Democrat governors spotlight they’re the ‘last line of defense’ against Trump

As the nation’s Democratic governors gather for their annual winter meeting, they assert that they are the “best path forward” for a party now out of power in Washington, D.C., and the “last line of defense” as President-elect Trump prepares to return to the White House.

After losing the White House, Senate majority, and failing to flip the House in last month’s elections, Democrats are regrouping and looking to their governors for leadership. With 23 out of 50 governors’ offices held by Democrats, the Democratic Governors Association (DGA) emphasizes that their governors represent more than half of the U.S. population, including key battleground states like Arizona, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

DGA executive director Meghan Meehan-Draper underscores the importance of Democratic governors, stating that they continue to win by earning the trust of voters and addressing their everyday challenges. She points out that with Republicans in control of the federal government, the stakes are higher for the upcoming 38 gubernatorial elections in 2025 and 2026, including efforts to flip Virginia and retain New Jersey in 2025.

Democratic governors have played a pivotal role in pushing back against the Trump administration through political and legal battles. California Governor Gavin Newsom and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker have already begun to “Trump-proof” their states, with Pritzker and Colorado Governor Jared Polis launching Governors Safeguarding Democracy to resist the incoming administration.

Democratic strategist Maria Cardona views the party’s governors as a beacon of progress and protection in the face of Trump’s return to power. She anticipates that Democratic governors will show Americans the path forward in the coming years.

The Democratic governors mentioned, including Newsom, Pritzker, Polis, Whitmer, Shapiro, Moore, and Beshear, are seen as potential contenders for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination. Their leadership at the state level positions them as early high-profile candidates for the next presidential election.

This article was written by Paul Steinhauser, a politics reporter based in New Hampshire, and highlights the significance of Democratic governors in shaping the future of the party and the nation.