Democrats look to governors to lead them to promised land

Democrats are looking to the governors of blue states as both a line of defense against the incoming Trump administration and a promising bench for the party in 2028.

Governors are seen as leading the charge of Democratic resistance as the GOP gets ready to take control of Congress and the White House next year: California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office promised to “Trump-proof” state laws, and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has pledged to be a “warrior” against controversial policies.

And the blue-state leaders are also topping early lists of potential 2028 contenders, including names that were floated earlier this year as possible picks to join Vice President Harris on the 2024 ticket, such as Govs. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania and Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan.

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Democratic governors "won't just be the focus of progress and protection” in Trump's second term, said Democratic strategist Maria Cardona. "They will be the ones that are going to show Americans the path forward."

Democrats will effectively be “locked out of D.C.” next year, Cardona said, when President-elect Trump returns to the Oval Office and Republicans get the edge in both chambers of Congress.

That has put Democratic-led states in the spotlight as a last stand against Republican policies, with Trump pledging mass deportations and regulatory rollbacks. Governors and their state attorneys general played a key role in pushing back through political and legal battles during Trump’s first term — and several have spoken out since Election Day to stress they’re ready to take a stand against his second stint in the Oval Office.

Pritzker and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) this month launched Governors Safeguarding Democracy, a nonpartisan initiative to foster collaboration among state leaders “as the nation faces increasing threats against American democracy.” Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey (D) and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) have both staunchly said they’d drag their heels on Trump’s deportation plans.

Trump’s first term “made it clear just how important these offices are,” Pennsylvania-based Democratic strategist Mike Mikus said of governors and state attorneys general. “And what we've seen is the emergence of quite a few political stars.”

California, a liberal stronghold led by Newsom, is expected to lead the Democratic charge. After Trump’s win this month, Newsom called for a special legislative session to protect progressive policies and sounded alarm that “the freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack,” promising "we won’t sit idle” while drawing Trump’s ire on Truth Social.

“That to me, sounds a lot like a candidate that's trying to win a Democratic nomination,” Michigan-based Democratic strategist Adrian Hemond said of Newsom.

The moves by some governors to take a vocal stance against Trump in their states come as several, including Newsom, are suspected of national ambitions. And for those who may be considering a future presidential run, readying defenses against the incoming administration could help showcase their political skills and build their profile.

“That's the sort of behavior that excites partisans,” Hemond said. “The governors that strike a little bit more moderate tone are probably the least likely to be successful in a presidential primary.”

Newsom, Whitmer and Shapiro were floated as potential running mates for Harris's fast-tracked bid before the vice president settled on Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D). They became top voices for her campaign, and are now among several Democrats named in chatter about who could potentially take the party’s torch in 2028.

“That's not necessarily to say that every single one of those Democratic governors are going to jump into the 2028 wave. But it makes sense that they are kind of looking forward and looking at the possibility, because it is wide open at the moment, save for whatever Vice President Harris wants to do,” Cardona said.

Harris could try again for president in 2028, and polling hints she’s an early favorite to do so. Some in the party, though, suggest she could also run for California governor in 2026, when Newsom reaches his term limit in the Golden State.

Also among the early rumblings are figures holding other titles, such as Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg or Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.).

A new Emerson College poll found Harris as Democrats’ top pick for 2028, followed by Newsom, Buttigieg, Whitmer and Shapiro. Another recent poll from Puck News/Echelon Insights found similar results, with Harris, Newsom, Shapiro, Walz and Buttigieg in the top five.

"Governors have a few advantages in terms of scaling up for a national campaign. They don't have to take bad votes as part of a legislative body and by definition they are outside of D.C. actors,” said Democratic strategist Joel Payne.

"And when you look at where Democrats are politically, it's no surprise that many of the rumored candidates to lead the party going forward are governors,” Payne said.

Several high-profile governors — such as Shapiro, Whitmer and Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) — won their seats in presidential battleground states. And once candidates are in the executive office, it acts as what Cardona called "a sort of training ground for the presidency.”

Another Democratic strategist said it would be smart for the party to give governors “a good look” after losses in two of the last three presidential elections suggest “the bench we’ve had isn’t really working.”

"I think governors offer a fresh approach to the party and they're not so insulated. They're in their states talking to real folks because they have to,” the strategist said.

Still, some are skeptical that even a high-profile Democratic governor would ultimately get the 2028 nod.

Hemond noted that some of these governors may be the subject of 2028 whispers just because they’re the ones in office as the party starts to soul-search after the election 1 and “a lot can change over the course of the next four years.”

Democratic strategist Jamal Simmons said the party has “good Democratic governors," pointing to former President Clinton, who served as the governor of Arkansas. "They have executive experience. They're not D.C. insiders. So on paper, it makes a lot of sense to have people like Gretchen Whitmer, Gavin Newsom and [Maryland Gov.] Wes Moore on the list. But that's just not how Democratic primaries have worked.”

Clinton was the most recent Democrat to jump from a governor’s mansion into the White House. Since then, “senators have been the flavor of the time,” Simmons said.

Still, Simmons countered, "everything is up for grabs right now. This is not an era of normalcy."

The 2028 election is years away, but Democrats are already taking stock of their potential contenders as they assess the 2024 damage and ready for Trump to take office — and as Republicans look to build on this year’s wins in the coming elections.

State-level figures will also be important in helping Democrats regroup after this cycle saw Trump make inroads against Harris in blue states, narrowing the margins he saw against Biden four years earlier.

“I think some of how these governors position themselves in the first 18 months of the Trump administration is going to tell us a lot,” Hemond said.

Amie Parnes contributed reporting.

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