What is the key difference between Openstates and Openstates MCP Server?

Openstates belongs to the Developer Tools category with cloud HTTP/SSE execution, while Openstates MCP Server belongs to the Developer Tools category with local stdio execution.

How do I install Openstates or Openstates MCP Server in Claude Desktop or Cursor?

Copy the mcpServers JSON configuration snippet provided on this page into your claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json file and restart your AI client.

Are Openstates and Openstates MCP Server free or paid?

Openstates operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required). Openstates MCP Server operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required).

Which MCP server has more tools and community activity?

Openstates lists 0 tools with 0 views and 0 GitHub stars. Openstates MCP Server lists 0 tools with 0 views and 2 GitHub stars.

Can I use both Openstates and Openstates MCP Server together in the same MCP host?

Yes! MCP hosts like Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, Cline, and VS Code support configuring multiple servers under the mcpServers object simultaneously.

Side-by-Side Model Context Protocol Comparison

Openstates vs Openstates MCP Server

In-depth architectural comparison of the Openstates and Openstates MCP Server MCP servers. Compare execution transports, security boundaries, tool capabilities, quality scores, and ready-to-paste client installation snippets for Claude, Cursor, Windsurf, and VS Code.

At a Glance & Executive Verdict

Openstates

Developer Tools · Remote HTTP/SSE

Quality: 35/100 (Fair) | Auth: No auth required

Openstates MCP Server

Developer Tools · Local stdio

Quality: 37/100 (Fair) | Auth: No auth required

Verdict Summary: Choose Openstates if you need specialized Developer Tools tools running via a hosted cloud SSE transport. Choose Openstates MCP Server if your workspace requires Developer Tools integration with local subprocess execution. Both servers can be configured concurrently in your client's mcpServers manifest.

Which MCP Server Should You Choose?

Choose Openstates when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Developer Tools domain.
You prefer remote streaming HTTP/SSE transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).

Explore Openstates Details

Choose Openstates MCP Server when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Developer Tools domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).

Explore Openstates MCP Server Details

Feature & Specification Comparison

Specification	Openstates Developer Tools	Openstates MCP Server Developer Tools
Summary	OpenStates MCP — bills, legislators, votes in all 50 US states	Search bills, legislators, committees, and events across all 50 US states, DC, and Puerto Rico.
Category & Scope	Developer Tools	Developer Tools
Quality signal

Tools & Capabilities Breakdown

Openstates Tools (0)

No explicit tool names declared in metadata yet. Check project README on main listing page.

Openstates MCP Server Tools (0)

No explicit tool names declared in metadata yet. Check project README on main listing page.

Ready-to-Paste Client Configurations

Paste either (or both) of these JSON server blocks into your client config file (e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json).

Openstates Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "openstates": {
      "url": "https://pipeworx.io"
    }
  }
}

Openstates MCP Server Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "openstates-mcp-server": {
      "command": "bunx",
      "args": [
        "@cyanheads/openstates-mcp-server@latest"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Frequently Asked Questions

Openstates is categorized under Developer Tools and uses a remote streaming HTTP/SSE transport. In contrast, Openstates MCP Server belongs to Developer Tools using local stdio subprocess. Select Openstates when you need capabilities focused on developer tools and Openstates MCP Server when you require tools for developer tools.

More alternatives to Openstates More alternatives to Openstates MCP Server Developer Tools category hub