The Center for American Progress constantly strives to find meaningful solutions and pathways to promote progressive policy advancement at the state and local level. Our work focuses on locally driven solutions as well as the vast policy and communications expertise in the organization. We hope this research and data can help facilitate thoughtful debate among state and local leaders so that we can bring about progressive change in an ever-changing political landscape.
Women—particularly women of color—continue to make noteworthy gains at all levels of government, but bold policies and structural changes are still needed to reach gender parity in U.S. politics.
The diversity and complexity of rural voters were on display in the 2020 election, particularly in states such as Georgia and Arizona.
This report provides a road map for state and local policymakers working to create or strengthen prevailing wage laws, explains core features of prevailing wage legislation, and lifts up existing best practices from around the county.
States and cities can set minimum compensation standards for private sector employees that reference prevailing wage and benefit rates.
Even in the absence of congressional action, states can use TANF funds to support their residents who are struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A modernized Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) would be a useful tool to effectively address climate resilience and environmental racism in low-income communities of color.
The pandemic has strained small, independent providers in areas already suffering from care shortages.
Communities across the country have passed state and local ballot measures to increase public funding for early childhood services, demonstrating a path forward for federal action in 2021.
The November 3 results for Proposition 16 underscore the need for a clear message, adequate time and resources, and voter persuasion.
Progressive criminal justice policies fared well at the ballot box, with voters across the country approving critical reforms.
Policymakers may have concerns that comprehensive police reform would increase violent crime, but evidence from 10 jurisdictions runs counter to such a relationship.
A statewide survey of Colorado child care providers shows unsustainable business conditions and bolsters the need for federal child care relief.
Candidates from states with existing climate commitments won in the 2020 election and will bring lessons from this state-level climate action to Washington.
Low-income residents in nonexpansion states face limited options for health coverage.
State and local elected officials are the key to ensuring that significant reforms are made to the criminal justice system.
