Democratic governors may offer a path forward for a party out of power in Washington
August 4, 2025
Democrats are out of power in Washington but hold 23 governors’ seats, including in five of the seven presidential battlegrounds Donald Trump swept last year. Some Democratic activists see that slate as the party’s best counter to the Republican president and evidence the party is not in as much disarray at it might sometimes seem. U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill is leaving the House minority to run for New Jersey governor. Sherill says the statewide job matters because governors have to get things done to improve people’s lives. Sitting Democratic governors have won minimum wage increases, expanded Medicaid insurance coverage and shored up abortion rights. The question is whether Democrats can scale those victories to federal elections.