Staff ReportsIn a captivating political twist, Democratic governors are rallying together in a bold move to safeguard their territories from the expected policies of a Donald Trump presidency. This coalition, cheekily dubbed “Governors Safeguarding Democracy,” has no qualms about declaring their intention to oppose whatever comes from Trump’s second administration, which hasn’t even officially begun yet. While they proclaim their alliance is nonpartisan, it seems to many that they are simply gearing up for a political battle before the first whistle has even sounded.
The urgency of this newly formed alliance raises eyebrows, especially since the presidents have yet to be sworn in. For instance, in states like Illinois and Colorado, a significant percentage of voters—44% and 43%, respectively—cast their ballots for Trump. Yet, their governors, like J.B. Pritzker of Illinois and Jared Polis of Colorado, are busy whipping up a playbook to potentially undermine the foundations laid by the incoming administration. It feels like a classic case of a preemptive strike instead of waiting to see what the actual plans of the Trump administration entail.
Additionally, the two governors haven’t garnered much support from their Republican counterparts, who seem to be sitting this one out. It raises an interesting point: if their mission is truly nonpartisan, shouldn’t they be finding common ground with all governors? The lack of enthusiasm from GOP leaders suggests that many see this resistance as more noise than an actionable strategy.
Amidst the fierce resistance, some might argue that these governors would be better served focusing on the day-to-day issues plaguing their states. From skyrocketing crime rates in cities like Chicago to the housing crisis leading to homelessness, one could question whether this newfound urgency to oppose Trump is more about political posturing than actually addressing the pressing needs of their constituents. The challenges facing these states are formidable, and it would be more refreshing to see their leaders rallying resources to tackle them instead of firing off press releases against the man who has yet to take office.
The irony doesn’t stop here. Governor Polis made statements about cooperating with the Trump administration for the welfare of Colorado, raising eyebrows about the inconsistency in messaging among his peers. If the goal is the betterment of their states, one has to wonder why opposing Trump is on the front burner when many cities under their leadership face significant challenges that are right in their wheelhouse to combat.
In summation, while it’s clear that Democratic governors want to maintain relevancy and rally their bases, the timing of launching a resistance group against a yet-to-be-inaugurated president raises questions. Instead of preparing to battle Trump’s policies that haven’t even been announced, one could argue that they should be returning the focus to their state’s issues, protecting their constituents from immediate problems rather than the hypothetical policies of the future.
