“We will fight to the death”: Democratic governors plan war against Trump

Democratic governors across the country are preparing to challenge President-elect Donald Trump's second-term agenda. One of them promises a fight “to the death.”

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy told reporters Wednesday that his team recently held a meeting to “play out” the prospect of a second Trump presidency.

New Jersey is “willing to try anything if it contradicts our values,” Murphy said when asked what the state would do to counter Trump's sweeping proposals for a second term, including mass deportations.

“If it goes against our values, we will fight to the death,” he said. “If there is an opportunity for common ground, we will seize it as quickly as anyone else.”

Those comments came after Trump triumphed over Vice President Kamala Harris on Nov. 5 to win a second term in the White House. Harris urged her supporters to keep fighting for democracy in a concession speech Wednesday afternoon in which the word “fight” was mentioned nearly 20 times.

Trump said the election results gave Republicans an “unprecedented and powerful mandate.” And with Republicans gaining control of the Senate and potentially retaining control of the House, Trump is likely to face little opposition in Congress to his second-term agenda, which includes tougher immigration policies and rolling back protections for LGBTQ+ citizens.

Across the country, several Democratic leaders have spoken about their preparations to protect their states' values ​​during Trump's second term.

Newsweek has emailed Democratic governors and Trump's team seeking comment.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday called on lawmakers to call a special session to bolster the state's legal resources to protect civil rights, reproductive freedom, climate action and immigrant families.

“The freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack — and we will not stand idle,” Newsom said in a statement. “California has faced this challenge before, and we know how to respond.”

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, who filed dozens of lawsuits against Trump during his first term as the state's attorney general, said she expects lawsuits will be filed if Trump moves forward with his plans for mass deportations.

“There is a lot of pressure on states and state officials and I can assure you that we will work really hard to make this happen. I'm sure we're going to face litigation,” she said on MSNBC.

“Every tool at our disposal must be used to protect our citizens, our residents and our states, and certainly to uphold the line of democracy.”

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, who was just elected governor of the state, told reporters on Thursday that his team had been preparing for the past year for the possibility of a Trump victory.

He said he spoke with other Democratic attorneys general across the country and named his successor, Attorney General-elect Nick Brown, as special assistant attorney general so he could be briefed on legal strategies before he takes office.

Ferguson said he didn't want to provide specific details about what actions might be taken, but he was particularly concerned about the new Trump administration restricting access to abortion and birth control, eliminating the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program or weakens and removes protections for children and LGBTQ+ residents.

He pointed to successful legal battles his office waged during Trump's first term, including a challenge to Trump's travel ban from several predominantly Muslim countries.

Litigation is “an important tool to challenge federal actions that we believe are illegal or unconstitutional and to hold the government accountable to the rules,” Ferguson said, adding that his team approved 55 policies and actions during Trump's first term rejected.

Across New York County, Gov. Kathy Hochul has convened a task force called the Empire State Freedom Initiative to “develop strategies to protect New Yorkers from a variety of political and regulatory threats that may emerge under President-elect Trump.”

She will focus on key areas “where New York State and New Yorkers are most likely to face threats, including reproductive rights, civil rights, immigration, gun safety and the environment, among others,” her office said in a press release.

“I am committed to working with everyone on policies that make our state stronger, safer and more livable — but my administration will also stand ready to protect New Yorkers’ fundamental freedoms from potential threats,” Hochul said in a statement.