States Newsroom, the nation's largest nonprofit news organization, is calling for public donations to support its fact-checking efforts for the 2026 midterm elections. The organization, along with its affiliate Stateline and local outlets, provides coverage of state legislatures and governors' offices, focusing on investigative stories and daily political events. With the rise of news deserts and layoffs at local media, States Newsroom emphasizes the need for accessible, reliable news to keep citizens informed about candidates at the state, county, and city levels.
Topics currently being covered include state budgets, education access, immigration, and climate change lawsuits—issues that directly impact congressional and gubernatorial races. For example, recent stories highlight E-Verify requirements drawing business pushback in Republican states, a proposed barrier-free college program for older Kentuckians, Kansas House advancing a new state budget amid spending concerns, Democrats criticizing Trump's immigration policies, and the Supreme Court taking up a climate case testing local lawsuits against oil companies. These reports are available at Stateline, News from the States, and other affiliates.
Donations, accepted at News from the States, can be one-time or recurring. States Newsroom warns that a small number of influential owners, from Perry Sook to Jeff Bezos, hold significant control over information and political influence in state capitals, risking a media blackout without public support. The organization fully funds newsrooms in 39 states, each with its own website, and partners with outlets in all 50 state capitals. Affiliates include Alabama Reflector, Alaska Beacon, Arizona Mirror, and many others.
Leading studies cite States Newsroom as key to filling the void left by staffing cuts at legacy media. The percentage of reporters working for nonprofit newsrooms in statehouse press corps has more than tripled since 2014, now forming the largest portion in 10 states and the second largest in 17 states. States Newsroom also has content-sharing agreements with 11 leading nonprofit newsrooms, including CalMatters, The Texas Tribune, and VTDigger.
By supporting States Newsroom, donors help ensure that nonpartisan, paywall-free coverage of state issues remains available, empowering voters to make informed decisions in the 2026 elections.
