Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Colorado Governor Jared Polis have formed a coalition of governors to combat “growing threats of autocracy” and strengthen democracy during a second Donald Trump presidency.

The goal of Governors Protecting Democracy, or GSD, is to protect democratic institutions at the state level and to use their collective legislative, budgetary, executive, and administrative powers. Pritzker said it would “catalyze collaboration between states.”

“It builds on a model that all of us governors have already successfully implemented through the Reproductive Freedom Alliance,” Pritzker said. “And together, what we are doing is fighting the growing threats of autocracy and strengthening the democratic institutions on which our country and our states depend.”

The coalition marks the latest national effort by Pritzker, who is mulling his own political future as a third-term governor and potential 2028 presidential candidate. The Democratic governor formed the nonprofit Think Big America last year to help support abortion rights ballot initiatives. The group was victorious in seven states.

The newly formed governors’ coalition is billed as “nonpartisan,” but co-chairs Pritzker and Polis did not detail GOP participation in a call with reporters. They also made no direct mention of Trump himself.

“Efforts have been made with Republican governors,” Pritzker said. “Good conversations, I might add, and there is continued interest from many governors. But I’m not going to name those we spoke to.

Asked about the list of participating governors, a spokesperson said some governors did not want to be named publicly.

Pritzker cited environmental protection and the threat of mass evictions as the types of issues governors will discuss. Pritzker called new Trump administration adviser Stephen Miller’s plan to use National Guard units from red states in blue states to facilitate mass deportations “unacceptable.” Miller will serve as Trump’s chief deputy policy adviser.

“This is not something that under Title 32 would be allowed, and we would not, and certainly would not, cooperate with it,” Pritzker said. “Beyond that, I can’t say how they plan to accomplish that.”

The group will also focus on protecting the integrity of election systems, including against tampering by foreign entities.

“We are constantly on guard and honestly under attack from Iran, China, Russia – our systems here in the state of Illinois. So it’s not like we’re giving up any response to a threat to the federal government,” Pritzker said. “We have to be our own response, and to the extent that the federal government doesn’t do enough or doesn’t respond in a way that suits us, we reserve the right to respond in our own way.”

The goal is to protect state executive agencies, elections and courts — and also to develop playbooks that governors and staff can use in response to “emerging threats,” Pritzker said.

The group is funded by philanthropic efforts — and Pritzker, a prolific supporter of Democratic causes, said he did not contribute any of his own funds.

Polis said the coalition is working with think tanks, legal experts, democracy and open government advocates to create plans that will “truly protect the rule of law.”

“We founded GSD because we know that mere hope will not save our democracy,” Polis said. “We must work together, especially at the state level, to protect and strengthen it. »