Resistance to Trump admin: Democratic governors pledge to fight White House policies next year

Democratic governors have already announced their plans to resist the second Trump administration’s policies after the president-elect is sworn into the White House next year.

The governors of California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York, and the governor-elect of Washington have all pledged to fight against the Republican administration’s policies ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration in January.

Trump’s policies are laid out in his platform, which range from securing the border and deporting illegal immigrants to making the U.S. the world’s top energy producer and cutting climate change policies.

While some Democratic governors have raised concerns regarding some of these policies, they have also said there will be pushback on issues that are not listed in the platform, such as abortion.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday called for a special legislative session, following Trump’s presidential election victory. The session “will focus on bolstering California legal resources to protect civil rights, reproductive freedom, climate action, and immigrant families,” according to the governor’s office.

“The freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack — and we won’t sit idle,” Newsom said in a statement. “California has faced this challenge before, and we know how to respond. We are prepared, and we will do everything necessary to ensure Californians have the support and resources they need to thrive.”

Newsom’s proclamation for the special session states, “lawyers from the Attorney General's Office and my office have been preparing for a potential second Trump term for more than a year, and we are marshaling the arguments and evidence needed to be ready to challenge in court unconstitutional and unlawful federal policies, and to mount robust and vigorous defenses of California's laws, policies and programs, on issues critical to Californians.”

Meanwhile, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said Thursday that he would work to protect his state’s policies following the outcome of the presidential election.

"People have often said that I’m a happy warrior, and I’ve always taken seriously my role as a happy warrior on behalf of this state," Pritzker said during a news conference. "Even today, when I’m struggling with many of the difficult questions this election poses, my optimism for the future remains undiminished."

"To anyone who intends to come take away the freedom and opportunity and dignity of Illinoisans: I would remind you that a happy warrior is still a warrior," he added. "You come for my people, you come through me."

"Over the years ahead, we'll do more than just protect against possible reversion to an agenda that threatens to take us backwards," Pritzker said. "We will continue to advance a positive, productive and inclusive agenda of our own."

"Despite his threats to health care coverage and educational opportunity and a fair minimum wage, Illinois will continue to invest in the well-being and prosperity of all our people," the governor said of Trump.

Washington Governor-elect Bob Ferguson, who is currently the state’s attorney general, said Thursday that his team also has prepared for a Trump White House over the past year. Ferguson said he spoke with Democratic attorneys general in other states and appointed Nick Brown, the attorney general-elect, as a special assistant attorney general before he is sworn into office.

The governor-elect said that he is concerned about the new Trump administration’s policies on abortion, birth control, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, and LGBTQ+ rights.

Will not work with Trump

Ferguson called litigation an "important tool for challenging federal actions that we believe are illegal or unconstitutional and keeping the administration accountable to the rule," noting that his team had successfully challenged 55 policies under the first Trump administration.

Federal immigration policies under a Trump administration are particularly a concern of New England states, several of which have declared themselves "sanctuary" states. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said Wednesday that she would not work with Trump on his mass deportation policy.

"Following the Eisenhower Model, we will carry out the largest domestic deportation operation in American history," Trump said during his campaign last year.

In response to a question about whether Massachusetts state police would help the Trump administration in this effort, Healey said, "No. Absolutely not."

"I do think it is important that we all recognize that there is going to be a lot of pressure on states and state officials. I can assure you we're going to work hard to deliver," she added.

"Some realities need to be noted and that is in 2016, we had a different situation in the courts, and I am sure there may be litigation ahead, there is a lot of other ways people are going to act and need to act for the sake of their states and residents," Healey said. "There's regulatory authority and executive powers and the like, there's legislation also within our state.

"So I think the key here is that, you know, every tool in the tool box has got to be used to protect our citizens, to protect our residents and protect our states and to hold the line on democracy and the rule of law as a basic principle."

"We'll fight to the death"

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said Wednesday that he will fight the Trump administration on policies that run contrary to the state’s policies.

"[A]s we respect the peaceful transition of power, if there is any attack on the Garden State or any of its communities from Washington, I will fight back with every fiber of my being," Murphy said.

"If it's contrary to our values, we'll fight to the death," he added. "If there is an opportunity for common ground, we'll seize that as fast as anybody."

"Just as it is our responsibility to continue to stand up against any threat to our state or to our people, it is also our responsibility to take any opportunity that presents itself to work with [Trump] to protect and uplift the people of our state because that is what responsible leaders do," Murphy said.

He claimed that during Trump’s last administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted raids to find illegal immigrants in the state. "There was a time when ICE was just randomly showing up on street corners and apprehending … brothers and sisters from the immigrant community," Murphy said.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday the launch of the Empire State Freedom Initiative, which met ahead of Election Day to develop “comprehensive plans to address any policy and regulatory threats that may emerge from a Trump Administration.”

“The safety and wellbeing of New Yorkers are my top priorities,” Hochul said in a statement. “I’m committed to working with anyone on policies that make our state stronger, safer and more livable — but my administration will also be prepared to protect New Yorkers’ fundamental freedoms from any potential threats.”

The governor’s office said that it will protect the state against “federal legal threats” and “policy and regulatory threats.”

“This task force is focused on key areas where New York State and New Yorkers are most likely to face threats from a Trump Administration, including reproductive rights, civil rights, immigration, gun safety and the environment, among other issues,” Hochul’s office said.