The Democratic governors of California and Illinois are threatening to leave the National Governors Association because of its silence on President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops across state lines despite objections from the receiving states’ leaders.
“If we cannot come together, on a bipartisan basis, on this basic principle of state sovereignty, what purpose does the National Governors Association serve?” California Gov. Gavin Newsom asked in a letter to the nation’s other governors.
The bipartisan governors’ group, founded in 1908, advocates for issues where governors find common ground and hosts meetings for exchanging ideas. Separate Democratic and Republican governors’ associations take more partisan positions and help finance campaigns.
Newsom and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, both potential 2028 presidential candidates, contend Trump’s troop deployments should be a concern for all governors. However, some Republican governors support Trump’s actions, and the NGA has not taken a position.
“I’m not sure the policy issue of whether the Constitution allows for federal involvement in the state and National Guard is something that the NGA would want to tackle,” noted Republican Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe, who co-chairs the organization’s task force on emergency management and public health.
Several Democratic governors have already left the NGA, including those from Kansas, Michigan, and Minnesota. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly pointed out that the state’s $100,000 annual dues were not a good investment, urging the group to challenge canceled federal grants.
Some Democrats see Guard action diminishing states’ role
The NGA's challenges are part of a broader reflection on how to respond to major changes during Trump’s second term. Recently, Trump has attempted to deploy Texas National Guard members to Chicago and California Guard members to Portland, Oregon, to protect federal immigration facilities amid claims of rising crime. Legal challenges have arisen from Democratic leaders in those states, with some judges blocking deployments while others have not.
Newsom and Pritzker emphasize that the National Guard deployments are an infringement on state sovereignty that cannot be ignored.
“The credibility of the National Governors Association — and our integrity as state executives — depends on our consistency in applying our principles, regardless of the administration in question,” Pritzker stated in a letter to Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, NGA chair.
Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott did not respond to requests for comment but previously criticized the Democratic governors' stance in a social media post.
Bipartisan group doesn’t always weigh in
The NGA promotes bipartisanship, often avoiding divisive issues. While some matters have brought governors together, such as disaster response and workforce development, there is clear division on Trump’s national security policies.
Stitt and NGA vice chair Wes Moore recently addressed potential federal shutdown concerns without proposing specific solutions, urging federal leaders to dialogue.
A lack of consensus surrounds Trump's immigration policies, with Kehoe noting no requests for joint statements denying Trump's deployments have been made. He suggested that Chicago could benefit from additional security help.
