**Fatshimetry: Democratic Governors Prepare for President-Elect Donald Trump’s Administration**
Behind the scenes in the political sphere, a small group of Democratic governors are busy making careful preparations to counter what they foresee from President-elect Donald Trump in his upcoming presidency in the White House. Despite an apparently reserved diplomatic posture and concerns, they have engaged in deep discussions to balance the need to resist politically while complying with law and principle.
Since well before the election, these governors have been examining Project 2025, a sort of public road map that guides them. They are reviewing their executive powers and the laws of their respective states. They are working together to publicly condemn any extreme actions by Trump, rather than debating principle, as has been the case in previous confrontations. They are anticipating deliberations over stockpiling the abortion drug mifepristone in secret warehouses and plotting strategies to retaliate if the next administration tries to nationalize their police forces or the National Guard to conduct deportation raids. Some governors have already decided to refuse outright, while others plan to maintain that their forces are essential to ensuring the safety of their constituents. But the question of clashing forces from different states at the border remains a conundrum to be solved.
“The reality is, we don’t know what’s coming,” said Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, who also chairs the Democratic Governors Association.
Some governors are going further. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has irked several of his counterparts by proposing a post-election anti-Trump group, but only Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has joined him as a co-chair. Pritzker is exploring ideas like blocking GPS tracking apps for women traveling to his state to get abortions, so their travels remain private and cannot be used for legal purposes.
However, the practicality of these innovative ideas remains unclear, as do many other measures in the works.
These plans had been in the works for months for many Democratic governors well before President Joe Biden withdrew from the presidential race and Kamala Harris was sworn in as their party’s nominee. Given Trump’s popularity in the polls, as well as their scars from his first term, it would have been irresponsible not to prepare, especially now that his victory and the expected Republican majority in Congress have made them the last remaining bulwarks of Democratic power..
Several governors have been holding closed-door simulation sessions for months, often with state attorneys general and other stakeholders. The small groups were meant to prevent the incoming administration from adapting to their responses or the proactive innovations they envision.
But they also avoid falling into caricatures of an outdated opposition, not only because the 2024 election showed that Trump ultimately appeared to prevail in most “us versus them” conflicts. His first term was characterized by refusing to approve federal relief funds for Democratic states and vindictively withholding resources, including COVID-19 supplies, from governors who had incurred his ire.
Just as French President Emmanuel Macron has sought to coax Trump on the international stage with phone calls and an invitation to the reopening of Notre Dame last weekend, in an effort to flatter the incoming president for political support, several Democratic governors and their top aides are also adopting an almost imperial posture. They don’t want to be seen as antagonists in Trump’s crosshairs.
Knowing that the president will likely favor certain states when allocating hundreds of millions of dollars in federal aid and other priorities, based on his affinity and the cooperation he receives, several governors have already begun calling Mar-a-Lago to curry favor, according to several people briefed on the calls.
Their experience during Trump’s first term has prepared them for this. Four years ago, for example, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer became known as “the Michigan woman” whom Trump then urged to ignore after she criticized the administration on television for its inadequate response to COVID. Supplies failed to arrive, and the pandemic-related death toll continued to rise.
Speaking to CNN on the sidelines of a Democratic governors’ meeting, Whitmer emphasized the importance of this careful preparation and the diplomacy needed to navigate a highly polarized political environment.
In conclusion, Democratic governors are actively preparing for the incoming Trump administration, implementing defensive and proactive strategies to protect the interests of their states and citizens. Their thoughtful and determined approach demonstrates their willingness to face the challenges ahead with resolve and intelligence.