Newsom, Pritzker Threaten to Leave Govs’ Group Over Troop Deployments
California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks before the official signing ceremony of the Belgian Economic Mission of the West coast of the United States on Monday, Oct. 6, 2025, in San Francisco (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, Pool)
The Democratic governors of California and Illinois are threatening to withdraw from the National Governors Association (NGA), criticizing the organization’s silence regarding President Trump’s recent deployment of National Guard troops across state lines to address widespread unrest and violence.
California Governor Gavin Newsom argued that the NGA’s unwillingness to defend what he called “state sovereignty” undermines its purpose. “If we cannot come together, on a bipartisan basis, on this basic principle of state sovereignty, what purpose does the National Governors Association serve?” Newsom wrote in a letter circulated to fellow governors nationwide.
Founded in 1908, the NGA traditionally focuses on bipartisan cooperation and policy coordination among the states, while its partisan counterparts—the Democratic Governors Association (DGA) and Republican Governors Association (RGA)—handle campaign and political advocacy work.
Newsom and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, both considered potential 2028 presidential contenders, claim that President Trump’s actions represent more than a policy disagreement. They argue that the use of National Guard units in states whose governors object is an infringement on state authority that should concern every governor.
“The credibility of the National Governors Association—and our integrity as state executives—rests on our willingness to apply our principles consistently, regardless of which administration attacks them,” Pritzker said in a letter addressed to Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, the current NGA chair.
Governor Stitt has not yet responded publicly to the latest criticism, though he stated at a previous news conference that the NGA should avoid taking stances on issues where there is no consensus among its members, leaving such debates to the DGA and RGA.
Several Democratic governors have already left the NGA this year, including those of Kansas, Michigan, and Minnesota. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly cited the group’s annual membership cost of roughly $100,000 as unjustifiable, saying the funds could be better used to secure federal support for state initiatives.
While partisan divisions deepen over President Trump’s law-and-order measures, the NGA’s leadership faces growing pressure to either take a stand—or risk further defections from within its ranks.
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