Ralph Northam

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.

Eleven months out from the Virginia gubernatorial election, Democratic lieutenant governor Ralph Northam leads the four Republican candidates for the race in a new poll released by Quinnipiac University:

Northam 38
Ed Gillespie 34
Northam 39
Rob Wittman 30
Northam 39
Frank Wagner 30
Northam 38
Corey Stewart 29

Gillespie – the former chairman of the Republican National Committee – leads the Republican field in large part from name recognition after his narrow loss to Mark Warner in the 2014 Virginia Senate race:

Gillespie 24
Wittman 10
Wagner 4
Stewart 4

The majority of Republican voters – 57 percent – are undecided. It should also be noted that Wittman dropped out of the race last week.

Virginia governors approve of the job Governor Terry McAuliffe is doing 52-30. McAuliffe can’t run for reelection because Virginia state law limits governors to one term. Broken down into political demographics:

Democrats approve 75-8.
Independents approve 52-32.
Republicans disapprove 57-27.

Virginia is a rare bright spot in the south for Democrats, and one of their big success stories over the past decade in state and presidential election cycles. Democrats currently hold all five statewide elected offices – governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and both U.S. Senate seats – in what had previously been a Republican-leaning state.

Tag: Ralph Northam

Governors Oppose Trump Administration’s Family Separation Policy

Northam Leads Virginia Republican Candidates in New Poll