Healey does not join Dem-governor-led group

The coalition bills itself as a nonpartisan effort to combine the power of multiple governor’s offices to “protect the institutions of democracy at the state level.” Democratic governors JB Pritzker of Illinois and Jared Polis of Colorado launched the effort this week.

“At this critical moment in our history, we must unite to protect the foundations of our democracy and ensure that our institutions withstand threats and continue their mission to improve the lives of our people,” Pritzker said in a statement.

The group did not respond to questions about which other governors have committed to the effort, and Pritzker and Polis has publicly denied to identify other membersexcept to note that they have also reached out to Republicans.

The coalition expected to receive what Pritzker has described as “philanthropic” backing. But exactly how it intends to leverage the power of multiple governors’ offices, or on what issues it intends to fight the Trump administration, was not immediately clear. The group says its goals include trying to “protect the rule of law” and developing “playbooks” for governors to respond to.

It also works with another organization, the Governors Action Alliance, which has a decidedly Massachusetts influence; former governors Deval Patrick, a Democrat, and William Weld, a Republican, both serve on the group’s advisory board.

At the very least, the governors who protect democracy could offer their Democratic leaders a platform to respond to Trump. Pritzker was among those investigated by Vice President Kamala Harris campaign as a potential running mate. Neither did the police hide his interest in the role before Harris ultimately defeated Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

“If they do the polling and it turns out they need a 49-year-old, bald, gay Jew from Boulder, Colo., they got my number,” Polis joked over the summer.

Karissa Hand, a spokesman for Healey, said that while she is not a member of Governors Safeguarding Democracy, Healey is in “frequent contact with other governors.”

“Governor Healey . . . will continue to work closely with them as she focuses on lowering costs for the people of Massachusetts and protecting their rights and freedoms,” Hand said.

Healey later told reporters that governors already have an “infrastructure” to communicate and coordinate.

“I saw the announcement that two governors, Governor Pritzker and Governor Polis, are organizing something, but I will continue to work with my governors,” she said sadly. “We’re just going to have to evaluate as things happen, the different steps we need to take, what we need to do in our states, what we need to do collaboratively, what we need to do with other state officials.

“If anyone in the federal government does something that violates the law, they will be held accountable by the state attorneys general and certainly with the support of state governors,” she said.

Massachusetts Democrats have already indicated they are preparing their own defensive front against another Trump administration. Healey himself has promised in national media appearances that “hold the line” against Trump, including to protect Massachusetts from the mass deportations of undocumented immigrants that Trump has promised.

But she also struck a different tone immediately after last week’s election, calling it “a time to come together” amid stark partisan divisions. She also promised to be a voice for those who voted for Trump. (Harris won Massachusetts, although Trump made gains in several parts of the state to claim nearly 37 percent of the vote here.)

“Whoever you are, whoever you voted for, know that we will continue to work together and move forward,” Healey told reporters last week, calling himself a “governor for everybody” in the state. “My message today to everyone in Massachusetts is that we see you. We see you whether you voted for the president-elect or not.”

Anjali Huynh of the Globe staff contributed to this report.

Matt Stout can be contacted at [email protected]. Follow him @mattpstout.