Democratic Governors Roll Out Roadmaps for Success

Summary

The MeidasTouch Podcast: "Democratic Governors Roll Out Roadmaps for Success"
Release Date: June 26, 2025
Host: MeidasTouch Network (Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas)

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Introduction: Democratic Governors vs. Trumpism

In this episode, the Meiselas brothers delve into the strategies and successes of Democratic governors across the United States. Ben Meiselas sets the stage by highlighting how these governors are actively countering Donald Trump and the remnants of Trumpism through both rhetoric and tangible actions aimed at fiscal responsibility and public welfare.

Key Points:

• Fiscal Responsibility: Democratic governors are balancing budgets without accruing deficits.
• Public Welfare: Investments in healthcare, education, infrastructure, and job training.
• Opposition to Trumpism: Actively opposing policies perceived as beneficial to the wealthy at the expense of the general populace.

Notable Quote:

Ben [01:05]: "Democratic governors are ripping Donald Trump and Trumpism to shreds, not just with their powerful words and speeches, but through their actions."

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Governor Pritzker’s Commitment to Fiscal Responsibility

A significant portion of the episode features excerpts from Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker’s recent speeches, underscoring his administration’s fiscal strategies and contrasting them with the Trump administration’s policies.

Governor Pritzker’s Key Messages:

• Balanced Budget: Maintaining a balanced budget while funding essential programs.
• Economic Investments: Continued investment in childcare, infrastructure, and job training despite economic challenges.
• Critique of Trump Administration: Accusations of the Trump administration’s mismanagement and its negative impacts on states like Iowa and Indiana.

Notable Quotes:

Governor Pritzker [02:34]: “Illinois is showing a better way, balancing the budget while maintaining the programs that most people rely on.”

Governor Pritzker [04:49]: “After decades of budget mismanagement, we are doing the hard work of crafting balanced budgets year after year.”

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Discussion with Ophira Yaskel: Strategies and Successes of Democratic Governors

Ben is joined by Ophira Yaskel, Senior Strategist at the Democratic Governors Association (DGA), who provides deeper insights into the operational strategies of Democratic governors and their focus on "kitchen table issues" that directly affect constituents.

Key Discussion Points:

• DGA’s Effectiveness: Democratic governors are effective because they are attuned to their communities’ needs.
• Contrast with Republican Governors: While Democratic governors actively oppose detrimental policies, Republican counterparts are criticized for being inactive and overly aligned with Trumpism.
• Upcoming Governor Races: Emphasis on pivotal races in Virginia and New Jersey as indicators of the party’s future direction and voter sentiment.

Notable Quotes:

Ophira Yaskel [07:31]: “Democratic governors get stuff done. They deliver for people, whether that's funding your schools or fixing your roads.”

Ophira Yaskel [09:07]: “Republican governors stay mute, and I think that's a great example of the contrast here.”

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Spotlight on Pivotal Governor Races: Virginia and New Jersey

The conversation shifts to the critical governor races in Virginia and New Jersey, which are seen as bellwethers for the Democratic Party's momentum heading into the midterms.

Virginia:

• Candidate: Abigail Spanberger
• Opponent: Incumbent Glenn Youngkin
• Focus: Affordability plans targeting healthcare, housing, and energy costs.
• Strategy: Emphasis on delivering for Virginians through a comprehensive bus tour addressing everyday issues.

New Jersey:

• Candidate: Mikey Sherrill
• Opponent: Jack Ciattarelli
• Highlights: Sherrill’s background as a Navy helicopter pilot and her successful track record in flipping a traditionally red district.
• Policy Focus: Lowering prescription drug costs, job creation, infrastructure improvement, and protecting abortion rights.
• Historic Potential: A win would mark the first time in 60 years that Democrats hold the governorship in New Jersey for three consecutive terms.

Notable Quotes:

Ophira Yaskel [10:47]: “These governor races are a really big one that can send a message about where we are as a party and that we're really heading on offense into the midterms.”

Ben [10:28]: “These midterms couldn't come any sooner.”

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Call to Action: Get Involved with the Democratic Governors Association

The episode concludes with a heartfelt appeal to listeners to engage with the Democratic Governors Association (DGA) to support ongoing and future gubernatorial campaigns.

How to Get Involved:

• Text Campaign: Listeners are encouraged to text "demgovs" to 30201 to join and support the DGA’s initiatives.
• Volunteer Opportunities: Engage with campaigns that focus on reelecting incumbent Democratic governors and flipping key states.
• Future Goals: Aim to influence statewide elections in battlegrounds like Georgia and Nevada, and maintain Democratic leadership in states with long-standing Republican governors.

Notable Quote:

Ophira Yaskel [12:53]: “If you're looking to get involved and find a place to channel your energy, these gov races are the one. So text demgovs to 30201. We'd love to have you.”

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Conclusion

Throughout the episode, the Meiselas brothers, with the expertise of Ophira Yaskel, effectively illustrate the proactive measures Democratic governors are taking to ensure fiscal responsibility and enhance the quality of life for their constituents. By contrasting these actions with the policies and rhetoric associated with Trumpism, the discussion underscores the importance of strategic gubernatorial leadership in shaping the nation’s future. The emphasis on key gubernatorial races further highlights the critical role these elections play in determining the political landscape leading into the midterms.

Listeners are left with a clear understanding of the Democratic Governors Association’s mission, the importance of supporting effective leadership at the state level, and actionable steps to get involved in the political process.

Transcript

[Ben]

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[Ophira Yaskel]

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[Ben]

CPI comparison Democratic governors are ripping Donald Trump and Trumpism to shreds, not just with their powerful words and speeches, but through their actions. Democratic governors are showing that you can have a balanced budget, a fiscally responsible state, while making sure that the government delivers for the people, protects the people, stands up for the people, and isn't used to intimidate, bully, threaten and harass the people. You see, government should be a tool called me old fashioned for this one to actually help people and not be a tool to help the billionaires and deca millionaires gain unfair advantages to get richer and screw over and torture the rest of us. Now Democratic Governor Pritzker from Illinois I think has been a great example of how you have a fiscally responsible budget, how you stand up for the people in your state, how you forcefully push back against Trumpism. I want to share with you a speech that he just gave where he brought the House down, where he talks about the budget that he has introduced that he is running in Illinois and he has contrasted that with with the abomination that is the disastrous Trump MAGA budget bill. Let me show you this clip.

[Governor Pritzker]

So continues our investments in quality childcare, modernizing roads and bridges, and expanding job training. That's hard to do while balancing the budget, but we did not everyone can say that the Trump administration is spending wildly on tax cuts for their wealthy friends while the Republicans in Congress are voting to gut health care and food assistance for working parents for seniors and children. The Trump slump is affecting the entire nation. Our neighbors in Iowa are dipping into their rainy day fund. And Indiana is making major cuts to higher education and health care. While the Trump administration goes on Fox News lying about being fiscally responsible, Illinois is showing a better way, balancing the budget while maintaining the programs that most people rely on. With rising gas prices across the nation and Trump tariffs taking a bite out of everyone's wallets, our General assembly and I are working together to make life more affordable for working families.

[Ben]

Now here's another incredible clip from that speech by Governor Pritzker.

[Governor Pritzker]

Let's play it Nickley. And he's all about the politics. And so I think what he's done in California has really hurt him politically. And so I don't think he'll do it in other places. But we know that ICE is coming once again in force to cities across the country and so we expect to see them in Chicago. I don't know exactly how big the force will be, but I do know that he has used other law enforcement along with ICE to, to carry out his, you know, ill conceived mission to go after people who frankly are paying taxes and they're law abiding and they've been here for many, many years. I think those are the wrong people to go after. We ought to go after the violent criminals. We ought to. People who get convicted of violent crimes, who are undocumented should be thrown out of this country. They should be taken out of Illinois and they should be thrown out of the country. That is not what they're doing.

[Ben]

Now here's another incredible speech, another clip from that incredible speech by Pritzker. Let's play it.

[Governor Pritzker]

After decades of budget mismanagement, we are doing the hard work of crafting balanced budgets year after year. This year that task was made harder by the turbulent national economic conditions and unstable federal funds flow caused by the chaos and ineptitude of the Trump administration. Despite that, the budget maintains core investments for Illinois's families without raising their taxes. In a year when revenues are expected to increase by 3.5%, we reigned in our discretionary spending to a less than 1% increase. If you compare Illinois's budgets to Trump's budgets during my time in office, Illinois's budgets have grown at a rate that is 25% lower than Trump's. Fiscal responsibility has defined our work with the Illinois General assembly since my first day in office. Since then, Illinois has secured nine credit upgrades from S and P and Moody's and Fitch, taking us back to a level ratings. Our pension funded ratio is now improving every year and the rainy day fund is at record highs Illinois's progress is real, and the financial bond houses have noticed when it comes to responsible fiscal stewardship. We're not resting on our laurels, though. This budget addresses the Tier 2 pension Social Security safe harbor fix, which will now begin in FY26 for a third time. Since I took office, we are funding above the required pension payment to create a $75 million reserve fund for the expected costs associated with maintaining the Social Security wage base. With this fix going into effect, we're protecting our taxpayers and state workers from future shortfalls that could cost the state much more.

[Ben]

I'm joined by Ophira Yaskel, senior strategist at the Democratic Governors association. Ifir. I just was showing some clips there of Governor Pritzker. And I could show a lot of other Democratic governors giving similar speeches about their budgets, but emphasizing fiscal responsibility, balanced budgets, no deficits, while investing in health care, while focusing on people's pensions, while focusing on actually improving people's lives. What a concept that that's what Democratic governors are focused on, huh?

[Ophira Yaskel]

Well, we like to say the dga, Democratic governors get stuff done. And I think Governor Pritzker is a great example of that. And you left this off, Ben, off the very long list of stuff that he covered. But I think the credit rating of Illinois has gone up several times over as he's been governor because he's been a good steward of the economy there. And it's not just balancing budgets, it's also creating jobs. And I think I could go down the list. I like to call Josh Shapiro Job Shapiro because of all the big announcements he's got in Pennsylvania. But they really are focused on these kitchen table issues and how they can deliver for people, whether that's funding your schools or fixing your roads or making sure that you have a good quality job and staying in your state. Makes sense. So Democratic governors really do get stuff done. And I think right now we're feeling that who your governor is is never mattered more. And that's just a case in point.

[Ben]

Right. I mean, I think it's also a difference of are you performing your job for the people? Are you performing your job for the cameras or for Donald Trump? And what you see in all of these red states, it is this performative MAGA cosplay ritual. You know, it reminds me of, you know, kind of playing, like playing dress up. And, you know, you know, they all go to their kind of MAGA festival and they all, you know, pledge allegiance to Donald Trump and. All right, what's our new MAGA catchphrase? Today. And it's just to me so divorced from what's going on in the ground. So talk to us though about performing for the people and actually delivering and what that kind of I think generalizations you can make about the message is coming from Democratic governors across the country.

[Ophira Yaskel]

Well, I think why we have so many Democratic governors this time is because they're in their communities and they're hearing from the people they serve about what's on their minds and then they're taking action to fix that. And I think it's a shame really when you see it come down to party lines speaking up about what's right. And this Republican bill in the Senate right now that would gut Medicaid and hurt snap something that hurts every governor in this country, not just Democratic governors and Republican ones. Seems like it's kind of splitting down party lines. And we've had Democratic governors on our side stand up in unison and say, hey, this doesn't work. We can't back bill these cuts. It's going to really hurt people in our states. But Republican governors stay mute. And I think that's a great example of the contrast here. And not to get ahead of you, Ben, but I think that's what's on the line for these two governors races that we have this year in Virginia and New Jersey where both of the Republican candidates are also a cut of the same cloth, seem really reluctant to have any daylight between them and the Trump administration even when it will hurt the states that they're in. And I think electing an executive like Abigail Spinberger in Virginia or Mikey Sherrill in New Jersey who will fight for what's right but also continue focusing on these kitchen table issues that we're hearing time and time again or what's on voters minds. And frankly, what Trump said he would deliver on day one and seems to be backing off that promise.

[Ben]

Let's talk about that. A lot of people are focusing on midterms or at least their minds and these midterms couldn't come any sooner. But we've got big governor's races right now. You mentioned Virginia and New Jersey. Talk about the candidates there and talk about why people really need to start focusing on this right now.

[Ophira Yaskel]

Well, we like to say there's no such thing as off years of the dga, but we do have two off year governor's races this year, Virginia, New Jersey and some reporters like to look at them as kind of an indicator of how people are feeling about what's going on in the country. And I think Virginia is a really great example for us to flip a state from red to blue. Glenn Youngkin's the governor there now, but we feel really good about the campaign that Abigail Spanberger is running. She's our we're officially in the general election there, the whole ticket set. And they're currently together in unity talking about how they're going to deliver for Virginians on a bus tour that they're on and talking about again these kitchen table issues. And Abigail Spanberger is laser focused on that. Has rolled out an affordability plan that would lower costs on health care, housing, energy. And on the other side of the coin in New Jersey, Mikey Sherrill is officially our candidate in the general election. They're really looking forward to her facing off with Jack Cittarelli. He's a two time loser and we think she'll make him a three time loser. But she's a former Navy helicopter pilot. She currently is a member of Congress and people might remember that she flipped a traditionally red district in New Jersey from red to blue. And she has a real record of delivering on these kitchen table issues. Again, she's fought to lower prescription drug costs, she's created jobs, she's focused on infrastructure. But she's also been a fighter for fundamental freedoms like abortion rights. So I think that's a really strong matchup in the general election. Looking forward to keeping New Jersey blue. And if we do that with Mikey Sher, we'll also have the opportunity to make some history, be the first time In I think 60 years that we've elected a Democrat in Trenton for three consecutive terms. So if folks watching now are looking for something to do and channel your energy into these two off year governor's races are a really big one that can send a message about where we are as a party and that we're really heading on offense into the midterms. We'll have 36 governor's races on our very big map.

[Ben]

Fear I see the sign behind you. It says text demgovs to 30201. Tell us about that. What can people do? They watch this. They want to get involved.

[Ophira Yaskel]

You want to get involved. Text that. Demgovs to 30201. It's the easiest way to get involved with the Democratic Governor association and the many, many campaigns that we have. The two this year, like I said, but the 36 next year where we have an opportunity to do a lot reelect a lot of the incumbents that I'm sure people watching know and love to really hold on to some seats where we've got some Democratic governors who are term limited and then to go on offense and really play some ball in places that people might not expect like like Georgia and to potentially flip Nevada. So a lot of opportunity this year and next. And if you're looking to get involved and find a place to channel your energy, these gov races are the one. So text demgovs to 30201. We'd love to have you.

[Ben]

I have a feeling you're about to get a lot of text messages. A theory Escalated Senior Strategist at the Democratic Governors Association. Thank you so much.

[Ophira Yaskel]

Thanks Ben.

[Ben]

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