These legislators were initially elected to counter Trump; now they aim to continue their efforts as governors.
Democrats will soon have their first chances in New Jersey and Virginia to determine if they can count on anti-Trump sentiment to secure victories.
TroibNews 
The 2018 freshman class of House Democrats entered Washington fueled by a wave of anti-Trump sentiment, seeking to counter the presidential administration's agenda. Currently, three members from that cohort are pursuing gubernatorial campaigns, asserting that the states will play a crucial role in challenging President Donald Trump.
The Democratic candidates for governor include Rep. Mikie Sherrill from New Jersey, former Rep. Abigail Spanberger from Virginia, and former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland from New Mexico. They argue that their positions as governors would allow them to effectively resist Trump, citing his policies on government downsizing, trade tensions, and unmet commitments to reduce costs as detrimental to American citizens.
"The reality is that state government is going to be really the tip of the spear in trying to protect people; to have some continuity on health care and consumer protection in a world where Trump is dismantling them,” remarked former Democratic Rep. Katie Porter, who is considering a gubernatorial run in California, contingent on whether former Vice President Kamala Harris enters the race. She added, “This is one of the reasons that you're seeing some of these amazing people with such bright trajectories, like Deb and Abigail and Mikie, look to gubernatorial races."
In Washington, Democrats are now in the minority and are recalibrating their messaging following the Republicans' gains in the previous fall elections. They have already started leveraging the states in their attempts to counter Trump's agenda, with attorneys general nationwide filing lawsuits against his executive actions.
New Jersey and Virginia, which will hold gubernatorial elections this year, represent critical early tests for Democrats aiming to capitalize on anti-Trump sentiment.
“The playbook from 2018 very much still holds, and what a big part of that playbook was and is, is holding Donald Trump and House Republicans accountable for their record,” stated Dan Sena, former executive director of the House Democrats’ campaign committee in 2018. He added, “I think his diminished approval ratings, their diminished approval ratings, are already beginning to show that the honeymoon is over, and there are real cracks in the way the American electorate feel about his agenda.”
While strategies for campaigning for Congress and governor differ, these Democrats are optimistic about tapping into similar feelings that emerged during the initial months of the Trump administration. They are particularly focusing on Virginia, where roughly 150,000 federal workers may be significantly affected by Trump's cuts to federal employment. Spanberger noted that a potential reduction of 10 percent in the federal workforce, a goal outlined by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, would have a "significant" economic impact and cited concerns expressed by local business leaders. “Every choice he is making is hurting Virginians,” Spanberger asserted. “Everything he’s doing is creating chaos in our economy.”
In New Mexico, Haaland is already running to replace term-limited Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, her predecessor in the state’s 1st Congressional District, a seat she held until 2021. Her campaign is framed around the impacts of the Trump administration’s policies, as she noted that “people in communities across New Mexico are feeling really scared and on edge,” particularly highlighting the experiences of Native Americans approached by federal immigration officials regarding their citizenship. “It's about the cost of living and safety issues that they're feeling, public safety and housing that people can't afford, in the midst of all of these terrible decisions that Donald Trump and Elon Musk have made since they came into office,” she continued. “I think governors are going to be the first line of defense against all these terrible, cruel and chaotic policies coming out of the White House.”
Sherrill emphasized that the messaging strategy must extend beyond merely opposing Trump, invoking lessons from her own congressional journey in a traditionally conservative district. “It gives us an opportunity to chart that path forward, to explain to people how we are going to lower costs for them, how we are going to protect them and their jobs and their families from what's coming from Washington, and how we are going to really deliver on the future for their kids,” she said. “It really gives us that ability to immediately weigh in on what the public thinks about this Trump administration.”
Reflecting broader trends in political representation, women have historically occupied fewer governorships than men but have made notable gains recently. The number of female governors increased following Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s win in New Hampshire last year, surpassing a dozen women holding such positions. Both parties have strategically recruited more women to address this gender gap, though disparities remain. Presently, eight female Democrats and four Republicans serve as governors.
The upcoming gubernatorial races could yield historic outcomes, with Spanberger potentially becoming Virginia's first female governor. Sherrill stands out as the sole woman in her competitive Democratic primary and could become New Jersey's second female governor. California has yet to elect a woman to the governorship, while New Mexico has seen two women hold the position.
“We’ve just been underrepresented in the ranks,” stated Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healy, the first woman elected governor in her state in 2022 and head of the Democratic Governors Association’s Women Governors Fund. “We just haven’t had enough women in leadership positions and in the corner office.”
The surge of women in politics is, in part, attributed to a supportive “whisper network” encouraging female candidates to run for office. This was true for Porter, who is eyeing the California governorship in 2026. Her political career began when Harris selected her as an expert for a bank settlement project after the foreclosure crisis. “At the time, I wanted to continue to help affected homeowners. But Trump’s first election in 2016 scrambled my plans to do so in Washington,” Porter recalled. Following this, she sought guidance from Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who encouraged her to step into elected office rather than remain in academia.
As for her potential candidacy, Porter believes that Harris’s possible run for California governor could deter several significant Democrats from running, including herself.
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
The Democratic candidates for governor include Rep. Mikie Sherrill from New Jersey, former Rep. Abigail Spanberger from Virginia, and former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland from New Mexico. They argue that their positions as governors would allow them to effectively resist Trump, citing his policies on government downsizing, trade tensions, and unmet commitments to reduce costs as detrimental to American citizens.
"The reality is that state government is going to be really the tip of the spear in trying to protect people; to have some continuity on health care and consumer protection in a world where Trump is dismantling them,” remarked former Democratic Rep. Katie Porter, who is considering a gubernatorial run in California, contingent on whether former Vice President Kamala Harris enters the race. She added, “This is one of the reasons that you're seeing some of these amazing people with such bright trajectories, like Deb and Abigail and Mikie, look to gubernatorial races."
In Washington, Democrats are now in the minority and are recalibrating their messaging following the Republicans' gains in the previous fall elections. They have already started leveraging the states in their attempts to counter Trump's agenda, with attorneys general nationwide filing lawsuits against his executive actions.
New Jersey and Virginia, which will hold gubernatorial elections this year, represent critical early tests for Democrats aiming to capitalize on anti-Trump sentiment.
“The playbook from 2018 very much still holds, and what a big part of that playbook was and is, is holding Donald Trump and House Republicans accountable for their record,” stated Dan Sena, former executive director of the House Democrats’ campaign committee in 2018. He added, “I think his diminished approval ratings, their diminished approval ratings, are already beginning to show that the honeymoon is over, and there are real cracks in the way the American electorate feel about his agenda.”
While strategies for campaigning for Congress and governor differ, these Democrats are optimistic about tapping into similar feelings that emerged during the initial months of the Trump administration. They are particularly focusing on Virginia, where roughly 150,000 federal workers may be significantly affected by Trump's cuts to federal employment. Spanberger noted that a potential reduction of 10 percent in the federal workforce, a goal outlined by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, would have a "significant" economic impact and cited concerns expressed by local business leaders. “Every choice he is making is hurting Virginians,” Spanberger asserted. “Everything he’s doing is creating chaos in our economy.”
In New Mexico, Haaland is already running to replace term-limited Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, her predecessor in the state’s 1st Congressional District, a seat she held until 2021. Her campaign is framed around the impacts of the Trump administration’s policies, as she noted that “people in communities across New Mexico are feeling really scared and on edge,” particularly highlighting the experiences of Native Americans approached by federal immigration officials regarding their citizenship. “It's about the cost of living and safety issues that they're feeling, public safety and housing that people can't afford, in the midst of all of these terrible decisions that Donald Trump and Elon Musk have made since they came into office,” she continued. “I think governors are going to be the first line of defense against all these terrible, cruel and chaotic policies coming out of the White House.”
Sherrill emphasized that the messaging strategy must extend beyond merely opposing Trump, invoking lessons from her own congressional journey in a traditionally conservative district. “It gives us an opportunity to chart that path forward, to explain to people how we are going to lower costs for them, how we are going to protect them and their jobs and their families from what's coming from Washington, and how we are going to really deliver on the future for their kids,” she said. “It really gives us that ability to immediately weigh in on what the public thinks about this Trump administration.”
Reflecting broader trends in political representation, women have historically occupied fewer governorships than men but have made notable gains recently. The number of female governors increased following Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s win in New Hampshire last year, surpassing a dozen women holding such positions. Both parties have strategically recruited more women to address this gender gap, though disparities remain. Presently, eight female Democrats and four Republicans serve as governors.
The upcoming gubernatorial races could yield historic outcomes, with Spanberger potentially becoming Virginia's first female governor. Sherrill stands out as the sole woman in her competitive Democratic primary and could become New Jersey's second female governor. California has yet to elect a woman to the governorship, while New Mexico has seen two women hold the position.
“We’ve just been underrepresented in the ranks,” stated Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healy, the first woman elected governor in her state in 2022 and head of the Democratic Governors Association’s Women Governors Fund. “We just haven’t had enough women in leadership positions and in the corner office.”
The surge of women in politics is, in part, attributed to a supportive “whisper network” encouraging female candidates to run for office. This was true for Porter, who is eyeing the California governorship in 2026. Her political career began when Harris selected her as an expert for a bank settlement project after the foreclosure crisis. “At the time, I wanted to continue to help affected homeowners. But Trump’s first election in 2016 scrambled my plans to do so in Washington,” Porter recalled. Following this, she sought guidance from Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who encouraged her to step into elected office rather than remain in academia.
As for her potential candidacy, Porter believes that Harris’s possible run for California governor could deter several significant Democrats from running, including herself.
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
