Bloomberg Invests in Long-Term Legal Battle Against Trump

Title: Everytown for Gun Safety to Invest $10 Million in Democratic Attorneys General Races

In a significant move aimed at bolstering Democratic legal power in key states, Michael R. Bloomberg’s gun control advocacy group, Everytown for Gun Safety, has pledged to invest $10 million to support the election of Democratic attorneys general in the upcoming years. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to ensure the rule of law and protect democratic values during a time of political polarization, especially with Donald Trump occupying the presidency.

The Everytown organization plans to focus its resources on 10 competitive states, including immediate efforts in Virginia this fall and additional support in states like Arizona, Georgia, Minnesota, Nevada, and Wisconsin in the following year. John Feinblatt, the president of Everytown for Gun Safety, expressed the organization’s commitment to these races, emphasizing the importance of electing attorneys general who will take a stand against the federal overreach of the Trump administration.

Feinblatt stated, "Attorneys general are critical defenders of the rule of law. They work to uphold the principles that are fundamental to American democracy." The planned investment is not merely aimed at facilitating the enactment of gun control laws but is primarily a strategic move to protect states from potential federal actions that threaten democratic principles.

The Everytown Rule of Law Fund—an initiative specifically designed to support Democratic candidates for the attorney general positions—illustrates the group’s determination to create a legal buffer against initiatives from the Trump administration that the organization views as detrimental. Feinblatt remarked, “We want these attorneys general to know that they have our support when they uphold the law, and we intend to back them not just today, but in the 2026 elections as well.”

Democratic attorneys general have been active in filing lawsuits challenging various directives issued by the Trump administration, including attempts to curtail federal funding to states and enact policies that could effectively shut down federal agencies. With the Democratic Party in the minority in Congress and facing a White House staffed with loyalists dedicated to suppressing dissent, these attorneys general represent the primary venue for Democrats to mount significant opposition against federal overreach.

Bloomberg’s current financial commitment, while substantial, represents a marked change in his political spending habits compared to previous election cycles. In the 2020 general election, he notably spent approximately $173 million to help elect now-President Joe Biden, with an especially hefty investment of $100 million directed toward Florida alone. His earlier bid in the Democratic primary saw him spend over $1 billion, a costly gamble that yielded only 59 delegates, highlighting a dramatic shift in focus from national to state-level political strategies.

Feinblatt, however, maintains that the reduced financial involvement from Bloomberg in the recent past should not be a point of concern. “There was a ton of money spent in 2024,” he noted, implying that financial resources were not the main issue for Democrats in the previous election cycle. Since 2017, Everytown has contributed approximately $5 million to support various attorneys general, including notable contributions to the campaigns of Dana Nessel in Michigan and Aaron Ford in Nevada during their re-election efforts.

This spring, Everytown also executed a noticeable campaign expenditure of $553,000 to run television advertisements supporting Susan Crawford, a liberal candidate for the Wisconsin Supreme Court. This strategic investment paid off as Crawford secured a decisive victory, ensuring that liberal judges maintain control over the influential state court, a pivotal outcome in the broader context of state governance.

As the upcoming elections approach, Everytown’s targeted support for Democratic attorneys general highlights not only the significance of state-level legal battles in the current political climate but also a shift in strategy for many Democratic advocates. By focusing on the enforcement of law and the defense of democracy through local offices, organizations like Everytown are positioning themselves as critical players in shaping the future political landscape, particularly amid ongoing challenges posed by the federal government under Trump’s administration.

This initiative by Bloomberg’s Everytown for Gun Safety is indicative of a broader recognition of the crucial role that state attorneys general can play in safeguarding democratic principles and legal standards in America.