The Democratic Party is in chaos, with top governors split on how to handle President Donald Trump’s dominance as they jockey for position in 2028.
Some, like Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, are doubling down on resistance, while others, like California Gov. Gavin Newsom, are cooperating with Trump where they can. The division exposes deep fractures in the party and signals panic over how to navigate the next four years.
Pritzker’s Desperate Attacks vs. Newsom’s Strategic Play
Pritzker, a hardcore leftist from a deep blue state, has gone all-in on attacking Trump at every turn. From mocking Trump’s push to rename the Gulf of Mexico to slamming his tariffs, Pritzker is playing to the radical base.
Newsom, however, is taking a different route. The California governor, long suspected of having White House ambitions, has decided to work with Trump to secure wildfire relief funds for his state. After meeting with Trump, Newsom admitted he had “all the confidence in the world” that they could work together.
Translation? Newsom knows he can’t afford to keep fighting Trump.
Swing-State Governors Walk a Tightrope
Governors from battleground states, like Gretchen Whitmer (MI) and Josh Shapiro (PA), aren’t rushing to pick a fight with Trump. They’re carefully balancing their messaging, knowing that Trump’s policies are popular in their states.
Shapiro isn’t backing down completely, criticizing Trump’s tariff plans and Middle East strategy, but he also said he “respects the will of the people” and hopes for Trump’s success—a clear signal that he knows outright resistance is a losing game.
Whitmer, meanwhile, made it clear she’s not joining the “Governors Safeguarding Democracy” resistance group, instead keeping her options open.
Why This Matters for 2028
The deep divide among these potential 2028 contenders reveals a Democratic Party without direction.
Some want to be the face of the anti-Trump resistance to win over the party’s base, while others realize they can’t afford to alienate swing-state voters who approve of Trump’s policies.
With Kamala Harris polling weakly, names like Newsom, Whitmer, Shapiro, and even Polis are looking to position themselves for 2028—but right now, they have no unified strategy.
What’s Next?
Trump’s America First policies are forcing Democrats to make a choice—go full radical resistance and risk alienating voters, or work with Trump where possible and face backlash from the left.
Either way, the Democratic Party is in crisis, and Trump holds all the cards.
