States of Our Union is a series of photojournalism presented in collaboration between The Nation, Magnum Photos, and the Economic Hardship Reporting Project.

Equally controversial and consequential, the U.S. election is a process that involves millions of citizens and affects even more people around the world. What common stakes contribute to the electoral outcome of an entire nation? Going beyond the traditional six swing states, the project focuses on six unexpected areas, delving into issues that shape the history and future of every state, every elector, and every citizen in the nation.  

Magnum photographers Cristina De Middel, Susan Meiselas, Alex Webb, Larry Towell, Jérôme Sessini and Jim Goldberg teamed up with The Nation, the Economic Hardship Reporting Project and Magnum Photos, along with independent and staff editors to design and guide this editorial publication that calls for dialogue and reflection on the core issues of the 2024 US election: immigration, health, the economy, housing, gun policy, race, the environment and foreign policy.

Jérôme Sessini documents the local tensions in Springfield, Ohio, marked by the closure of major factories and the loss of industrial jobs. Once a thriving manufacturing center, the city now faces high unemployment and growing poverty, with its population falling from over 80,000 to 50,000. This includes 20,000 Haitians who began arriving in Springfield around 2018, attracted by job opportunities and affordable housing. The industrial decline has exacerbated local tensions, especially after Donald Trump and J.D. Vance spread rumors about their cultural practices, further fueling distrust and weakening Springfield’s social cohesion.

Critina de Middel documents the impact of Florida’s recent abortion restrictions on women seeking to abort. Structured as a road trip through a land of horrors and wonders, de Middel’s visual documentation, supplemented by interviews, painted an eccentric yet informative portrait of one of the nation’s most distinctive states. The upcoming November 4 referendum on abortion, just weeks before the presidential election, underscores the high stakes and contentious nature of this issue in Florida’s cultural and political landscape.

Susan Meiselas documents union workers in Rochester, focusing on the century-old Hickey-Freeman high-end clothing factory, which was recently sold and turned into a retirement community. While clothing production has moved to Mexico, production in Rochester will continue under a new management that has agreed to keep the factory’s 200 workers and add 45 more jobs over the next five years. The story highlights the struggles of high-skilled workers in the midst of the industry’s transformation. 

Alex Webb documents ethnic diversity in Detroit, the largest U.S. city on the Canadian border, also the second busiest international entry point in the country. Michigan has moved back and forth between political parties. 

Larry Towell documents Georgia’s American Indians, who consider themselves an independent nation and rarely vote. Tracing the memory of the Trail of Tears in northern Georgia, Towell met with elders to record their stories and bring them into the current political and social discourse at a time when the voice of those underrepresented and connected to the land seems crucial to sparking dialogue. 

Jim Goldberg documents the struggles behind questions of identity, values, and unity in the Arkansas Delta region, offering a nuanced portrait of a diverse cross-section of American society. By exploring the complexities of small-town life and the historical forces that shaped it, he examined the diverse perspectives and experiences that contribute to the fabric of American identity, past and present.