Chris Walsh, a cofounder of Flippable, which is working to win back state governments, went to Florida last month to help Democrat Annette Taddeo beat a Republican former legislator who once competed on Trump’s reality TV show, “The Apprentice.” “There is a lot of knowledge out there that is siloed,” Walsh said, adding the party could help by sharing information such as district voting data with new groups.  This year’s most revealing contests will come in a statewide election in Virginia, where Democrats face a long-shot bid in November to pick up 17 seats and take back the House of Delegates. In a show of enthusiasm to rebuild, the party is fielding a ticket that is more than 50 percent larger than two years ago. Yet fewer than one in four of the mostly women vying for Republican-held seats have raised more money than their competitors, Virginia Public Access Project data showed. Republicans are also ramping up in defense. They anticipate state contests will be central to Democratic efforts in 2018, given their longer odds of reclaiming the Republican-controlled U.S. Congress.     “The Democrats are trying to probe for the weakest link, and they are looking for that at the state level,” said Matt Walter, president of the Republican State Leadership Committee. “It is our job to make sure that doesn’t happen.” politicsNews
democrats rising early gatehouse wins test new faces reuters democrats desperate rebuild losing white house last year scored string election victories gatehouse seats testing new generation candidates activists eager resist president donald trump conservative agenda from new hampshire oklahoma democrats flipped eight seats special legislative elections spent millions dollars contests mostly fought local issues the wins showcase democrats want fight back losing trump hitting historic lows statehouses but party faces challenges carrying momentum midterm elections thousands seats stake interviews nearly two dozen democratic leaders campaigns political experts show can recruit enough capable candidates run enough modern races asked simon rstenberg democratic political strategist he said party must test future leaders real time are ready the answer we in november democrats get early read one critical test washington state candidate manga dhingra running senate seat seattle suburbs a victory would give democrats full control state a prosecutor school parent volunteer dhingra sikh indian american whose political awakening began businessman trump surprise election victory experienced politician hillary clinton still dhingra steer clear mentioning president pitch swing voters the trump reaction way works invigorating volunteers dhingra said there lot people like decided nearly volunteers signed campaign website alone evidence party calls unprecedented interest legislative contests an august primary dhingra finished points ahead republican competitor relatively robust turnout including nearly voters normally skip primaries outside washington state however democratic wins little change political map going midterm elections republicans control state governments legislative chambers democrats hemorrhage power state level president barack obama eight years office attention national elections now democrats see states critical rebuilding opportunity advance legislation pushing back trump agenda getting democratic health care reforms environmental protections cracking immigration the party plans recruit hundreds thousands volunteers contact million voters double outreach gatehouse contests presidential cycle because gridlock washington people turning statehouses security donald trump said jessica post executive director democratic legislative campaign committee but party many inexperienced candidates must beat incumbents elections next year greater voter turnout if democrats every bit momentum widest day could think may take us super majorities majorities said david della chairman republican group opac but still democrats flipped legislative seats florida oklahoma new hampshire new york republicans picked uncontested seat louisiana in oklahoma trump percent vote general election democrats flipped three seats districts carried candidates doubled local issues budget crisis forcing school weeks they chance represent real people actually attached nancy pesos hillary clinton barack obama said anna langthorn oklahoma democratic party chairwoman some special elections success reflects startup progressive groups rallying voters but yet figure expand scope chris walsh cofounder flippable working win back state governments went florida last month help democrat annee added beat republican former legislator competed trump reality tv show the there lot knowledge silver walsh said adding party could help sharing information district voting data new groups this year revealing contests come statewide election virginia democrats face bid november pick seats take back house delegates in show enthusiasm rebuild party fielding ticket percent larger two years ago yet fewer one four mostly women vying seats raised money competitors virginia public access project data showed republicans also camping defense they anticipate state contests central democratic efforts given longer odds reclaiming congress the democrats trying probe weakest link looking state level said matt walter president republican state leadership committee it job make sure politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Democrats rising? Early statehouse wins test new faces(Reuters) - Democrats desperate to rebuild after losing the White House last year have scored a string of election victories for statehouse seats, testing a new generation of candidates and activists eager to resist President Donald Trump’s conservative agenda. From New Hampshire to Oklahoma, Democrats have flipped eight Republican-held seats in special legislative elections, having spent millions of dollars on low-turnout contests mostly being fought over local issues. The wins showcase how Democrats want to fight back after losing to Trump and hitting historic lows in statehouses. But the party faces challenges carrying this momentum into the 2018 midterm elections when thousands of seats are at stake, interviews with nearly two dozen Democratic leaders, campaigns and other political experts show. “Can we recruit enough capable candidates, and can we run enough modern races?” asked Simon Rosenberg, a Democratic political strategist. He said the party must test its future leaders in real time. “Are they ready? The answer is: We don’t know.” In November, Democrats will get an early read.  One critical test is in Washington state, where first-time candidate Manka Dhingra is running for an up-for-grabs senate seat in Seattle’s suburbs. A victory on Nov. 7 would give Democrats full control of the state.     A prosecutor and school parent volunteer, Dhingra is a Sikh Indian American whose political awakening began with businessman Trump’s surprise election victory over experienced politician Hillary Clinton. Still, Dhingra steers clear of mentioning the president in her pitch to swing voters. “The Trump reaction, the way it works is by invigorating volunteers,” Dhingra said. “There are a lot of people, like myself, who decided we cannot be bystanders.” Nearly 2,000 volunteers have signed up through her campaign website alone, evidence of what the party calls unprecedented interest in legislative contests.  An August primary, where Dhingra finished 10 points ahead of her Republican competitor, had a relatively robust turnout, including nearly 6,000 voters who normally skip primaries. Outside of Washington state, however, a few Democratic wins  will do little to change the political map going into the 2018 midterm elections. Republicans control 26 state governments and two-thirds of legislative chambers. Democrats hemorrhaged power at the state level during President Barack Obama’s eight years in office with their attention on national elections. Now Democrats see the states as critical for rebuilding, and an opportunity to advance legislation pushing back against Trump’s agenda of gutting Democratic health care reforms and environmental protections and cracking down on immigration. The party plans to recruit hundreds of thousands of volunteers to contact more than 30 million voters - double their outreach in statehouse contests in the 2016 presidential cycle.  “Because of the gridlock in Washington, people are turning to statehouses for security from Donald Trump,” said Jessica Post, executive director of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee. But the party’s many inexperienced candidates must beat battle-tested incumbents in elections next year with greater voter turnout.     “If the Democrats have every bit of momentum and the wildest day they could think of, they may take us from super majorities to majorities,” said David Avella, chairman of the Republican group GOPAC. “But we will still have majorities.” Democrats have flipped legislative seats in Florida, Oklahoma, New Hampshire and New York in 2017. Republicans picked up an uncontested seat in Louisiana. In Oklahoma, where Trump won 65 percent of the vote in the 2016 general election, the Democrats flipped three seats in districts he carried. Candidates doubled down on local issues, such as a budget crisis forcing four-day school weeks. They had a chance to “represent themselves as real people that weren’t actually attached to Nancy Pelosi, or Hillary Clinton, or Barack Obama,” said Anna Langthorn, Oklahoma Democratic Party chairwoman. Some of the special elections success reflects startup progressive groups rallying voters. But they have yet to figure out how to expand their scope for 2018. Chris Walsh, a cofounder of Flippable, which is working to win back state governments, went to Florida last month to help Democrat Annette Taddeo beat a Republican former legislator who once competed on Trump’s reality TV show, “The Apprentice.” “There is a lot of knowledge out there that is siloed,” Walsh said, adding the party could help by sharing information such as district voting data with new groups.  This year’s most revealing contests will come in a statewide election in Virginia, where Democrats face a long-shot bid in November to pick up 17 seats and take back the House of Delegates. In a show of enthusiasm to rebuild, the party is fielding a ticket that is more than 50 percent larger than two years ago. Yet fewer than one in four of the mostly women vying for Republican-held seats have raised more money than their competitors, Virginia Public Access Project data showed. Republicans are also ramping up in defense. They anticipate state contests will be central to Democratic efforts in 2018, given their longer odds of reclaiming the Republican-controlled U.S. Congress.     “The Democrats are trying to probe for the weakest link, and they are looking for that at the state level,” said Matt Walter, president of the Republican State Leadership Committee. “It is our job to make sure that doesn’t happen.” politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: democrats rising early gatehouse wins test new faces reuters democrats desperate rebuild losing white house last year scored string election victories gatehouse seats testing new generation candidates activists eager resist president donald trump conservative agenda from new hampshire oklahoma democrats flipped eight seats special legislative elections spent millions dollars contests mostly fought local issues the wins showcase democrats want fight back losing trump hitting historic lows statehouses but party faces challenges carrying momentum midterm elections thousands seats stake interviews nearly two dozen democratic leaders campaigns political experts show can recruit enough capable candidates run enough modern races asked simon rstenberg democratic political strategist he said party must test future leaders real time are ready the answer we in november democrats get early read one critical test washington state candidate manga dhingra running senate seat seattle suburbs a victory would give democrats full control state a prosecutor school parent volunteer dhingra sikh indian american whose political awakening began businessman trump surprise election victory experienced politician hillary clinton still dhingra steer clear mentioning president pitch swing voters the trump reaction way works invigorating volunteers dhingra said there lot people like decided nearly volunteers signed campaign website alone evidence party calls unprecedented interest legislative contests an august primary dhingra finished points ahead republican competitor relatively robust turnout including nearly voters normally skip primaries outside washington state however democratic wins little change political map going midterm elections republicans control state governments legislative chambers democrats hemorrhage power state level president barack obama eight years office attention national elections now democrats see states critical rebuilding opportunity advance legislation pushing back trump agenda getting democratic health care reforms environmental protections cracking immigration the party plans recruit hundreds thousands volunteers contact million voters double outreach gatehouse contests presidential cycle because gridlock washington people turning statehouses security donald trump said jessica post executive director democratic legislative campaign committee but party many inexperienced candidates must beat incumbents elections next year greater voter turnout if democrats every bit momentum widest day could think may take us super majorities majorities said david della chairman republican group opac but still democrats flipped legislative seats florida oklahoma new hampshire new york republicans picked uncontested seat louisiana in oklahoma trump percent vote general election democrats flipped three seats districts carried candidates doubled local issues budget crisis forcing school weeks they chance represent real people actually attached nancy pesos hillary clinton barack obama said anna langthorn oklahoma democratic party chairwoman some special elections success reflects startup progressive groups rallying voters but yet figure expand scope chris walsh cofounder flippable working win back state governments went florida last month help democrat annee added beat republican former legislator competed trump reality tv show the there lot knowledge silver walsh said adding party could help sharing information district voting data new groups this year revealing contests come statewide election virginia democrats face bid november pick seats take back house delegates in show enthusiasm rebuild party fielding ticket percent larger two years ago yet fewer one four mostly women vying seats raised money competitors virginia public access project data showed republicans also camping defense they anticipate state contests central democratic efforts given longer odds reclaiming congress the democrats trying probe weakest link looking state level said matt walter president republican state leadership committee it job make sure politicsnews