Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Colorado Governor Jared Polis have joined forces to form a coalition of governors aimed at protecting and strengthening democracy in the face of threats of autocracy during a potential second term for Donald Trump. The coalition, called Governors Safeguarding Democracy (GSD), will focus on protecting state-level institutions of democracy and utilizing their collective powers to push back against threats to democracy.
The nonpartisan coalition will address issues such as environmental protections, mass deportations, and election integrity, while also developing playbooks to respond to emerging threats. The group will collaborate with think tanks, legal experts, and open government advocates to create plans to protect the rule of law.
While the coalition is being funded by philanthropic efforts, Governor Pritzker emphasized that he has not contributed any of his own funds. The governors also highlighted the importance of working together at the state level to protect and strengthen democracy.
Governor Pritzker, who has been involved in national efforts to support issues such as abortion rights, sees the coalition as a way to catalyze collaboration across state lines and fortify the institutions of democracy that are essential for the country and states to depend on. The formation of the GSD comes as a response to the increasing threats to democracy and the need for governors to protect and defend democratic principles.
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