Beverly Hills, California -Democrats, who are about to be out of power in Washington because the Republicans have taken control of them all three branches Heading into January, see state capitals run by Democratic governors as the clearest avenue of resistance to President-elect Donald Trump’s second term.
The 16 governors and three governors-elect who gathered for their annual convention in Los Angeles later this month welcomed the boxes of compromise they could cobble together. trump White Area, however, they are already planning which battles to pick and considering how they will go out.
Most of the governors at the conference were elected during the blue tide in 2018 and have experience working specifically with Trump white areas. COVID-19 pandemic.
“We were able to find ways,” said Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, who was once governor and served as chair of the Democratic Governors Association. “We’ve taken a really positive approach to it, and this time, I think we’ll end up doing the same, because really, we don’t know what’s going to happen. So, as it comes to us, we’ll take it.” Will evaluate.”
Politically, the Democratic governor is also poised to fill a leadership void within the party in the coming years. Some potential 2028 presidential contenders are already taking action.
In early December, California Governor Gavin Newsom introduced a specific advisory to strengthen funding for criminal defense to “protect California’s values” and potential federal movements on abortion, immigration, and immigration. Just an hour after the election, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker partnered with Colorado Governor Jared Polis to launch the “Governors Safeguarding Democracy” team, which aims to create a “toolbox” of policies and responses to Trump’s presidency. There is an imaginary tank for.
“The states will be the front line of defense on what’s happening in Washington right now,” said Democratic strategist Corey Platt, who was the DGA’s political director from 2013 to 2018. There’s always anger at D.C., and yet, the states have to work every day.”
Getty Pictures: Beshear (Image via John Nación/Getty Pictures); Lujan Grisham (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Names, Inc); Kelly (Emily Curiel/The Kansas Town Big Name/Tribune Information Carrier)
Wrong “correct answer” for 2024 debacle.
However, what these governors had in mind was the party’s popular defeat in the 2024 elections. North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein’s victory in the governor’s race was an electoral highlight for Democrats in the battleground state, where Vice President Kamala Harris lost by three points.
He said he “doesn’t have an exact answer” as to why he received it (even if it was his). scam-plagued GOP opponent helped give her bonuses) and Harris lost. Stein attributed the “difficult national climate”, although he said his position consistently divided his price tag: in seven of the nine presidential elections, North Carolina voted for Republicans for president and Democrats for governor. Is.
“People were certainly economically concerned because they were seeing and feeling prices rising,” he said. “Normally, when you’re unhappy, you blame the party that controls the White House. Even if it’s not their fault on a national level.”
Incumbent Jersey and Virginia, likely options for Democrats, will hold off-year gubernatorial elections in 2025. The 2026 map is much larger, with 36 states electing governors. Some of those states, like Georgia, Nevada and untouched Hampshire, could be targeted pickups for the festival. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear may take over as DGA president in 2026.
“Elevating as many people as possible who are running on these common sense, common ground areas that people care about most will also create critical mass for people to say that the Democratic Party is working,” Beshear said. It’s for the people.” Unusual Democratic governor who wins in Republican circumstances.
Platt, a former DGA political director, affirmed that the 2026 gubernatorial race could help “find a good surrogate for Democratic policy and Democratic ideas that has empathy, that people can understand.” He said at that moment a huge group of governors are going to be involved “in that conversation” because the party is recalibrating, it won’t just be them.
“We need leaders who can talk to real people,” he said. “It doesn’t happen because of a survey. It doesn’t happen because of a strategy. It’s real and authentic, and I’m excited to see how that happens.”
Courtney Alexander, communications director for the Republican Governors Association, opposes potential efforts by Democratic governors to counter the incoming Trump administration.
“The fact is that Americans overwhelmingly rejected the Democratic Party’s agenda just a month ago, and yet Democrats believe that running against an agenda of lower costs, more security, and more freedom is their The message is triumphant, it shows they are completely out of touch with the country,” Alexander told CBS News.
Trump’s mass deportation plan
Some governors are preparing ground to counter Trump’s plans mass deportation of undocumented immigrants.
Trump said in an interview with NBC Information,meet the Press“Deporting those undocumented immigrants who are convicted felons has the first priority in their cumulative deportation plan, however, alternative, nonviolent undocumented immigrants may also be subject to removal.
Trump said, “I think you have to do it, and it’s hard – it’s a very hard thing to do. But you have to, you know, you have rules, regulations, laws. They came in illegally Are.”
Incumbent Mexican Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said the moment she would accept federal aid to help find and deport undocumented immigrants who are convicted criminals, there would be “zero way” she would cooperate in a massive mass deportation plan. Will do.
She increased her oversight over the state police force, said she would not grant licenses for physical detention, and said that providing personal information about undocumented citizens to the government would endanger transgender citizens or girls who live under abortion restrictions. Travel from the states.
Lujan Grisham said of Trump and his mass deportation plan, “I have no doubt that he will do everything possible.” “He’s going to have a hard time doing that. But I’m not even worried about Pollyanna being so serious… I listen to her, that’s why I know what I need to do and will do. And Let’s see if my strategy works as well as I think it will across the country.”
Kelly said she would not allow Kansas National Shield to “do that type of service” and said that is not the procedure for Kansas State Police either.
“There’s no doubt, if there are things that they push us to do that we feel are wrong or illegal, we will draw the line,” Kelly said.
Stein, who will take over as governor of North Carolina in January, said that in his position mass deportations of all undocumented immigrants would “create real economic challenges,” but he is skeptical about how to enforce mass deportations. Can be done.
“(Trump) is a master of saying something and making a lot of noise, and then the reality may be different. I’ll wait to see what he ultimately proposes,” Stein said.