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Blueprint Theft: How the Left is Copying SPN’s State Strategy

Written by John Connors | Aug 5, 2025 6:02:46 PM

Democrats are adopting conservative strategies to build state-level infrastructure for sustained policy influence, local leadership, and strategic discipline.

Campaign Now · CN Blog Episode - 55 Blueprint Theft How the Left is Copying SPN’s State Strategy

What to Know: 

  • The States Forum is a $4 million initiative focused on building permanent Democratic infrastructure at the state level.
  • Inspired by the conservative State Policy Network (SPN), it emphasizes coordinated messaging, policy development, and legislative training.
  • SPN’s long-term strategy helped Republicans pass conservative laws across red states and influence national politics through local action.
  • The Forum was launched in July in Philadelphia as a response to Democratic underinvestment in state-level work.
  • Its core values include representative democracy, effective government, fair markets, and personal freedom.

To regain influence in the Trump era, the Democratic Party must focus on state-level efforts rather than national headlines or viral tweets. That’s the thesis behind States Forum, a newly launched initiative aiming to do for Democrats what the State Policy Network (SPN) has done for conservatives over the last 30 years: win the long game.

Screenshot of About page on States Forum website

Founded by States Project veterans Adam Pritzker and Daniel Squadron, the progressive organization is investing $4 million in a much-needed initiative: establishing lasting state-level infrastructure that extends beyond individual campaign cycles. The question is whether they can match SPN’s strategic discipline, decentralized network model, and deep-pocketed donor pipeline.

How SPN Quietly Took Over the States

Founded with seed influence from Heritage Foundation leader Ed Feulner, who passed away earlier this year, the State Policy Network is one of the most quietly effective political operations in America. It began as a federation of under-the-radar state think tanks pushing model legislation. It has become a policy powerhouse, crafting conservative legislation concerning school choice, tax cuts, and deregulation, and subsequently promoting its simultaneous adoption across numerous red states.

SPN redefined how political identity is formed and exercised at the state level. By combining the credibility of local organizations with the resources of national donors, it enabled Republicans to govern with a consistent ideological framework across diverse regions. The question now facing Democrats is whether they can develop a comparable model without being derailed by internal disagreements and competing priorities.

Inside the States Forum’s Plan to Counter the Right

Unveiled in July at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, the States Forum is equal parts conference circuit, think tank incubator, and messaging workshop. The founding message was simple: The federal party is broken. Policy and the fight for democracy are won at the state level.

Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania framed it clearly: “The states are no longer just our laboratories. Now, they are the bulwarks of democracy.” In the shadow of Trump’s second-term agenda, the States Forum seeks to make state capitals the new front lines of resistance.

As the New York Times reported, the Forum also serves as a proving ground for Democratic leaders who may one day step onto the national stage but who are being trained to focus on governing first. Rather than chasing headlines, participants are encouraged to build durable policy legacies and develop networks of influence within and across their states.

In short, the States Forum is trying to build what Republicans already have: a deep bench of ideologically aligned leaders equipped with shared messaging, data-tested policies, and long-term strategic focus. Whether Democrats can stick to that playbook remains to be seen.

The Values Behind the Strategy

The Forum’s framework is built on four foundational principles:

  • Representative Democracy: Strengthening institutions that reflect the will of the people and ensuring voting rights and access.
  • Effective Government: Promoting public systems that are functional, transparent, and responsive to community needs.
  • Fair Markets: Supporting economic structures that reward hard work, curb monopolies, and protect consumers and workers.
  • Personal Freedom: Defending individual rights, civil liberties, and the ability of people to make decisions about their own lives.

Image generated by DALL-E

These pillars are part of a larger effort to move beyond fragmented messaging and define a cohesive Democratic identity. Forum organizers believe Democrats are not losing support because of their ideas, but because those ideas are poorly communicated. As part of the event, participants developed values-based slogans to better frame their policies, highlighting the need for a consistent, resonant message rooted in these shared principles.

Why State Infrastructure Matters More Than Ever

The States Forum was created to address a long-standing gap in political infrastructure. For years, Democrats have prioritized federal races, often raising large sums for presidential and Senate campaigns. At the same time, state legislatures have received far less funding and strategic focus. This imbalance has contributed to key losses in both 2010 and 2024, when control of state governments played a major role in shaping national outcomes.

Republicans, by contrast, have consistently invested in long-term state-level strategies. Through organizations like the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and the State Policy Network (SPN), they have developed model legislation and built relationships with local lawmakers. These efforts have allowed them to influence education policy, tax codes, and voting laws across a wide range of states.

The States Forum aims to change how Democrats approach this landscape. Rather than spending tens of millions on a single Senate race with uncertain results, the Forum promotes the idea of distributing that funding across multiple state policy initiatives. The goal is to create lasting change through targeted investments in state-level leadership, legislation, and communications. Supporters see this approach as a more sustainable and scalable way to build political power.

Can It Work? Lessons from the SPN Era

For Democrats to replicate the success of the State Policy Network, they will need to commit to a long-term strategy that prioritizes ideological clarity and local adaptability. This means investing in state-based think tanks, empowering down-ballot leaders, and resisting the tendency to turn every promising state official into a national figure. The focus must remain on building durable infrastructure that serves local needs while contributing to a broader policy vision.

Image generated by DALL-E

The SPN succeeded because it stayed disciplined. It offered shared policy frameworks but trusted local organizations to tailor them to their communities. It emphasized consistent messaging and long-term planning, even as national politics evolved. The States Forum has the potential to follow a similar path. 

With complementary efforts like States for the Future gaining ground, there is growing momentum behind a more localized, coordinated approach to governance. The challenge will be maintaining focus, funding, and follow-through over time.

Intraparty Disputes, Funding Fatigue, and National Noise

The biggest challenge facing the States Forum is not external opposition but internal fragmentation. At the Philadelphia gathering, tensions within the Democratic coalition were evident. Younger lawmakers expressed concern about the party’s failure to connect with working-class men and first-time voters. Some participants criticized the overemphasis on identity-based messaging and called for a stronger focus on economic issues. Others pointed to the need for better digital tools to compete with right-wing media networks.

Funding is another critical hurdle. The State Policy Network was built through consistent investment during off-election years, allowing it to grow quietly but effectively. For the States Forum to succeed, Democratic donors will need to shift their focus away from high-profile federal campaigns and toward building sustainable infrastructure. That means supporting institutions and long-term strategy, not just individual candidates or election-year efforts.

Wrap Up

The States Forum represents a strategic shift in how Democrats approach political power. Rather than relying solely on national campaigns, the initiative focuses on building long-term infrastructure at the state level. This approach draws from the success of organizations like the State Policy Network, which demonstrated that consistent investment in local policy development and coordination can shape political outcomes across the country.

Although still in the early stages, the Forum is structured to promote policy alignment, support state-based think tanks, and strengthen legislative capacity outside of Washington. Its success will depend on whether Democratic leaders and donors can maintain focus on this long-term effort. If implemented effectively, this strategy has the potential to reshape the party’s influence at the state level and create more durable pathways to national impact.