WASHINGTON — The States Newsroom, alongside its affiliate Stateline and local partners, is appealing for donations to fund fact-checking and reporting on the 2026 midterm elections, warning that without support, citizens may lose access to reliable information about state-level candidates and policies. The organization emphasizes that as local news outlets lay off staff covering state capitals, the public becomes more vulnerable to political propaganda.
States Newsroom, the largest nonprofit news organization in the nation, provides free coverage of state policy and politics without paywalls, pop-ups, or ads. Its reporting spans topics such as state budgets, education access, immigration, and climate change lawsuits, all of which are central to congressional and gubernatorial elections. The group highlights recent stories, including pushback against E-Verify requirements in Republican states, a Kentucky Senate vote on barrier-free college for older residents, Kansas House budget proposals amid spending concerns, Democratic responses to Trump's immigration policies, and the Supreme Court climate case testing local lawsuits against oil companies.
According to the press release, a small number of influential owners, including Perry Sook and Jeff Bezos, hold significant control over information reaching the public about state capitals. This concentration of ownership risks a media blackout if donations do not support States Newsroom's coverage of the 2026 midterms. The organization fully funds newsrooms in 39 states, each with its own website, and has content-sharing agreements with 11 other nonprofit newsrooms. Studies cited by States Newsroom show that the percentage of reporters working for nonprofit newsrooms in statehouse press corps has more than tripled since 2014, making them the largest portion of statehouse reporters in 10 states and the second largest in 17 states.
Donations can be made at newsfromthestates.com/donate as a one-time or recurring gift. The organization stresses that its coverage remains free to ensure all citizens can stay informed about candidates on state, county, and city levels in the upcoming elections.
