States in the Resistance Spring 2026: Fighting Back Against Trump’s Extremism with Real Wins for Families

The Trump administration’s Project 2025 blueprint and the passage of H.R. 1—dubbed the Big, Ugly Bill—have unleashed a wave of attacks on working families, cutting vital programs like SNAP and Medicaid while showering billionaires with tax breaks. But states aren’t taking this lying down. In 2026, a growing resistance is proving that governance can mean protecting people, not enriching the elite.

Washington and Maine have enacted millionaires’ taxes to claw back some of the wealth funneled upward by federal tax cuts. Washington’s law also expands the Working Families Tax Credit, ensuring half a million families get direct financial help, K-12 students receive free meals, and parents can afford basics like diapers. California is poised for similar action with a billionaires’ tax initiative on the ballot. Oregon, Colorado, and New Mexico are disconnecting from the federal tax code changes to preserve tax credits and affordable housing programs for their residents.

Indiana stands out as a battleground for reproductive and LGBTQIA+ rights. Despite having some of the harshest abortion restrictions, activists and lawmakers successfully killed bills that would have criminalized abortion medication possession and targeted transgender people. This victory is a rare but crucial pushback against extremist policies.

Virginia is also resisting the Trump administration’s assault on workers. The state legislature passed and Governor Abigail Spanberger signed laws guaranteeing paid sick and family leave, expanding collective bargaining rights, mandating salary transparency, and raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour. These measures represent a significant advance for over eight million Virginians facing federal rollbacks of workplace protections.

Oregon codified federal workplace protections for home care workers threatened by the Department of Labor, affirming their right to minimum wage and overtime pay. Michigan lawmakers introduced the SAFER Act to hold schools accountable for protecting students from sexual harassment and discrimination, addressing gaps left by federal enforcement.

Nebraska’s bipartisan coalition fought to extend child care subsidies that were set to expire, countering federal proposals to repeal rules making child care affordable. This fight recognizes that supporting families is essential to community and economic health.

Across the board, these state victories highlight a crucial truth: when the federal government abandons its duty to protect civil rights and economic security, states can and must fill the gap. The resistance is not just rhetoric—it is tangible policy progress that offers hope amid the Trump administration’s relentless attacks. Our democracy depends on this fight.