PolitiFact launches 2024 swing district project, bringing fact-checking to key U.S. Senate races

PolitiFact today is launching a new program to bring local fact-checking to seven pivotal U.S. Senate races. PolitiFact will fact-check the major party candidates for the U.S. Senate in Arizona, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

The seats are all currently held by senators caucusing with Democrats. And the Democrats may need to win all of them if they hope to retain control of the Senate. 

Democrats today hold a slim 51-49 governing majority. They are expected to lose a seat in West Virginia, where independent Sen. Joe Manchin is not running for reelection. If the Senate winds up split 50-50, the sitting vice president would cast a tie-breaking vote.

"Voters across the country have come to rely on PolitiFact’s easy-to-follow style of sorting out fact from fiction," PolitiFact Executive Director Aaron Sharockman said. "These state races are sure to see a ton of outside money, negative attacks and questionable claims. Yet the candidates, campaigns and outside groups often go without any scrutiny. Not anymore.

"We’re excited to bring the Truth-O-Meter to these key races to help voters." 

As part of its expansion, PolitiFact is also partnering with media outlets in each state to reach as many voters as it can ahead of Election Day. PolitiFact is making its work free for media organizations within each battleground state.

PolitiFact is teaming with Scripps to be the exclusive local television home of our fact-checks in five states — Arizona, Michigan, Montana, Nevada and Ohio. Voters can see PolitiFact’s work on stations across each state.

• KNXV Phoenix.

• KGUN Tucson, Arizona.

• WXMI Grand Rapids, Michigan.

• WSYM Lansing, Michigan.

• WXYZ Detroit, Michigan.

• KTVQ Billings, Montana.

• KXLF/KBZK Butte-Bozeman, Montana.

• KTVH Helena, Montana.

• KRTV Great Falls, Montana.

• KTGF Great Falls, Montana.

• KPAX/KAJ Missoula, Montana.

• KTNV Las Vegas.

• WCPO Cincinnati.

• WEWS Cleveland.

In Montana, where incumbent Democrat Sen. Jon Tester faces a difficult reelection in a Republican state, PolitiFact has also partnered with Lee Enterprises Inc., which runs newspapers in Billings, Helena, Missoula, Butte and Hamilton, along with Yellowstone Public Radio.

"The U.S. Senate race in Montana is one of the most consequential of the 2024 election season: How we vote between Democratic incumbent Sen. Jon Tester and Republican challenger Tim Sheehy could very well determine control of Congress. And both sides know it, and they're campaigning like it," said Steve Kiggins, Montana editor for Lee Enterprises. "We're delighted to partner with PolitiFact to further separate fact from fiction and clear out misinformation to ensure Montanans have the truth on their side when they cast their ballots in November." 

Other publishing partners include:

• Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, our longtime PolitiFact Wisconsin partner.

• WKAR Public Media East, Lansing, Michigan.

• Detroit Free Press, Detroit.

• WOSU Public Media, Columbus, Ohio.

• Resolve Philly, Philadelphia.

"WOSU is pleased to partner with PolitiFact during this important campaign season," said Mark Ferenchik, news director of WOSU 89.7 NPR News.

In each state, PolitiFact’s local partners will be asking their readers, viewers and listeners to suggest claims to fact-check. PolitiFact reporters will also monitor campaign ads, candidate speeches and debates. PolitiFact will then fact-check those claims using its thorough vetting process, which includes using only on-the-record sources and publishing of complete source lists. Finished reports will be available both through local news outlets and PolitiFact.com.

This new expansion builds on a network of partnerships and collaborations for PolitiFact. PolitiFact already has publishing partnerships with KFF Health News, The 19th News, PBS News Hour, ABC News, The Dallas Morning News, the Austin American-Statesman, The Buffalo News, WRAL, Florida’s Telemundo affiliates, WLRN and the Tampa Bay Times, among others.

"PolitiFact, since its first days in 2007, has always been free and accessible to anyone because we think its a vital public service," PolitiFact Editor-in-Chief Katie Sanders said. "We’re excited to be able to expand our reach with such an impressive group of publishers that are making a vital impact in local communities."

News outlets interested in running PolitiFact content in Arizona, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin should email [email protected].

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