The States Project (TSP) works to build governing power for lawmakers who will deliver for their constituents and drive policy change at the state level. It partners with state lawmakers who are working to realize the American promise in key states to win legislative elections, focusing on contests that can make the biggest difference in who holds power, and it provides resources to help lawmakers govern effectively to improve people’s lives.
Why This Work is Important
States are increasingly important arenas of power. State governments have always had enormous influence over people's lives — wielding wide-ranging authority over whether children and families have quality education and care, whether drinking water is safe from pollutants, and whether jobs pay sustainable, livable wages. They are the fourth branch of government — a parallel power, with its own laws and budgets, that too often goes overlooked. But Supreme Court rulings and other federal actions in recent years have devolved ever more power to the states, requiring them to pick up the slack as the federal government pulls back.
Lawmakers are confronting both threats and opportunities in the states. Wherever the right has held power in recent decades, they have passed antidemocratic initiatives like voter restrictions and gerrymandering, while enacting policies to restrict reproductive rights, amplify corporate power, and make it harder for working families to thrive. Conversely, in states where lawmakers who are working to realize the American promise have power, policies to ensure working families can afford more than just the basics, combat climate change, and safeguard basic freedoms have been enacted into law. States act as testing grounds for policy, where ideas — for better or worse — are refined before they spread nationwide.
State legislatures are the last line of defense against federal overreach. As Trump tests the Constitutional limits of state power, state lawmakers are on the front lines of the fight to prevent extremism and preserve competitive elections. The governing power we build in state legislatures this November will determine who draws the maps, who gets to vote, and whether their votes count in 2028 and beyond. Every trifecta we build, every supermajority we break, every legislature where we break complete rightwing control, is a check on federal power that no court can easily undo — and a foundation for competitive elections in 2028 and beyond.
Donors can achieve more impact by giving to state legislative races. Many donors tend to obsess over big-ticket national races, like the presidency and marquee Senate contests. But a state legislative campaign usually costs less than 10% of a competitive U.S. House or 3% of a competitive U.S. Senate race. Donor contributions are more likely to make a difference in state legislative races, which are far less expensive and often decided by much closer margins.
Why Donors Should Consider The States Project
TSP has a record of impact. TSP invested $60 million in 2022 and $70 million in 2024 to help win state-level races; these funds were targeted at the most competitive and consequential races in those election cycles. While it’s hard to pinpoint the impact of any single electoral group, TSP’s strategic approach and unprecedented investment likely played a key role in flipping four state legislative chambers in 2022 and holding key chambers in 2024, as well as breaking right-wing supermajorities in North Carolina and Wisconsin. But TSP is not just about winning elections; it also has a record of working closely with state lawmakers to advance policy change.
TSP has a rigorous methodology. Part of TSP’s mission is improving campaign strategy, which is why it develops close in-state relationships with key players focused on the legislature. This ensures that caucuses and candidates embrace research-based tactics, which can move vote share. Running more effective campaigns is especially important in down-ballot races, where money is typically tight, candidates face an uphill battle on things like name recognition, and outcomes can sometimes be decided by just a handful of votes.
TSP makes giving to the most important races easy. Rather than spending time sorting through poll numbers or parsing email donation pitches, donors can offload that work to TSP, whose team analyzes data on thousands of state legislative races to find the most important ones for winning power. Donors can start a Giving Circle, gathering their personal networks and using TSP’s resources to identify a state to focus on. In the process, the Giving Circle members will learn about the state’s politics and candidates and get a deeper understanding of how state legislative races work. Additionally, through TSP’s Give Smart fund, donors can easily support key state legislative candidates in need of money through curated slates.
Conclusion
The States Project is a high-impact organization that offers a simple answer to the question, “Where should I give money to advance change in our country?” By choosing to support TSP, donors fuel its laser-focused strategies on winning and defending power in the states, which is one of the most effective solutions to improving Americans' lives. TSP’s Giving Circles are an option for donors who want to be more involved and engage their communities and networks, and its Give Smart fund is great for people who know that state legislatures are important but aren't sure how to help.