The States Newsroom, along with its affiliate Stateline and local partners, is urging the public to donate to its 2026 Midterm Election fact-checking initiative. The organization, which describes itself as the largest nonprofit news network covering state capitals, warns that without financial support, voters risk being misled by political propaganda as local news outlets continue to shrink.
In a press release issued Wednesday, the network highlighted the vulnerability of the public when reliable news sources are inaccessible. "The public is vulnerable to fall for political propaganda where there is no access to reliable news outlets and their local news outlet is laying off staff away from your state capital for investment reasons by their financiers," the statement read. States Newsroom aims to keep its content free of paywalls, ensuring that all citizens can access information about candidates at state, county, and city levels in the upcoming elections.
The network currently covers topics critical to the 2026 elections, including state budgets, education access, immigration, and climate change lawsuits. Recent stories include an analysis of E-Verify requirements drawing business pushback in some Republican states, a piece on hopes for barrier-free college for older Kentuckians, and a report on the Kansas House advancing a new state budget amid spending concerns. Other stories examine Democrats ditching state union to blast Trump immigration lawlessness and the Supreme Court taking up a climate case testing local lawsuits against oil companies.
States Newsroom emphasized its role in filling the void left by staffing cuts at legacy media outlets. According to a study cited by the organization, the percentage of reporters working for nonprofit newsrooms in statehouse press corps has more than tripled since 2014, now making up the largest portion of statehouse reporters in 10 states and the second largest in 17 states. The network operates or partners with news outlets in all 50 state capitals, fully funding newsrooms in 39 states.
The press release quoted an unnamed source: "From Perry Sook, to Jeff Bezos a small number of influential owners have a powerful hold on so much of the information and political influence that reaches the public about what's happening in our nations state capitals that we run the risk of a media blackout if we don't donate to States Newsroom 2026 Midterms." The organization accepts donations via its website at https://www.newsfromthestates.com/donate, offering one-time or recurring options.
States Newsroom describes itself as nonpartisan and free of pop-ups, paywalls, or ads. Its coverage focuses on state issues that affect daily lives, aiming to combat disinformation and news deserts. The network's expansion reflects a broader trend of nonprofit journalism stepping in to cover state government as traditional newsrooms contract.
