The State Politics and Policy Conference (SPPC) will be in Chicago June 4 – 6, 2026. Loyola University Chicago and the University of Illinois Chicago will jointly host the conference with additional support from the University of Illinois System’s Institute for Government and Public Affairs and the University of Illinois Springfield’s Center for State Policy and Leadership. The conference will convene at Loyola’s Water Tower Campus, located at 111 E. Pearson St. near Chicago’s Magnificent Mile.

This year our theme is “State Politics at 250 Years of Independence.” The 250th anniversary of American independence offers a moment to reflect on how the states have shaped—and been shaped by—two and a half centuries of democratic development. We invite paper submissions that examine where we have been and where we are now in the study and practice of state politics, including work on institutions, representation, policy innovation, federal–state relations, political behavior, and the evolving challenges facing state governments. By looking backward to assess enduring legacies and forward to envision new paths, this conference aims to foster a scholarly dialogue about the role of the states in sustaining and advancing American democracy for the next 250 years.

The January 23 deadline has passed and the submission portal is now closed. We will contact applicants directly about their paper/poster status and registration details. Please contact the organizers at statepolitics2026@gmail.com with questions.