Two blue state governors, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, have come together to launch a new organization aimed at protecting state government agencies, elections, and state courts from threats of dismantlement or undermining. The initiative, called Governors Safeguarding Democracy, is a response to concerns about the rise of autocracy and the need to fortify democratic institutions following Donald Trump’s reelection.
In a press briefing announcing the initiative, Pritzker emphasized the importance of pushing back against threats to democracy and fortifying the institutions that our country and states depend on. While not explicitly mentioning Trump, both governors are Democrats from Blue states where party leaders are preparing for potential backlash.
The Governors Safeguarding Democracy initiative is non-partisan, and Pritzker and Polis are actively engaging Republican governors to join the project. The goal is to leverage collective experience and institutional knowledge to protect the rule of law, according to Pritzker. Polis added that the organization was founded on the belief that hope alone is not enough to save democracy, and that collective action is necessary to protect and strengthen it.
The organization is privately funded and aims to educate people and provide governors with the tools to support small and democratic institutions. While similar to the National Governors Association, which Polis chairs, Governors Safeguarding Democracy is a separate entity with its own staff and researchers.
Pritzker and Polis, who have known each other for 30 years, have faced similar challenges in managing immigration in their respective sanctuary states. Sanctuary states do not cooperate with federal immigration authorities, a stance that could potentially clash with the new administration’s policies. Trump has previously threatened to withhold federal law enforcement grants from jurisdictions that do not cooperate with immigration enforcement.
Overall, the Governors Safeguarding Democracy initiative seeks to proactively protect and strengthen democratic institutions at the state level, regardless of political affiliation. Pritzker and Polis are leading the charge to ensure that the foundations of democracy remain intact and resilient in the face of evolving threats.
