Blue Cities are economic engines. But Red States are increasingly punishing Blue Cities for setting priorities that reflect what our communities want and need, even while benefiting from our Blue Cities’ economic growth.
We will work to bring Blue Cities and Red States closer together, finding common-sense solutions that create better outcomes for the majority of us.
As America’s mayors, we know when we work together, we succeed. And when cities succeed, states succeed—and America succeeds.
We are Democratic mayors, leading America’s cities in Republican-dominated states. We represent the level of government closest to the people, serving on the frontlines of our most urgent issues as a country.
An updated list of the ways mayors in blue cities are working with their red state representatives.
DeWine and Bibb discuss arrests, firearm seizures, and collaborative law-enforcement efforts in Cleveland.
The ongoing partnership between Gov. DeWine and Mayor Justin Bibb on a coordinated violent-crime reduction initiative, plus program updates.
A partnership that began in 2023 after a mass shooting, detailing coordinated state-city efforts and outcomes.
Mayor Andre Dickens and Gov. Brian Kemp signaled a reset and cooperative relationship, including mutual praise around public-safety initiatives.
Dickens and Kemp moved from clashes to collaboration on issues such as human-trafficking initiatives and a police training center.
Infringements on blue city governments from state legislatures are increasing every year – on everything from safety and security and immigration to housing and equality – slowing or even stopping Mayors’ progress on issues unique to their communities. Today, we are seeing rising retaliatory efforts by the federal government, and this increased use of preemptive actions to dictate how cities are run is one of the major hurdles mayors face as they work to make progress in their communities.
It shouldn’t be this way, and that’s why we created the Blue Cities/Red States Coalition to work for a more united states.
Blue Cities in Red States are working to bridge an unnecessary divide with a pragmatic, center-left approach that brings leaders together to learn from each other, share best practices, collaboratively create solutions, and make progress for Americans. In a time of gridlock, there is an opportunity for these communities to serve as laboratories, developing community-grounded solutions that can stimulate bipartisan consensus and real progress. After all, city leaders are particularly experienced in engaging stakeholders from different political parties to meet the needs of their constituents.
The coalition offers unique value, bringing together mayors working to address some of the nation’s most pressing challenges in complex Red State environments. In an era of political polarization, Blue Cities/Red States Mayors are choosing collaboration over conflict and showing what effective, inclusive, pragmatic leadership looks like – and that progress is not a privilege reserved for the state house.