From Honolulu to Boston, our Democratic Lieutenant Governors have been leading efforts to ensure Americans have access to broadband, safer schools, quality, affordable health care and so much more.
See more highlights from our Lt. Governors on how they continue to lead across the country:
NORTH CAROLINA
In North Carolina, early vote recently kicked off for the Republican runoff on May 14. Lt. Governor Mark Robinson recently announced his endorsement of Hal Weatherman in the LG runoff. Both candidates want to bring the same type of out-of-touch, extreme MAGA ideology to executive office in North Carolina.
CBS 17: Robinson backing Weatherman in GOP runoff for NC lieutenant governor
Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson is weighing in on who he wants to see win his party’s runoff next month to be the nominee for lieutenant governor.
Robinson, who is running for governor this year, told a crowd of supporters he’s voting for Hal Weatherman, according to a video clip posted on Facebook in late March.
Weatherman faces Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O’Neill in the runoff election on May 14.
“It’s no surprise that an extreme politician like Mark Robinson is throwing his support behind a running mate like Hal Weatherman who wants to ban abortion, defund public education, and wreak havoc on North Carolina’s economy,” said Kevin Holst, executive director of the Democratic Lt. Governor’s Association. “Hal Weatherman is looking to continue the dangerous Mark Robinson legacy in the Lt. Governor’s office, which is why Rachel Hunt is the only candidate for the job.”
ILLINOIS
In Illinois, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton continues her efforts to invest in black material health and to bring equity to women’s health care.
Chicago Tribune: Women’s health summit in South Holland seeks to address resources
Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton addresses a health care summit Saturday at South Suburban College, noting the work the state does to provide health care to women. Stratton said it’s incumbent on health providers and the government to listen to women, and said women have to speak up for themselves. The state tries to encourage that relationship, she said.
HAWAIʻI
Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke announced this week a $1 billion project in partnership with Google to expand Hawaiʻi’s internet infrastructure with Japan, the continental U.S., the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), and Guam.
Hawaiʻi News Now: Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, Google executive detail $1B project to expand Hawaii’s internet infrastructure
Kaua’i Now: Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, Google executive detail $1B project to expand Hawaii’s internet infrastructure
Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, leader of Connect Kākou, Hawaiʻi’s high-speed internet initiative, and Benji Robinson, Director of Asia Pacific Network Planning and Acquisition for Google, unveiled plans Tuesday for the construction of a $1 billion project to create new fiber-optic internet subsea cables.
The cables will connect Hawaiʻi with Japan, the continental U.S., the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), and Guam. These new transpacific routes are expected to enhance internet reliability and connectivity for users in the Pacific Islands and around the world.
“We are truly grateful for Google’s transformative investment in our state’s digital infrastructure,” said Lt. Gov. Luke. “These undersea cables are our foundation for connecting with the world, and the introduction of the Taihei and Tabua projects are a key to Connect Kākou’s efforts. Just how we need multiple roads to get in and out of different areas, we need these pathways to ensure that everyone can get online, stay online and thrive.”
PENNSYLVANIA
Lt. Gov. Austin Davis is promoting the administration’s $47 million investment in school safety and mental health funding for students impacted by gun violence across Pennsylvania.
Lehigh Valley News: Lehigh Valley schools tap into $47M in Pa. school safety, mental health funding
The committee, or SSSC, falls under the umbrella of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, or PCCD, which serves as the justice planning and policymaking agency for the state.
“As a father, I understand how much Pennsylvania parents care about keeping their kids safe at school and healthy in body and mind,” Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, who is chairman of both the SSSC and PCCD, said.
“Our kids are facing so many pressures, and our schools are dealing with significant challenges.
“The Shapiro-Davis Administration is committed to making sure our schools have the resources they need to keep their facilities secure from threats and provide the mental health services and support that our kids need.”
Your Erie: Advocates gather to show support for program aimed at helping crime victims
Violent crime impacts the lives of millions of Americans, and Pennsylvania is no exception.
Monday in Harrisburg, victims and advocates gathered to highlight the commonwealth’s Victim Compensation Program, or VCAP.
“After losing a child to gun violence, the last thing a parent should have to think about is ‘how am I gonna pay for a proper funeral?’ After an injury caused by an abusive partner, the last thing a survivor should have to think about is ‘how am I gonna pay my medical bills?’ And after experiencing a sexual assault, the last thing a survivor should have to think about is ‘how am I gonna pay for the counseling to help me cope with this trauma?’” said Pennsylvania’s Lt. Governor Austin Davis.
WISCONSIN
Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez continues to hold President Trump’s extreme anti-abortion agenda accountable as he campaigns in Wisconsin.
Spectrum News: Trump blasts Biden on economy during latest visit to Wisconsin
Just hours before Trump visited Wisconsin, the Biden-Harris campaign weighed in. Democrats and campaign surrogates, including Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, said their goal is to, in part, hold the former president accountable for his “extreme anti-abortion agenda.”
“Waukesha was once considered a Republican stronghold, but in recent years, I’ve seen my neighbors, my friends, my family members who are now voting for Democrats. That’s because here in Waukesha, we are common-sense people. We reject extremism and government interference, especially when it comes to our private medical decisions,” Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez said. “This is why we are going to continue to reject Donald Trump, who has unabashedly claimed credit for overturning Roe v. Wade, leaving my daughter and myself with less rights than my mother had.”
OREGON
Secretary of State and Lt. Governor candidate Tobias Read recently secured the endorsement of the Willamette Weekly.
Willamette Weekly: WW’s May 2024 Endorsements: Statewide
Tobias Read, who has served two terms as state treasurer, is term-limited from running again and is now seeking the position. Read is the easy choice here over state Sen. James Manning (D-Eugene).
Read, 48, a former Nike executive and five-term lawmaker from Beaverton who unsuccessfully challenged Gov. Tina Kotek in the 2022 Democratic gubernatorial primary, is an ambitious politician who has shown himself to have a steady hand. As state treasurer, he’s overseen strong returns for the state’s more than $100 billion in pension funds, navigated the political pressures to divest that portfolio from fossil fuels, and spoken with a calm voice on contentious land board issues such as management of the Elliott State Forest. As the state’s chief elections officer, Read would give all Oregonians the confidence they should have in their electoral system.
DELAWARE
Lt. Governor Bethany Hall Long recently announced support from 14 past and present lieutenant governors in her race for Governor.
Delawareonline: Hall-Long receives support from 14 past, present lieutenant governors in run for Delaware
A letter from the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association, signed by 14 former and current elected officials, has endorsed Hall-Long for Delaware governor, pointing to the bureaucrat’s efforts to revive the lieutenant governors association from ‘dormancy.’
‘In 2022, as chair of the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association, Hall-Long helped us protect 11 incumbents and flip two seats from red to blue,’ the officials wrote in their letter of endorsement. ‘Thanks to her stewardship, the number of Democratic lieutenant governors across the states and territories grew to 25.’
@bethanyhalllong: BIG NEWS: A coalition of current and former Lieutenant Governors from Harrisburg to Honolulu just endorsed my campaign. These folks know what it takes to fight hard and win tough races. I’m so proud of the work we’ve all done since bringing the DLGA back to life six years ago.
MINNESOTA
As the highest ranking statewide Native American elected official, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan celebrated the new renovation of the Minneapolis American Indian Center.
WCCO: Minneapolis American Indian Center ushers in new era after massive renovation
It hosted a reopening celebration to commemorate the massive renovation project over the past few years. Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan got a preview of the facility last week and was thrilled to welcome visitors Wednesday.
“This is an investment that will matter for generation after generation after generation,” she said before thanking the center’s executive director, Mary LaGarde, for her dedication to the project. “We are here for this ribbon cutting because of her heart and because of her love for the urban native community.”
With the ribbon officially cut, the center opened its doors to well over 100 people with wide eyes and smiles as several generations soaked in the newly renovated space that originally opened in 1975.
MASSACHUSETTS
Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll continues to promote STEM education across the commonwealth.
Spectrum News: Lieutenant governor chairs STEM Advisory Council meeting in Westborough
Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll was in Westborough on Monday to chair a meeting of the STEM Advisory Council.
It took place at the Mass Tech Collaborative, an organization which drives competitiveness in the technology and innovation economy.
Its CEO said they do this through strategic investments, partnerships, leveraging talent and workforce across a variety of tech areas.
Monday’s meeting featured a discussion about how students can help meet the needs of the industry when they graduate high school.
KANSAS
Lt. Gov. David Toland announced this week a $450 million investment to expand Kansas’ high-speed internet infrastructure.
The Sabetha Herald: Kansas is moving forward with internet deployment plan
“We understand the importance of providing opportunities for all Kansans by setting up our communities for success now and in the future,” said Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland.
MICHIGAN
Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist met with leaders of community colleges across Michigan to discuss how AI is accelerating changes in the workforce and what they can do to help students better prepare for those changes as they head into the workforce.
WILX News 10 Lt. Gov., national experts discuss how Artificial Intelligence could impact higher education and the workforce
