To help voters cut through online falsehoods and political spin during the upcoming 2026 midterm elections, the Pulitzer Prize-winning fact-checking organization PolitiFact has unveiled its most ambitious collaborative network yet. By teaming up with prominent local news outlets across key battleground states, the organization aims to bring rigorous accountability to high-stakes campaigns.
Established in 2007 by the St. Petersburg Times (now the Tampa Bay Times) and managed by the Poynter Institute since 2018, PolitiFact stands as the nation’s premier political fact-checking institution. For this election cycle, its team will collaborate directly with regional journalists to apply its trademark Truth-O-Meter ratings to pivotal Senate and gubernatorial contests.
- Maine: Teaming up with WMTW, PolitiFact is focusing on the Senate showdown where longtime Republican incumbent Susan Collins faces a challenge from Democratic former state Senate President Troy Jackson.
- Massachusetts: Partnering with Boston’s WCVB, the organization is tracking both the gubernatorial race and the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate, which features incumbent Ed Markey squaring off against Seth Moulton.
- New Hampshire: Alongside WMUR, PolitiFact is tracking the race for the open Senate seat left by retiring Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen. The competitive primary features former Republican Sens. John E. Sununu and Scott Brown alongside Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas.
- Ohio: Teaming up with Cincinnati’s WLWT, coverage centers on the gubernatorial race between Republican Vivek Ramaswamy and Democrat Amy Acton, as well as the Senate contest pitting Democrat Sherrod Brown against incumbent Republican Sen. John Husted.
- Iowa: Collaborating with KCCI in Des Moines alongside the Daily Iowan student newspaper and the University of Iowa School of Journalism and Mass Communication, to scrutinize major state races.
- Florida: A broad coalition including NBC Miami, Telemundo stations in Tampa, Orlando, and Miami, WLRN in South Florida, and the Tampa Bay Times is working with PolitiFact. Key races include the open governor’s seat vacated by Ron DeSantis and a high-profile U.S. Senate special election where appointed Republican incumbent Ashley Moody seeks a full term against Democratic challengers.
- Texas: Partnering with The Dallas Morning News, the Austin American-Statesman, and the Houston Chronicle to cover the Senate battle between Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico.
- North Carolina: Raleigh’s WRAL is collaborating to monitor the race for the open Senate seat being vacated by Republican Thom Tillis, featuring a matchup between former RNC chair Michael Whatley and former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.
- New York: Working alongside the Buffalo News, PolitiFact is following Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul’s bid for a second term as she faces Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman.
These alliances—some newly forged and others built over years of cooperation—will allow PolitiFact’s regional partners to reach nearly 40 million people across roughly 15 million television households, according to Nielsen data.
“Our mission has never been more vital as voters face an onslaught of viral misinformation and AI-generated content,” noted Aaron Sharockman, PolitiFact’s Executive Director. “By embedding our fact-checking expertise into local newsrooms, we ensure that voters have access to verified, nonpartisan information right where they live.”
In addition to these states, PolitiFact is maintaining steady coverage of Senate contests in Michigan and Georgia. News organizations in those regions interested in joining the partnership network are encouraged to contact Aaron Sharockman at asharockman@poynter.org or Editor-in-Chief Katie Sanders at ksanders@poynter.org.
Ever since earning a Pulitzer Prize in 2009 for its groundbreaking coverage of the 2008 elections, PolitiFact has remained a cornerstone of transparent, evidence-based journalism.
To explore the latest fact-checks, head over to PolitiFact.com/2026-midterms.
Media organizations interested in future collaborations can reach out directly to Sharockman or Sanders.
Media Contact
Katie Sanders, ksanders@poynter.org
Editor-in-Chief, PolitiFact
About PolitiFact
Established in 2007 and operated by the Poynter Institute, PolitiFact is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom dedicated to verifying claims made by politicians, public figures, and viral digital sources. By analyzing statements and supplying reliable, source-backed context, the organization helps audiences distinguish truth from fiction. PolitiFact was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting in 2009.