The States Newsroom, along with its national outlet Stateline and local affiliates, has initiated a fundraising campaign to support fact-checking coverage of the 2026 midterm elections. The organization warns that the public is vulnerable to political propaganda due to diminishing access to reliable local news, particularly as many outlets reduce staff in state capitals for financial reasons. The campaign aims to ensure that States Newsroom content remains free without paywalls, providing citizens with well-informed coverage of candidates at state, county, and city levels.
According to the organization, a small number of influential media owners have significant control over the information reaching the public about state capitals, creating a risk of a media blackout without support for independent journalism. States Newsroom describes itself as the nation's largest nonprofit news organization, offering nonpartisan coverage of policy and politics in all 50 state capitals without pop-ups, paywalls, or ads. Studies indicate that nonprofit newsrooms like States Newsroom are increasingly filling the void left by staffing cuts at legacy media, with the percentage of nonprofit statehouse reporters more than tripling since 2014.
The network's election coverage includes fact-checking on major topics such as state budgets, education access, immigration, and climate change lawsuits, which are central to congressional and gubernatorial races. Examples of current reporting include a Stateline article on E-verify requirements drawing business pushback in some Republican states, a piece on hopes pinned on the Senate to kill a proposed barrier-free college for older Kentuckians at News from the States, and coverage of the Kansas House advancing a new state budget amid spending concerns available at News from the States. Additional stories address political dynamics, such as Democrats ditching state union blasts over Trump immigration policies and a Supreme Court case testing local lawsuits against oil companies, covered in this article and at Stateline.
States Newsroom fully funds newsrooms in 39 states, each with its own website, and partners with 11 other leading nonprofit newsrooms across the country. The organization emphasizes that its coverage is crucial in an era of disinformation and news deserts, focusing on state issues that impact daily lives. Donations can be made through a dedicated donation page, with options for one-time or recurring contributions of any amount, to support sustained election reporting through 2026.
