Democratic governors have taken a stand against the new Trump administration, vowing to protect their states' liberties and wage legal and political battles if the president-elect implements his controversial proposals.
California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) said the Golden State was “ready to fight” and convened a special section of the state Legislature in response to Trump's victory.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) promised, “If you will come for my people, you will come through me.”
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey (D) has vowed that her state's law enforcement agencies will not support the Trump administration's mass deportation plan.
Some of the messages are from potential 2028 candidates and are reminiscent of President Trump's first term, when key Democratic states repeatedly contested the White House. It also signals a long campaign as ambitious Democrats tout their desire to take on Trump at home and across the country.
Jesse Rhodes, a political science professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, said that with four more years of Trump in office, Democrats will “resist in every way possible and throw sand in the gears at every opportunity.” “And with the Legislature likely being controlled by Republicans, that will fall on the shoulders of Democratic governors,” he said.
Trump defeated Vice President Harris on Tuesday, sweeping swing states and expanding into blue areas while expanding his 2020 margin in some red areas. Republicans will control the Senate and are expected to gain a slim majority in the House, marking a third straight victory for Republican control in Washington.
The gubernatorial election is notable. followed the current situationboth parties remained in control of the seats that were up for grabs on Tuesday.
Democratic governors had rallied behind Harris' early bid for president.
Both Newsom and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) were mentioned as running mates, but she ended up running against another Democratic governor, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D). ) was a candidate.
Leaders in key “Blue Wall” battleground states, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D) and Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers (D), also joined Harris on the campaign trail.
Now, top leaders in blue states are preparing for the transfer of power and bracing for a backlash against Mr. Trump's second term.
During Trump's first four years in office, Democratic governors supported some of his policies.the harshest oppositionWhen discussing issues such as banning entry of travelers from Islamic countries and responding to the pandemic,Widespread protests in 2020.
“When you elect a president of one party, especially if Congress is dysfunctional or unable to pass legislation, there is a strong possibility that the states of the party that opposes that president will try to block or push back on the president's direction. They often have great capabilities,'' said Barry Rabe, a professor of public policy at the Ford School at the University of Michigan and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.
Raab said Democratic-led states, along with their attorneys general, were already becoming “key points of contention” for Republicans as President Trump touted sweeping Day-One plans on immigration, energy and foreign policy. .
“Maybe this time it will be different. But if not, Illinois will continue to be a place of stability and competent governance,” Pritzker said of Trump's victory this week.
Healey clarified on MSNBC that Massachusetts would “absolutely not” support a future Trump administration's promise to address immigration with mass deportations.
“The important thing here is that every tool in the toolbox is used to protect the people, to protect the population, to protect the country and to ensure that democracy and the rule of law are upheld as fundamental principles. 'I think so,' she said.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy (D) was also asked about the possibility of mass deportations, saying: swore at a press conference “If it goes against our values, we will fight to the death.”
“Winning the White House and the Senate and maybe the House of Representatives… it's a little bit selfish but it's true. Governors have never been more important,” Murphy said.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul (Democratic) assembled a team of experts The goal is to develop strategies to protect the state from policy threats that could emerge under the Trump administration. The task force will address reproductive rights, civil rights, immigration, gun safety, and the environment, among other areas, which are “likely to face the most threats from the Trump administration,” according to the release. are. She is affiliated with New York State Attorney General Letitia James. who filed the lawsuit He will face President Trump in 2022.
Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson (Democratic) ran for governor on Tuesday. told reporters The results make the White House feel “ready to protect” states' liberties as the White House changes hands. Ferguson will govern the only state in the country that saw a shift toward Democratic presidential candidates compared to 2020.
“We knew from our extensive experience back then. [Trump’s] If he gets selected, he's going to have to be ready from day one,” Ferguson said.
newsome california issued a declaration They called for a special legislative session to protect progressive policies and argued that the impact of Trump's inauguration on California “could be significant and immediate.”
his office told the Associated Press He and state lawmakers are ready to “counter-Trump” California law.
“The freedoms we cherish in California are under attack. We cannot stand by.” Newsom said.
President Trump fired back in a post on Truth Social, saying Newsom was “trying to kill” California and “using the word 'Trump proof' as a way to stop all the great things he could do.”
Rose predicted there will be “big battles” in the coming years due to the dynamics between Bruce's governor and the president-elect. “And I think California is likely to be ground zero for that battle.”
First, the Golden State is a liberal stronghold and a target of Republicans over issues such as crime and immigration. Another factor is the deep-seated perception among political observers that Newsom has national ambitions. She has emerged this term as a potential Biden surrogate and the party's top attack dog, alongside Harris as a possible successor to Biden.
Newsom is one of several governors speculated to be a possible 2028 candidate, along with Whitmer, Shapiro, and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (Democratic).
Strategists on both sides agreed that resisting Trump could help give the rising star governor a head start into the next cycle.
But Republican strategist Ford O'Connell has argued that governors are “trying to use Trump as a foil” to “vie for power” and that Trump's resistance is likely to lead to a lack of support for voters in 2028, when Trump is not qualified. He argued that it would not bring much benefit. To run again.
Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf warned that the next president could try to suppress states whose leaders oppose them.
“This is a dangerous game for governors to play,” he said, adding that the potential Republican trifecta “increases the likelihood of punishment.”
But it also “increases the importance of what the governor is doing,” Scheinkopf said.
Democratic Governors Association executive director Megan Meehan-Draper said in a post-election statement that Democratic governors are “the last bulwark of protection for our rights and values.”
“As Americans brace for the possibility of the same lawlessness and extremism that Donald Trump has repeatedly promised to bring to the White House, we must continue to support Democratic governors who are standing up for fundamental freedoms and democracy.” I look forward to continuing,” she said.
