Gina Raimondo

Governors Oppose Trump Administration’s Family Separation Policy

In the past few days, governors from both parties have stated their opposition to President Donald Trump’s “zero tolerance policy” which has resulted in the separation of thousands of migrant children from their families at the border. Some governors issued statements, while others like Larry Hogan, Charlie Baker and Roy Cooper took action by recalling their National Guard troops that had been deployed to protect the border.

Here is the list, in alphabetical order by state, as of the night of June 19:

Colorado: Governor John Hickenlooper signed an executive order barring the use of state resources to implement the administration’s policy.
Connecticut: Governor Dannel Malloy issued a statement saying, “I will not condone the use of our military reservists to participate in any effort at the border that is connected to this inhumane practice. This vile practice must end.”
Delaware: Governor John Carney announced he had turned down a request to deploy National Guard forces to the border.
Maryland: Governor Larry Hogan announced he had ordered four National Guard crew members and a helicopter to return to Maryland from New Mexico.
Massachusetts: Governor Charlie Baker announced he was rescinding plans to send a National Guard helicopter to the border.
New Hampshire: Governor Chris Sununu told WMUR if he were asked by the administration, he would refuse to send National Guard to the border.
North Carolina: Governor Roy Cooper announced he was recalling three National Guard soldiers from the border.
Pennsylvania: Governor Tom Wolf tweeted, “I oppose state resources being used to further Pres. Trump’s policy of separating young children from their parents.”
Rhode Island: Governor Gina Raimondo announced she would not send the National Guard to the border, one day after signing a bill to protect Rhode Island Dreamers.
Vermont: A spokeswoman for Governor Phil Scott, who had already refused to deploy National Guard troops last April, repeated his position to WGBH.
Virginia: Governor Ralph Northam recalled four National Guard soldiers and a helicopter from the border.

For political context, Hickenlooper (D) and Malloy (D) are term-limited. Baker (R), Hogan (R), Raimondo (D), Scott (R), Sununu (R), and Wolf (D) are running for reelection. Carney (D), Cooper (D), and Northam (D) are in the middle of their current terms.

Four Governors Endorse Perez for DNC Chair

Tom Perez’s campaign for Democratic National Committee chairman announced four big gets today: governors John Hickenlooper (Colorado), John Bel Edwards (Louisiana), Gina Raimondo (Rhode Island) and Terry McAuliffe (Virginia).

CNN’s Marshall Cohen points out the significance of the endorsements:

These D govs scream ELECTABILITY: Hickenlooper won in GOP waves of '10 and '14. Raimondo won in '14. Edwards + McAuliffe won in off-years.

— Marshall Cohen (@Marshall_Cohen) December 22, 2016

Some context: Two of those states (Colorado and Virginia) are considered swing states but have been Democratic success stories over the course of the past decade in statewide and presidential elections. Rhode Island is in reliably Democratic New England. Louisiana – which has elected statewide Democrats in the past but has turned more Republican in recent years – is probably the most surprising endorsement of the bunch. Democrat Foster Campbell just lost the run-off race for the Louisiana Senate seat a few weeks ago.

Democrats Weigh In On Party’s Direction, Message and Future

Several Democrats – including a DNC chair candidate, an Obama cabinet secretary, and a potential 2020 presidential candidate – penned a collection of mini op-eds for the Washington Post outlining their vision for the party and its future. All of them are worth reading.