The states reported as not participating in the Great American State Fair include Oregon, North Carolina, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina’s state government-backed pavilion was replaced by private funding , with reports also saying at least six states total are sitting out.

What the reporting says

  • CNN reported that at least six states were bowing out of the event.
  • NBC said several states, including at least six governed by Democrats, opted out over financial concerns and worries about partisanship.
  • Connecticut’s governor said the state would not participate.
  • Pennsylvania’s governor said the state would not take part in the celebrations, and later coverage focused on a booth arranged without the governor’s direct participation.
  • North Carolina announced it would not participate , though private groups later funded a booth for the state.

Why they skipped

The main reasons cited were cost , concerns that the fair was becoming too partisan , and questions about how the event was being framed.

One caveat

The reporting I found does not provide a complete, officially confirmed full list of every non-participating state in one place, so the safest answer is that these are the states specifically named in coverage, while the total is described as at least six.