Democratic Governors JB Pritzker of Illinois and Jared Polis of Colorado have joined forces to establish a new coalition aimed at protecting democratic institutions in the face of potential challenges under the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump.
The newly formed Governors Safeguarding Democracy, supported by donations from the nonprofit Governors Action Alliance, is a nonpartisan initiative that seeks to enable governors across the country to collaborate and share resources to uphold the rule of law and strengthen democratic principles.
While acknowledging the possibility of cooperation with the Trump administration, Pritzker and Polis emphasized their commitment to defending their states against any threats that may arise once Trump assumes office.
Pritzker stated, 'What we’re doing is pushing back against increasing threats of autocracy and fortifying the institutions of democracy that our country and our states depend upon.'
Polis added, 'This is about whatever threats come our way at the federal level. It’s not singling out a particular threat.'
Concerns raised by Pritzker and Polis include potential risks to the safety and integrity of state agencies, courts, and election administrators. They also condemned any proposal by the Trump administration to deploy state National Guard troops for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, labeling such actions as 'unacceptable.'
The structure of the new organization mirrors that of the Reproductive Freedom Alliance, a coalition of 23 Democratic governors established in 2023 to combat state-level abortion restrictions by sharing strategies to protect access to reproductive health care.
While Pritzker and Polis have engaged with governors from both parties nationwide, they have not disclosed specific details about the extent of involvement from other governors in the initiative.
