Democrats are turning to governors for a shot in the arm, at a time when their party has been rudderless and looking for leadership.
For months, Democrats say they have grown increasingly agitated with the lack of leadership coming from congressional leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.).
Instead, governors, from Gavin Newsom in California to JB Pritzker in Illinois and Kathy Hochul in New York, have stepped up to the moment, showing a willingness to take on Republicans at a time when Democrats are craving a fight.
Democrats have watched as Newsom, a clear presidential hopeful in 2028, has mirrored President Trump on social media. They’ve cheered his willingness to wade into the redistricting fight, after Texas Republicans voted to have their state redrawn.
Rank-and-file Democrats also have applauded Pritzker’s bullish retorts to Trump in recent days. Pritzker is also widely seen as a potential presidential candidate.
And they’ve been pleasantly surprised by the eagerness of Hochul, generally not seen as a presidential candidate, to wade into battle with Trump and his party.
“I think after seven months of shouting into the wind, Democrats have to stop looking to congressional leadership for answers,” said Democratic strategist Christy Setzer. “They’re just not up to the moment.”
Since their devastating loss in November, Democrats have been trying to regain their footing and go on offense.
They say it’s easier for governors to flex their muscle and assert their power at a time when Republicans control the White House and both chambers of Congress.
“I think part of it is with Democrats in D.C. locked out of actual power, it is easier for governors to show leadership because they can actually pass bills, file lawsuits, try and undo Trump actions with state action,” Democratic strategist Eddie Vale said.
“But beyond that, with the public so soured on institutions and D.C. overall, anyone who is seen as part of that bubble has a harder time than electeds who are out in states across the country and are seen as distinct from the overall D.C. party brand.”
He also suggested that Democratic leaders in Congress have “the additional burden of having to get consensus among a motley crew of competing members and viewpoints in their caucus, while a governor can captain their own ship.”
Democrats have a history of relying on Congress to push their agenda. But they are waking up to the idea that good politics start at the state level.
“I think Democrats have been forced into the realization that for too long they have neglected some of these fights at the state level,” one Democratic strategist said. “The road to taking back real political power from the MAGA Republican Party likely does not start in Washington, D.C. The path back for Democrats starts at the states.”
“Winning local fights across the country and rebuilding political power at the state level is an important part of the comeback strategy for Democrats,” the strategist added.
Presidential candidates in the party have often come up through the congressional ranks. Barack Obama, Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton were all former senators.
“Democrats have nominated current or former senators in every election this century while every Republican nominee has been a governor or CEO except John McCain in 2008,” Democratic strategist Jamal Simmons said. “Executives have records of accomplishment and can actually do things and they tend not to talk about legislation and process.”
“I think that kind of clarity meets the current moment,” Simmons said.
It’s not like Democrats are against nominating governors. Former President Clinton was an Arkansas governor before winning the White House and ending three terms of GOP rule in the White House in 1992.
While the 2028 election is still years away, Democrats say they could very easily see a governor becoming the Democratic nominee. Other governors who have captured the attention of Democrats include Maryland’s Wes Moore, Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer and Kentucky’s Andy Beshear.
To date, Newsom has gotten the most attention with his redistricting efforts and his aggressive strategy to mirror Trump. Democrats — from donors to operatives and other lawmakers — have taken notice. As a result, the California governor has quickly risen in the polls.
A Morning Consult poll released Tuesday showed Newsom’s support among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents has increased by 8 points in the last two months, from 11 percent in June to 19 percent this month.
Other polls show the California governor catapulting to the top of the list of would-be 2028 contenders.
He has also expanded his reach on social media. In the last two weeks, Newsom has expanded his followers on the social platform X and his press team’s profile on that platform.
One major Democratic donor said the response from the governors was “a good, positive start.”
“We should have done this at the state level for years,” the donor said. “It’s how you’re sure to deliver some wins.”
“I don’t understand why it took us this long to realize that we should be firing on all cylinders,” the donor said. “The party should never operate strictly out of D.C. And now, we finally have some momentum.”
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