PHOENIX, ARIZ. — In the middle of the Arizona desert, under the chandeliers of the historic Biltmore Hotel, nearly every major Democratic governor in the country gathered this weekend sounding less like state executives and more like national opposition leaders preparing for the fight of their political lives.

Fresh off a string of off-year victories — from blue strongholds on the coasts to suburban gains in the Midwest — the party’s rising gubernatorial stars arrived in Phoenix with something they haven’t had in years: momentum. But beneath the upbeat speeches and donor-side optimism ran an unmistakable current of anxiety, fueled by escalating attacks from the Trump White House and looming fears about redistricting, election rules, and the fate of democracy itself.

Their message, however, was coordinated and clear: Governors, not Washington lawmakers, are now the backbone of the Democratic Party — and possibly its future.

“People aren’t as political as you think they are.”

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, who just took the reins as chair of the Democratic Governors Association (DGA), framed Democrats’ recent wins as proof that kitchen-table issues still cut through national chaos.

“Our candidates recognize that people aren’t as political as many think,” Beshear said. “If we keep showing Americans we understand the challenges they face, we can win in places we haven’t for a long time.”

He wasn’t subtle about where he wants to compete next: Georgia, Nevada… and even Iowa.

Democrats currently control 23 governorships. Beshear’s mission is nothing short of flipping the balance for the first time in nearly 20 years.

2028 Buzz: Quiet, But Everywhere

With nearly 50 governors and gubernatorial hopefuls on hand — and a donor class openly shopping for future presidential material — 2028 speculation hung over every coffee break and hallway conversation.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, the outgoing DGA chair, didn’t hesitate when asked if the next Democratic nominee would be a governor:

“Not only do I think it should be — it will be. Real leadership is coming from governors.”

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, the DGA’s newly elected vice chair, danced around the question of her own national ambitions, but didn’t deny the logic.

“My money is on a Democratic governor to be the next president,” Whitmer said, smiling.

Meanwhile, California Gov. Gavin Newsom — still the Democrats’ most polarizing national figure — insisted he wasn’t in Arizona to talk 2028. Then, with a wink, he reminded donors that “the quiet part out loud” was fundraising, and that 2026 would determine whether Democrats have a fighting chance in 2028.

“I don’t think there’ll be a free, fair election in 2028 unless we’re successful in 2026,” Newsom warned. Coming from the governor seen as the party’s biggest national surrogate against Trump, the comment landed like a shot across the bow.

Trump Looms Over Everything

Even as they celebrated their wins, nearly every governor acknowledged the shadow cast by Trump and a White House aggressively working to reshape election rules before the midterms.

“This guy’s not screwing around,” Newsom said. “And neither can we.”

From redistricting battles in the Midwest to the administration’s flirtation with federal oversight of state elections, Democrats worry that Republicans are maneuvering to tilt the playing field for a decade.

Their response: fight everywhere — legally, legislatively, and electorally.

The New Democratic Message: “Affordability” — Not Trump

One of the clearest takeaways from the weekend: the DGA has found its new buzzword. Not “democracy.” Not “abortion rights.” Not even “Trump.”

It’s affordability.

From Manhattan to Maricopa County, Democrats credit their 2025 wins to relentless messaging on cost-of-living, wages, healthcare, and kitchen-table economics.

Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill — whose surprise blowout win in New Jersey stunned Republicans — warned fellow Democrats against drifting back into elite outrage.

“You can’t just say, ‘I’m upset about what Trump did to the White House,’” Sherrill said. “You need to say: ‘Your coffee costs more because of Trump’s tariffs.’”

Sherrill’s success has become a case study inside the DGA: ignore the noise, attack Republicans’ economic record, and meet voters where they live.

Democrats Smell Opportunity in Red States

From the Tennessee special election (where Democrats outperformed Biden’s 2024 numbers) to next week’s Miami mayoral runoff, Democrats appear emboldened — even in deep-red territory.

Former GOP congressman-turned-Democratic Florida candidate David Jolly was practically jubilant.

“I think a Democrat might win Miami for the first time in 30 years,” Jolly said. “If we can build a coalition here, we can build one anywhere.”

In Wisconsin, Democrat Mandela Barnes made waves by openly calling to redraw state legislative maps to favor Democrats — a move outgoing Gov. Evers refused to consider.

“Open is an understatement,” Barnes said. “We need a map where we pick up two seats.”

In Iowa, State Auditor Rob Sand — the lone Democrat elected statewide — made the argument in plain terms:

“I’m not interested in fitting into a party. I’m interested in serving Iowans.”

The Bottom Line: A Party on the Rise, But Racing Against the Clock

The Phoenix gathering proved two things at once:

Democrats believe they’ve cracked the electoral code.
But they fear Trump may change the rules before they get to use it.

Governors, more than House or Senate Democrats, have become the party’s frontline tacticians: running the states, raising the money, shaping the message, and quietly auditioning for 2028.

As Beshear put it:
“If we can show people we’re for them, we’ll start winning in places we haven’t in a long time.”

The question now is whether Democrats can translate their confidence into control — first in 2026, and then on the national stage in 2028.

They think they can.
They think they must.
And after Phoenix, it’s clear they think governors — not Washington Democrats — will be the ones to do it.