A coalition of Democratic governors has announced the creation of a new alliance focused on public health coordination. The group aims to facilitate data sharing, joint messaging about health threats, emergency preparedness, and policy development among member states.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore stated, “At a time when the federal government is telling the states, ‘you’re on your own,’ governors are banding together.” This move is being positioned as a response to what these governors see as insufficient action from President Donald Trump’s administration in addressing public health needs.
The alliance forms against a backdrop of partisan disagreement over pandemic measures. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s advisers have chosen not to recommend COVID-19 vaccinations universally, instead leaving decisions up to individuals.
Andrew Nixon, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, responded by saying that Democratic governors who enforced school closures and mask mandates during the pandemic “destroyed public trust in public health.” He added, “The Trump Administration and Secretary Kennedy are rebuilding that trust by grounding every policy in rigorous evidence and Gold Standard Science – not the failed politics of the pandemic.”
Although calling itself a “nonpartisan coordinating hub,” all initial members of the Governors Public Health Alliance are Democrats. The founding group includes 14 state governors and Guam’s governor. Notable participants include California Governor Gavin Newsom, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, and Maryland’s Moore—several of whom are seen as potential candidates for the 2028 presidential election.
Democratic governors have previously collaborated through regional groups formed during Trump’s first term to address pandemic-related challenges. These efforts have continued amid ongoing uncertainty regarding federal vaccine policies and access to COVID-19 vaccines at the state level.
Organizers say this new alliance does not replace existing collaborations or work done by organizations such as the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials but is intended to complement them.
Dr. Mandy Cohen—a former CDC director under President Joe Biden—serves as an adviser to the alliance alongside others from both parties. She commented: “The CDC did provide an important backstop for expertise and support,” adding that with some functions diminished following leadership changes at CDC, it is now important for states to share best practices and coordinate efforts because ongoing health threats remain unresolved.
Other initiatives have also emerged seeking to fulfill roles previously handled by CDC before recent restructuring within that agency.
The Governors Public Health Alliance receives backing from GovAct, described as a nonprofit and nonpartisan donor-funded initiative supporting projects related to democracy protection and reproductive freedom in addition to public health.
