From Arizona to Connecticut, our Democratic Lieutenant Governors have been leading efforts to ensure Americans have access to affordable housing while promoting workforce development programs and aiming to lower the cost of childcare.
See more highlights from our Lt. Governors on how they continue to lead across the country:
KANSAS
Kansas Lt. Gov. David Toland continues to lead on economic development throughout the state by creating job opportunities through affordable housing and historic restoration.
WDAF FOX4 Kansas City Kansas cities receive grants to restore historic buildings, create housing
Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland has announced that 5 communities will receive more than $390,000 in Emergency Historic Economic Asset Lifeline (E-HEAL) grants. The funds will be combined with $770,000 in local matching funding to help save buildings that have seen significant damage due to severe weather, fire, water, or are at risk of collapse, and/or causing damage to nearby buildings.
‘This year, Kansas has had its fair share of weather events that have caused significant damage to many historic buildings,’ said Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland. ‘The E-HEAL program helps save these structures, creates business opportunities in these communities, and elevates the aesthetic appeal of the downtown areas.’
KWCH 12 Eyewitness News Kansas earns Gold Shovel Award for economic development for fourth consecutive year
‘After years of decline — and Kansans fleeing to other states in search of economic opportunity — the Kelly-Toland Administration has Kansas back on a path of growth,’ Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. ‘Kansans in every region of our state deserved greater opportunities, and we needed a strategic plan to breathe life back into our communities.”
WISCONSIN
Lt. Gov Sara Rodriguez continues to travel the state and promote affordable housing options through the Habitat for Humanity program.
Pierce County Journal: Lieutenant governor visits site of Habitat for Humanity build in RF
Rodriguez said her uncle is a farmer in St. Croix Falls, so she loves the area. Rodriguez worked on a Habitat for Humanity house in Waukesha at one point in time.
Rodriguez called back on her time working as a nurse, discussing the “social determinants of health.” Social determinants of health are non-medical factors that have an impact on health.
“I can give you medicine, I can do all these procedures, it’s about the teeniest, tiniest percentage about how healthy you are,” Rodriguez said. “It’s about where you live, the air you breathe, the water you drink and whether you’ve got a good paying job to put a roof over your head and actually pay for those medications.”
MASSACHUSETTS
Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll is raising awareness about the danger of crisis pregnancy centers, while continuing to invest in affordable housing and combating the opioid crisis across Massachusetts.
WBUR State launches awareness campaign targeting ‘misrepresentation’ from crisis pregnancy centers
“The troubling practices of anti-abortion centers serve to undermine the trust that people should have in our health care system,” Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll said in a statement. “Education and accurate information can help counter the misinformation and unethical tactics these centers use to prey on people at a particularly vulnerable time.”
1420 WBSM Massachusetts Reports Record Decline in Opioid-Related Deaths
How Will the Opioid Crisis Continue to Decline in Massachusetts? The Healey-Driscoll Administration said that it will continue to build opioid overdose prevention efforts.
“Our administration continues to invest in community-level supports rooted in destigmatizing substance use disorder by meeting people where they are and understanding the ways in which factors such as housing and economic insecurity intersect with health,” Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll said.
POLITICO Six states where housing is hard to find. Here’s what governors are doing about it. – POLITICO
As state officials wait for the legal battle to play out, Healey and her number two, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, have essentially hit the campaign trail, holding housing-related events across the state and heaping praise on the communities that have already come into compliance with the law. And this spring, Healey and Driscoll launched a nonprofit advocacy group, One Commonwealth Inc., to push grassroots support for pro-housing policies at the local level. (Kelly Garrity)
Crux: Boston archdiocese setting up community with affordable housing
Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll joined archdiocesan leaders on June 12 for the groundbreaking of 150 River Street Village in Mattapan, Massachusetts, which over the next year will be transformed from a vacant lot owned by the city of Boston into 30 units of mixed-income, age restricted studio and one-bedroom rental units.
PENNSYLVANIA
Lt. Gov. Austin Davis continues to support small business initiatives and gun violence prevention programs.
Delco Daily Times: Lt. Gov. Austin Davis visits Delco to tout proposed $100M for gun violence prevention programs
On a visit to Delaware County on Thursday, Lt. Gov. Austin Davis spoke of $100 million in the governor’s budget directed toward gun violence protection while announcing the creation of an office to address this issue.
In doing so, he spoke of the success seen in Delaware County, in particular in Chester, as something to be emulated across the commonwealth.
“To combat the epidemic of gun violence, we need to take a comprehensive approach that addresses the root causes, invests in community-based organizations working to prevent violence and supports law enforcement agencies,” the lieutenant governor said. “That comprehensive approach is happening here in Delaware County and it’s a model for the rest of the commonwealth.”
Central Penn Business Journal Initiative launched to boost Pa. small businesses through Amazon
‘As chair of the Pennsylvania Advisory Council on Inclusive Procurement, I’m pleased to see state agencies like DGS being collaborative and taking the initiative to leverage the commonwealth’s purchasing power to support small and small, diverse businesses,’ Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis said . ‘The Shapiro-Davis Administration is focused like a laser on expanding opportunities for small businesses, which are the backbone of our economy.’ The initiative with Amazon Business aligns with Executive Order 2023-18 which Shapiro signed in 2023 to expand contracting opportunities for small businesses.
MICHIGAN
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist is celebrating “Negro Leagues Day” and Pride Month through the month of June. He also continues to advance workforce development programs throughout Michigan.
WSBT: Michigan designates May 2 as ‘Negro Leagues Day’ to honor Black baseball legacy
As a Detroit native, but also as a Black man, I am particularly proud to see this day recognized in the state of Michigan,’ Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II said. ‘As one of the eight founding teams of the Negro Leagues, the Detroit Stars are a testament to the rich sports history of our city and state. This acknowledgement not only honors their legacy but also educates and inspires our communities about the resilience and achievements of these pioneering athletes.”
Bridge Michigan: Opinion Michigan must prioritize mental health care, eliminate systemic barriers
Garlin Gilchrist is the Lieutenant Governor of the State of Michigan. Under Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan is leading the charge to eliminate stigmas around mental wellness, reshape mental healthcare and delivery, and provide a model for reform across the nation.pic
FOX 17 West Michigan News Lt. Gov. Gilchrist highlights improvements benefiting LGBTQ+ community
“It’s because of progress like that, that our administration and our allies have been able to make happen in Michigan, that we’re a safer and more welcoming state for members of the LGBTQ+ community,’ says Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist. ‘That’s why we had a bigger year-over-year jump in that Out Leadership index in any other state.”
WWMT-TV Lt. Gov. Gilchrist II leads Grand Rapids roundtable on Michigan Workforce Plan
Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II was in Grand Rapids Monday to host a roundtable discussion with local legislative and business leaders about the Michigan Statewide Workforce Plan.
DELAWARE
Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long is aiming to be the nation’s first nurse governor, and recently secured the endorsement of the Delaware State Education Association in her campaign for governor.
Nurse.org Bethany Hall-Long Runs To Be Nation’s First Nurse Governor
Despite the fact that she’s officially served as the Lieutenant Governor of Delaware for seven years running- Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long PhD, RNC, FAAN, had no intention of ever getting into politics.
Delaware First Media Delaware State Education Association endorses Bethany Hall-Long for Governor
The Delaware State Education Association endorses Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long in her campaign for Governor.
NORTH CAROLINA
In her bid for Lt. Governor, State Senator Rachel Hunt continues to make childcare cost the centerpiece of her campaign. Meanwhile, the extremism of the GOP ticket continues make headlines.
The Pilot Column: NC GOP’s Ticket May Be Too Extreme for Voters
The campaign website of Hal Weatherman, the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, lists his top five priorities as: ‘Donald Trump, building the wall, deporting illegals, Second Amendment and pro-life laws.’
Carolina Journal Government subsidies raises prices, even in childcare
The governor’s budget says that North Carolina taxpayers should spend $745 million in subsidizing the industry, in the form of ‘stabilization grants,’ and other programs. State Sen. Rachel Hunt, Democratic candidate for North Carolina’s lieutenant governor, has also made the issue a centerpiece of her campaign.
CONNECTICUT
Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz continues to work to lower costs of child care in Connecticut.
Public News Service CT legislation helps reduce child care provider shortage
Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, said the program will reduce child care costs. “This innovative program is going to split child care expenses evenly between employee, employer and the state to make sure that the burden is shared equitably,” Bysiewicz explained. The Economic Policy Institute found the average yearly cost of infant child care is more than $15,000, which then drops to almost $13,000 for a 4-year-old. Bysiewicz thinks bolstering statewide child care will reduce Connecticut’s overall workforce shortage.
MINNESOTA
Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan continues to highlight job training grants and workforce development across Minnesota.
Detroit Lakes Tribune Perham Health wins state on-the-job training grant
“These grants are crucial for supporting our state’s workforce and reflect our commitment to building a strong economic future for Minnesota,’ added Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan. ‘This program will ensure businesses in high-demand industries can build their workforce while more workers gain access to different training and career pathways: it’s a win-win scenario.’
KIMT 3 Workforce Development Inc. getting $400000 to train underrepresented workers for clean energy jobs
“Climate change has disproportionately impacted the people who are least responsible for the problem, namely low-income communities and communities of color,” says Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan.
ILLINOIS
Lt. Governor Stratton recently joined a panel of elected leaders in D.C. to discuss the critical need for gun safety champions in all levels of government.
The Crusader Newspaper Lt. Governor Stratton Joins National Leaders in Washington D.C. for Everytown’s Gun Violence Prevention Panel
Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton joined a panel of elected leaders at the ‘Gun Sense University’ conference in Washington, D.C., to discuss the critical need for gun safety champions in all levels of government. The annual event, hosted by Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund, brings together gun violence survivors, volunteers, and advocates for training on community organizing efforts.
