Get to Know the Key Figures in the Upcoming Resistance Against Trump
This article highlights the governors, attorneys general, and advocacy organizations gearing up to confront the policy initiatives of the incoming administration.
TroibNews 
Democrats are experiencing significant internal divisions over the best strategy to counter President-elect Donald Trump and his supporters. Some members are opting for a conciliatory stance towards the new Republican leadership, while others are determined to challenge their policies using every legal and legislative means at their disposal.
This moment was anticipated by those in the resistance faction — many of whom harbor greater political aspirations — who have been preparing quietly for months. Their efforts have been bolstered by Project 2025, a conservative framework that detailed a policy agenda for the incoming Republican administration, which includes drastic reductions in environmental regulations and a nationwide abortion ban.
Blue states are beginning to “Trump proof” programs they expect to come under federal scrutiny and are strengthening their legal teams to fight the new administration in court.
Resistance Democrats — among them California Governor Gavin Newsom and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison — are gearing up with a clear message for this new phase of the Trump era: Bring it on.
“Violating the law, that is something [Trump] cannot find his way to stop doing — it’s part of his brand, it’s part of what he does,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta, anticipated to run for governor in 2026, stated. “If he doesn’t break the law, there is nothing for us to do, and he will be a law-abiding president. But we don’t expect that.”
These opposing forces represent just one faction of the Democratic Party, as leaders contemplate how to confront Trump when he returns to the White House with full Republican control of Congress. Some governors are adopting a more cooperative approach, indicating a willingness to work with the president-elect on certain issues — at least for the time being.
Here's an overview of the key players in the coalition forming to challenge Trump and his allies, consisting of Democratic governors, attorneys general, and various interest groups.
**Governors**
Expect to see Newsom solidify his position as the lead Democrat opposing the federal government. With a long-standing rivalry between Newsom and Trump, tensions are likely to escalate as Trump resumes his role in the White House and Newsom prepares for a potential 2028 presidential campaign.
Newsom has already begun establishing California as a stronghold against the anticipated Republican agenda. Just two days after the election, he convened a special session of the state Legislature to safeguard California initiatives likely to be targeted by Trump, such as civil rights protections and climate policies.
In addition to Newsom, monitor the newly-formed bipartisan group aimed at countering “threats of autocracy,” initiated by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Colorado Governor Jared Polis. This duo is in discussions with other Democrats and Republicans about joining this initiative, which will have its own dedicated staff and researchers.
“You come for my people, you come through me,” Pritzker warned Trump during a post-election press conference.
Polis has initiated this group while commending Trump’s controversial selection for Health and Human Services secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., highlighting the delicate balancing act for governors in the coming years with Trump in power.
Newly elected governors are also joining the resistance movement, albeit in a subtler manner than their more established colleagues.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul initiated a program to tackle “policy and regulatory threats” from the Republican administration and committed to increasing coordination with her state’s attorney general to safeguard “New Yorkers’ fundamental freedoms.” Yet, she also reached out to Trump to advocate for federal funding for crucial state projects.
Then there’s Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, who established her reputation by frequently suing the Trump administration while serving as attorney general. After retreating from the national spotlight post-Trump’s presidency, she has resurfaced to emphasize the importance of “holding the line once again on the rule of law,” asserting that state police would not comply with Trump’s mass deportation initiatives.
**Attorneys General**
When Trump enacted the ban on Muslim travelers in his initial days in office, the response from Democratic attorneys general was swift, leading to a multi-state lawsuit and an era of heightened legal challenges against the federal government.
Those offices now aim to avoid being caught off guard again.
“We’ve now had some more time to reflect on this, and it’s not as new as it was before,” remarked Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, who successfully challenged the Trump administration for withholding law enforcement grants after the state objected to immigration-related stipulations.
“We’ll be more ready for this work,” Weiser added. “We know a little bit more the nature of what’s coming.”
Key figures in the litigation effort include California’s Bonta, Minnesota’s Ellison, New Jersey’s Matthew Platkin, and New York’s Letitia James. "I didn't run for attorney general's office twice so that I could sue Trump. That's not what I'm here for," Ellison stated recently. "But if he violates the rights of people, we're gonna sue, it's simple as that."
Pay attention to the newer attorneys general from states that played significant roles in past lawsuits against Trump, like Dan Rayfield in Oregon and Nick Brown in Washington.
These offices will likely mobilize their extensive staff of attorneys to challenge nearly every action taken by the Trump administration. In the days following the election, some attorney general offices put out a call for more litigation attorneys, expressing on LinkedIn that “the need for the best and brightest lawyers to join us has never been greater.”
Despite their increased readiness to challenge Trump, these attorneys general face institutional and political hurdles that might complicate their lawsuits, particularly with a more conservative Supreme Court shaped significantly during Trump’s presidency. The president-elect also enjoys the backing of a Republican-majority Congress, likely to pursue legislation that supersedes state laws.
**Interest Groups**
While Democratic governors might be concerned about their political futures and may not wish to be seen as leading the battle against Trump, various interest groups focused explicitly on undermining the administration are prepared to employ aggressive strategies.
Democracy Forward, a liberal legal organization established during Trump's first term, plans to persist in challenging federal regulations, now bolstered by a larger team and significant funding. Its board includes prominent Democratic figures like Marc Elias and Ron Klain, former chief of staff to President Joe Biden.
Conflicts in the abortion sector will be prevalent. Trump has indicated he would veto any national abortion ban that reaches his desk, but Ohio Senator JD Vance, the vice president-elect, suggested during his campaign that the incoming Republican administration would move to defund Planned Parenthood, stating, “we don’t think that taxpayers should fund late-term abortions.”
A coalition of political groups advocating for abortion rights, including EMILYs List, the National Women’s Law Center Action Fund, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and Reproductive Freedom for All, issued a memo post-election promising to hold Trump and “all anti-abortion politicians accountable for what they have already done and what they plan to do to destroy reproductive freedom.”
In the realm of immigration, the American Civil Liberties Union launched an initial lawsuit against the Trump administration, seeking further information about potential rapid deportations.
Trump’s team is strategizing on constructing executive actions that can withstand legal challenges from immigration rights groups — a tactic intended to prevent the setbacks experienced during his first term, where various iterations of the Muslim travel ban were delayed by civil rights organizations and state attorneys general.
Stay attuned to the actions of climate-focused organizations like EarthJustice and the Sierra Club, which are preparing for the potential rollback of numerous environmental regulations concerning everything from air quality standards to drilling in protected areas.
“We are even stronger now, and we’re ready,” EarthJustice declared in a statement after Trump’s election victory. The organization, which sued the Trump administration over 130 times and achieved a majority of favorable court rulings, affirmed, “We will see Donald Trump in court.”
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
This moment was anticipated by those in the resistance faction — many of whom harbor greater political aspirations — who have been preparing quietly for months. Their efforts have been bolstered by Project 2025, a conservative framework that detailed a policy agenda for the incoming Republican administration, which includes drastic reductions in environmental regulations and a nationwide abortion ban.
Blue states are beginning to “Trump proof” programs they expect to come under federal scrutiny and are strengthening their legal teams to fight the new administration in court.
Resistance Democrats — among them California Governor Gavin Newsom and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison — are gearing up with a clear message for this new phase of the Trump era: Bring it on.
“Violating the law, that is something [Trump] cannot find his way to stop doing — it’s part of his brand, it’s part of what he does,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta, anticipated to run for governor in 2026, stated. “If he doesn’t break the law, there is nothing for us to do, and he will be a law-abiding president. But we don’t expect that.”
These opposing forces represent just one faction of the Democratic Party, as leaders contemplate how to confront Trump when he returns to the White House with full Republican control of Congress. Some governors are adopting a more cooperative approach, indicating a willingness to work with the president-elect on certain issues — at least for the time being.
Here's an overview of the key players in the coalition forming to challenge Trump and his allies, consisting of Democratic governors, attorneys general, and various interest groups.
**Governors**
Expect to see Newsom solidify his position as the lead Democrat opposing the federal government. With a long-standing rivalry between Newsom and Trump, tensions are likely to escalate as Trump resumes his role in the White House and Newsom prepares for a potential 2028 presidential campaign.
Newsom has already begun establishing California as a stronghold against the anticipated Republican agenda. Just two days after the election, he convened a special session of the state Legislature to safeguard California initiatives likely to be targeted by Trump, such as civil rights protections and climate policies.
In addition to Newsom, monitor the newly-formed bipartisan group aimed at countering “threats of autocracy,” initiated by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Colorado Governor Jared Polis. This duo is in discussions with other Democrats and Republicans about joining this initiative, which will have its own dedicated staff and researchers.
“You come for my people, you come through me,” Pritzker warned Trump during a post-election press conference.
Polis has initiated this group while commending Trump’s controversial selection for Health and Human Services secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., highlighting the delicate balancing act for governors in the coming years with Trump in power.
Newly elected governors are also joining the resistance movement, albeit in a subtler manner than their more established colleagues.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul initiated a program to tackle “policy and regulatory threats” from the Republican administration and committed to increasing coordination with her state’s attorney general to safeguard “New Yorkers’ fundamental freedoms.” Yet, she also reached out to Trump to advocate for federal funding for crucial state projects.
Then there’s Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, who established her reputation by frequently suing the Trump administration while serving as attorney general. After retreating from the national spotlight post-Trump’s presidency, she has resurfaced to emphasize the importance of “holding the line once again on the rule of law,” asserting that state police would not comply with Trump’s mass deportation initiatives.
**Attorneys General**
When Trump enacted the ban on Muslim travelers in his initial days in office, the response from Democratic attorneys general was swift, leading to a multi-state lawsuit and an era of heightened legal challenges against the federal government.
Those offices now aim to avoid being caught off guard again.
“We’ve now had some more time to reflect on this, and it’s not as new as it was before,” remarked Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, who successfully challenged the Trump administration for withholding law enforcement grants after the state objected to immigration-related stipulations.
“We’ll be more ready for this work,” Weiser added. “We know a little bit more the nature of what’s coming.”
Key figures in the litigation effort include California’s Bonta, Minnesota’s Ellison, New Jersey’s Matthew Platkin, and New York’s Letitia James. "I didn't run for attorney general's office twice so that I could sue Trump. That's not what I'm here for," Ellison stated recently. "But if he violates the rights of people, we're gonna sue, it's simple as that."
Pay attention to the newer attorneys general from states that played significant roles in past lawsuits against Trump, like Dan Rayfield in Oregon and Nick Brown in Washington.
These offices will likely mobilize their extensive staff of attorneys to challenge nearly every action taken by the Trump administration. In the days following the election, some attorney general offices put out a call for more litigation attorneys, expressing on LinkedIn that “the need for the best and brightest lawyers to join us has never been greater.”
Despite their increased readiness to challenge Trump, these attorneys general face institutional and political hurdles that might complicate their lawsuits, particularly with a more conservative Supreme Court shaped significantly during Trump’s presidency. The president-elect also enjoys the backing of a Republican-majority Congress, likely to pursue legislation that supersedes state laws.
**Interest Groups**
While Democratic governors might be concerned about their political futures and may not wish to be seen as leading the battle against Trump, various interest groups focused explicitly on undermining the administration are prepared to employ aggressive strategies.
Democracy Forward, a liberal legal organization established during Trump's first term, plans to persist in challenging federal regulations, now bolstered by a larger team and significant funding. Its board includes prominent Democratic figures like Marc Elias and Ron Klain, former chief of staff to President Joe Biden.
Conflicts in the abortion sector will be prevalent. Trump has indicated he would veto any national abortion ban that reaches his desk, but Ohio Senator JD Vance, the vice president-elect, suggested during his campaign that the incoming Republican administration would move to defund Planned Parenthood, stating, “we don’t think that taxpayers should fund late-term abortions.”
A coalition of political groups advocating for abortion rights, including EMILYs List, the National Women’s Law Center Action Fund, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and Reproductive Freedom for All, issued a memo post-election promising to hold Trump and “all anti-abortion politicians accountable for what they have already done and what they plan to do to destroy reproductive freedom.”
In the realm of immigration, the American Civil Liberties Union launched an initial lawsuit against the Trump administration, seeking further information about potential rapid deportations.
Trump’s team is strategizing on constructing executive actions that can withstand legal challenges from immigration rights groups — a tactic intended to prevent the setbacks experienced during his first term, where various iterations of the Muslim travel ban were delayed by civil rights organizations and state attorneys general.
Stay attuned to the actions of climate-focused organizations like EarthJustice and the Sierra Club, which are preparing for the potential rollback of numerous environmental regulations concerning everything from air quality standards to drilling in protected areas.
“We are even stronger now, and we’re ready,” EarthJustice declared in a statement after Trump’s election victory. The organization, which sued the Trump administration over 130 times and achieved a majority of favorable court rulings, affirmed, “We will see Donald Trump in court.”
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
