New year, new us.
Launching in Michigan took longer than expected – we had hoped to launch in this crucial swing state a month ago, but due to the state building a new campaign finance database recently, as well as the lack of centralized data for the Michigan 2024 primaries, we had to spend more time here to ensure that today’s launch was consistent with our dedication to perfectionism.
The wait was worth it: Michigan is the first state to debut with State Navigate 3.0. While gathering the necessary data for our Michigan launch, State Navigate’s contractors at WhichSide Digital noticed several issues on the website that needed to be remedied. Development Director Jack Kersting led the charge on giving State Navigate a new look that simultaneously fixed those issues.
We’ve made navigating content in each state easier with our new headers and page designs. In the center and top of each page, you can switch between states and go to every bit of data we have for each state. The header also now includes a search feature: simply type in any keyword to find a page you want, whether it be a candidate, legislator, district, an interactive, or an article.
While not relevant in Michigan, you can now see the intra-party factions within each legislature. While most states’ legislatures are often divided by party, some, especially Republican-leaning states, have intra-party divides (oftentimes due to the State Freedom Caucus Network). Some states also have third-party legislators as well as legislators who caucus with the opposite party, such as Alaska.
Using member and coalition lists, W-NOMINATE’s analysis of floor rollcalls, and campaign finance data, State Navigate identifies who is in each relevant faction in state legislatures, including probable but unofficial members. In doing so, we’re shining a light on legislators who are in factions but may not want the public to know they’re in them, as well as having a simple, up-to-date list of factional representation.
Going forward, State Navigate is mostly letting dollars decide what states we plan on launching in next: we’ve had nearly 1,000 votes cast in our survey for where people would like to see us open next, and have over 150 state legislators following our work already. But as a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit that relies on donations, we need to open where there’s demand that helps keep our lights on. If you’d like to see State Navigate open in your state sooner, you can make a tax-deductible donation today and have it go to the state of your choice!
For comments, questions and concerns, and/or inquiries about how to send large donations/grants to State Navigate, please feel free to contact our Executive Director, Chaz Nuttycombe.
Yours in service,
The team at State Navigate
