Democratic governors vow to protect their states from Trump and his policies

A cadre of blue state governors is already preparing a litany of policy and legal moves to protect their states' politicians and residents from federal action under Donald Trump's new administration.

The plans of Democratic governors across the country — including a handful of potential 2028 presidential candidates — offer both a replay of how liberal state leaders pushed back against Trump during his first term and a snapshot of the administration's resistance to him left side will look like this this time.

In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday that he would call a special session of the Legislature specifically aimed at “protecting California values ​​and fundamental rights in the face of a new Trump administration.”

In a news release, he said the session will focus “on strengthening California's legal resources to protect civil rights, reproductive freedom, climate action and immigrant families.”

Newsom explained that the session, set to begin Dec. 2, will take “accelerated action” to “best protect California and its values ​​from attacks” on LGBTQ rights and women’s rights. He also said it would provide the state's Justice Department and other agencies with “additional resources” to pursue “robust litigation” against future potentially unlawful actions by the Trump administration and to defend against possible federal lawsuits the government may file.

He added that the session was the “first of several actions” by his administration and lawmakers to begin “strengthening California's defenses against a new federal government that has threatened the state on multiple fronts.”

“The freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack – and we will not stand idle. California has faced this challenge before and we know how to respond,” Newsom said in a statement. “We are prepared and will do whatever is necessary to ensure Californians have the support and resources they need to thrive.”

Newsom's office told the Associated Press that the governor is trying to make the state's laws “Trump-proof.”

Trump hit back at Newsom in a lengthy post on Truth Social on Friday, referring to him as “Governor Gavin Newscum” and saying he was “using the term 'Trump-Proof' to stop all the great things that can happen.” “done to “Make California Great Again.”

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who like Newsom is a 2028 Democrat, brought up many of the same themes during a news conference this week.

“To anyone who plans to come and deprive Illinoisans of their freedom, their opportunities and their dignity, I want to remind them that a happy warrior is still a warrior,” he said Thursday. “You come for my people, you come through me.”

Pritzker, whose nonprofit group Think Big America has spent millions of dollars on abortion rights ballot measures in four states this cycle, called Illinois “a haven for those whose rights are denied elsewhere,” including those seeking political asylum or reproductive health care To avoid persecution because of their sexual orientation or gender.

He nodded to policies his administration has enacted, including codifying abortion rights and a law requiring gender-affirming care to be covered by health insurers in Illinois.

The effort to make Illinois Trump-proof has been underway for months, if not longer, said Pritzker's chief of staff, Anne Caprara.

She said the state is exploring other legal protections for women traveling to the state to access reproductive care, including protecting transponder data and medical records from attorneys general outside the state.

The state has also worked to codify environmental regulations in case a Trump administration tries to roll back protections for clean air and water, and to ensure worker protections are maintained.

“We are literally going through Project 2025 to understand every element of what they might touch. Some of this work has been done or is underway for some time,” Caprara said.

She also said collaborative efforts with other Midwestern states are in the works.

“Governors of the Midwest who governed through Covid with Trump at the helm – things got hairy back then – we've been through this before and this time we're committed to learning those lessons and making sure that to the extent that it is “It makes sense to work best together.” Practices and how to creatively deal with the more difficult parts of it,” says Caprara. “These relationships among governors overall on the Democratic side of the ballot have been critical all along in navigating these Trump years.”

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul also announced this week an initiative dubbed the “Empire State Freedom Initiative” that aims to address “political and regulatory” threats that could arise during Trump's term.

The effort, conducted jointly with Democratic Attorney General Letitia James' office in New York, will address federal “threats” to reproductive freedom, immigration issues, civil rights, gun safety, progress on climate change, environmental justice and other issues, they said in a statement joint announcement this week.

“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 Wednesday .

She said in the statement that officials leading the effort in the state have already developed and are beginning to develop an initial analysis of “likely” legal, regulatory and tax “vulnerabilities” based on comments and policy suggestions from Trump and his team Laws and rules had begun and resources that would be used to counteract such federal measures.

Additionally, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said on MSNBC Wednesday that she will use “every tool in the toolbox” to “protect our residents” and “uphold the line of democracy and the rule of law.”

Healey, who challenged his administration over immigration policy several times during Trump's first term as the state's attorney general, said she would exercise her executive and regulatory powers and use the state legislature to combat various Trump policies.

Asked specifically about Trump's plan to carry out mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, Healey said she would “absolutely” not allow state police to assist in such an effort.

A spokesman for Trump did not immediately respond to questions about how Democratic governors are responding to his return to the White House.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, another possible 2028 candidate, pointed to a statement he released Thursday in response to Trump's victory that focused heavily on unity when asked about similar efforts are underway in the state.

“Now that this election is over, it is time to govern – to work together, compromise and get things done,” Shapiro said in that statement. “I believe there is more that unites us than divides us – and we must work together to continue to get things done for Pennsylvania.

Unlike the deep blue states of California, New York and Massachusetts, where Democrats have a triangle of power in state government, the legislature in battleground Pennsylvania is divided, which would make plans to combat Trump more difficult. Additionally, Trump has only carried the state at the presidential level.

“Let me also be clear: I will never shy away from standing up for the freedoms I was elected to protect. “I will continue to defend our democracy, defend our fundamental rights, and ensure that we continue William Penn’s legacy by building a Commonwealth that is warm and welcoming to all,” Shapiro added.

In New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy promised to take action against Trump if necessary while looking for ways to compromise.

“If it goes against our values, we will fight to the death,” Murphy said at a news conference Wednesday, mentioning issues such as immigration and reproductive rights.

“If there is an opportunity for common ground, we will seize it as quickly as anyone,” he added.