State Party Advancement Network
The State Party Advancement Network (SPAN) was founded in 2019 to strengthen state Democratic parties. Through grants, training programs and data support, SPAN works closely with state parties to build their capacity to engage voters and win elections. It is the leading organization working to address the well-known weaknesses of state Democratic parties and transform these institutions into powerful agents of electoral change.
Why This Work is Important
State Democratic parties need to be strengthened and modernized. Thanks to a combination of disinvestment and political cronyism, along with changes in campaign finance laws, many state Democratic parties are weak and ineffective. To some, the solution to this problem is to bypass these institutions by scaling up independent electoral infrastructure. But SPAN makes a strong case that state parties have key advantages over independent groups and we shouldn’t give up on them. Investing in the capacity of these institutions, which are now grossly underfunded, can pay major dividends.
Effective state Democratic parties help win elections. Wisconsin and Michigan offer vivid recent examples of the benefits of a strong state Democratic party. In both states, the party has built up the ability to engage in year-round organizing, effectively use data and technology, support down-ballot candidates, drive a clear message, and mount major GOTV operations at election time. Partly as a result, Democrats have achieved major electoral gains in both states in the past few years.
Why Donors Should Consider SPAN
SPAN has deep expertise and a track record of strengthening state parties. SPAN was founded by Martha Laning, the former chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party, one of the most effective state parties in the U.S. Under her leadership, SPAN has focused on addressing the full range of challenges faced by state parties in areas like field organizing, data management, fundraising and communications. Parties that have received backing from SPAN — including in Georgia, North Carolina and elsewhere — have improved their electoral performance.
SPAN stresses a year-round approach. Underfunded state parties often struggle to engage in any meaningful activities during non-election years. But building Democratic power requires year-round work. SPAN offers support to help parties survive non-election years and sustain their efforts year-round to engage voters, drive a message, train staff and volunteers, build capacity, and more.
SPAN uses its state-level approach to maximize voting-access efforts. The organization recognizes the critical role state parties play in running both local and national elections. Whether it’s appointing election officials, recruiting candidates or responding to voter suppression laws, state parties are best positioned to make lasting impacts on the democratic process, and SPAN helps parties invest in civic engagement.
SPAN offers donors a unique value proposition. It’s difficult for donors to determine which state Democratic parties to support or to assess the likely impact of such donations. SPAN is the only funding intermediary to which donors can reliably turn to help strengthen state parties and feel confident that their funds will be used effectively.
Conclusion
State Democratic parties are a key part of the left’s electoral infrastructure. But a major effort is required to ensure that these institutions realize their potential across the majority of states to help win elections and drive policy change. SPAN is the leading group spearheading this important work.