BigTentUSA hosted a conversation with Attorney General William Tong (D-CT) and Attorney General Rob Bonta (D-CA), moderated by Michael Waldman, president and CEO, The Brennan Center for Justice. In the face of escalating federal overreach—from mass deportations targeting immigrant communities to the deployment of federal troops in Los Angeles without state consent—the role of state Attorneys General has never been more critical. As the Trump administration intensifies its crackdown on blue states, AGs are serving as a vital line of defense, challenging unconstitutional actions in the courts, protecting civil rights, and standing up for the rule of law. This conversation spotlights the strategic work of state AGs as they fight back against authoritarian tactics and safeguard the rights and freedoms of their constituents.
About The Speakers
Attorney General William Tong (D-CT) is the 25th Attorney General to serve Connecticut since the office was established by the state constitution in 1897. He first took office in 2019 and is currently serving his second term.
Attorney General Tong currently serves as Eastern Region Chair and Finance Chair of the National Association of Attorneys General. He also serves on the Executive Committee of the Democratic Attorneys General Association. Attorney General Tong previously practiced for 18 years as a litigator in both state and federal courts, first at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP in New York City and then at Finn Dixon & Herling LLP in Stamford. He served for 12 years as a State Representative in the Connecticut General Assembly, where he served as House Chairman of the Judiciary Committee as well as the Banking Committee. In 2006, he became the first Asian American elected to any state office in Connecticut history.
Attorney General Rob Bonta (D-CA) was sworn in as the 34th Attorney General of the State of California in 2021, the first person of Filipino descent and the second Asian-American to occupy the position. Prior to serving in the Assembly, Attorney General Bonta worked as a Deputy City Attorney for the City and County of San Francisco, where he represented the City and County and its employees, and fought to protect Californians from exploitation and racial profiling.
Born in Quezon City, Philippines, Attorney General Bonta immigrated to California with his family as an infant. He is the son of a proud native Filipino mother and a father who taught him the value of public service to his community.
Michael Waldman is president and CEO of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law. A nonpartisan law and policy institute that works to improve systems of democracy and justice so they work for all, the Brennan Center is a leading national voice on voting rights, money in politics, criminal justice reform, and constitutional law. Waldman is a constitutional lawyer and writer who is an expert on the presidency and American democracy. He has led the Center since 2005. He was a member of the Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court of the United States in 2021. His book, The Supermajority: How the Supreme Court Divided America, was published in 2023.
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