a blueprint for blue states to fight back against Trump
Send an email to your governor now
If you live in one of the 15 Democratic trifecta states, send an email to your governor now and tell them how you expect them to fight back against Donald Trump.
In response to a second Trump administration, Democratic governors across the country have moved swiftly to protect their states’ progressive policies. California Governor Gavin Newsom, for instance, called for a special session of the legislature immediately after the election to protect Californians from the dangers posed by a second Trump term. This session will allow lawmakers to pass critical legislation aimed at safeguarding Californians from anticipated threats to civil liberties, environmental protections, and public safety. Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker and Colorado governor Jared Polis formed a coalition, “Governors Safeguarding Democracy,” to resist potential federal policies affecting political investigations, deportations, and university diversity programs. New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James have also pledged to enhance protections for immigrants, LGBTQ+ rights, and reproductive healthcare. These bold actions clearly demonstrate the unique power that blue states have to defend their residents and values against a federal government hostile to progressive policies.
In an increasingly polarized political landscape, these governors’ actions underscore how blue states must be prepared to act as defensive bulwarks for progressive values. With a federal administration under Trump likely to pursue aggressive rollbacks on issues like reproductive rights, voting access, climate protections, and labor laws, states governed by Democratic leaders have the responsibility to enact protective measures that ensure the safety, rights, and freedoms of their residents.
Why This Matters: State Power as a Counterweight to Trump’s Agenda
The U.S. federal system grants states substantial powers, allowing them to act as “laboratories of democracy” in setting forward-thinking policies to address critical issues like healthcare, the environment, and education. But in recent years, state politics have polarized, producing stark differences between red and blue states. Under a second Trump administration, red states will likely double down on restrictive measures, banning abortion, relaxing environmental laws, and limiting LGBTQ+ rights. Meanwhile, blue states have both the power and responsibility to push back by maintaining and even advancing policies that protect the most vulnerable.
Newsom, Polis, Pritzker, and others’ actions are a model of what blue state leaders can do to safeguard protections and serve as a counterbalance to Trump’s extreme agenda. By fortifying their states’ autonomy and using state resources, Democratic governors are sending a strong message: blue states can and must act to protect their residents against federal policies that would undermine their health, safety, and freedoms. That starts now.
If you’re in a place where your Democratic elected officials are already making moves to resist, you might think there’s no role for you. But remember:
Many politicians talk a good game, but our job is to ensure they walk the walk. Even if your governor is mentioned here as taking good first steps, they need to follow through.
Taking on these fights involves real risk—MAGA will retaliate. Your elected officials will need you behind them to stay brave.
Elected officials often only hear from constituents when they’re upset. It might sound small, but a “thank you” or a word of encouragement can go a long way. Cheer them on, and be ready to stand by them when the going gets tough. Blue states can act now and don’t have to wait until Trump’s policies take effect. This is the time to show our leaders that we’re behind them, ensuring they feel our support as they take on these battles.
Powers of Blue State Governors and Legislatures
Blue state leaders have numerous tools to resist Trump’s agenda and defend their constituents. Here are some of the most powerful strategies governors and legislatures can use to fight back:
State-Funded Legal Defense Funds: Blue states can establish funds to defend against Trump-era policies that infringe on state sovereignty or individual rights. This might include legal action to safeguard protections in areas like reproductive healthcare, climate action, or voting rights from federal interference. By directing state resources toward defending these policies in court, blue states can ensure their progressive standards are not undermined by Trump’s agenda.
Interstate Compacts and Alliances: Blue states can work together to form strong alliances that enforce high standards, especially in areas likely to be targeted by a Trump administration. By setting regional standards for issues like clean energy, healthcare, and civil rights protections, blue states can amplify their collective influence and blunt Trump’s regressive policies.
Extraterritorial Policies and “Race-to-the-Top” Standards: Blue states can enact progressive policies that not only protect their residents but also encourage other states to follow suit. High standards in areas like minimum wage, renewable energy, gender equality, and LGBTQ+ rights put pressure on neighboring states to adopt similar protections to remain competitive. For example, passing or strengthening a state-level version of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) could provide critical legal protections against discrimination. These policies send a powerful message that blue states won’t abandon their values, regardless of federal shifts.
Sanctuary Policies for Out-of-State Visitors: Blue states can enact laws that protect individuals traveling from red states to access services restricted under Trump’s policies. For example, protections for reproductive healthcare or gender-affirming care reinforce blue states as safe havens for civil rights, creating a direct challenge to Trump’s efforts to impose regressive values nationwide.
Economic Leverage: States with significant economic power, like California and New York, can use their influence to counter Trump’s agenda by setting procurement and contracting standards that prioritize civil rights, environmental responsibility, and fair labor practices. Blue states can refuse to do business with companies that don’t uphold progressive values, using their economic might to challenge Trump’s policies.
Decline to implement federal policies in their states: A ton of federal programs and legislation are actually dependent on the states implementing them. Your governor could decline a pot of money earmarked for a police crackdown on peaceful protests or refuse to participate in a program that would require granting massive loopholes to giant corporate polluters. If there’s an opt-out, they should be taking it.
Implement policies that make their state a thriving, healthy, and desirable place to live: It sounds simple, but the more that Democratically controlled areas deliver a high quality of life for their residents, the better we’re able to make the case against the MAGA agenda to the American people.
What You Can Do to Push Your Blue State Officials to Fight Back Against Trump
Indivisible activists play a critical role in pushing state leaders to take action against the looming threats of a second Trump administration. Here’s how activists can call on their governors and state lawmakers to follow California’s example:
Demand a Special Legislative Session: Encourage your governor to call a special session focused on enacting laws that will protect against Trump’s policies. This session could prioritize protective measures for civil liberties, public health, and environmental regulations. Urge lawmakers to proactively safeguard these rights before Trump’s policies take effect.
Advocate for State-Funded Legal Defense Funds: Ask your governor to establish a legal fund dedicated to defending against Trump’s attacks on progressive policies. This fund could protect critical areas like reproductive health, LGBTQ+ rights, climate action, and voting rights.
Support Regional Compacts to Form a United Front: Advocate for partnerships with neighboring blue states on progressive policies. Such alliances could help build a unified front on issues like climate action, labor standards, and civil rights, showing Trump’s administration that these values will not be undermined without a fight.
Push for “Race-to-the-Top” Policies: Encourage your state to lead by example with high standards that create incentives for other states to follow. Policies like robust labor protections, clean energy standards, and data privacy laws show that blue states won’t back down from protecting their residents, despite Trump’s federal policies.
Request Protections for People Traveling from Red States: Push for laws that extend protections to people traveling from red states to seek essential services, such as reproductive healthcare. These protections assert blue states’ commitment to human rights and autonomy in opposition to Trump’s agenda.
Use State Contracts and Investments to Uphold Values: Encourage your governor to adopt contracting standards that uphold progressive values, refusing to do business with companies that support Trump’s regressive policies. This economic leverage shows that blue states are committed to pushing back against policies that undermine civil rights and environmental protections.
By advocating for these actions, activists can help blue states become strongholds against Trump’s attacks, creating resilient defenses that preserve and expand progressive values and protections.
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