A trio of high-profile Democratic governors is set to take center stage on Capitol Hill in what is likely to be a contentious hearing on sanctuary states on Thursday.

Republicans on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee are expected to grill Govs. Tim Walz of Minnesota, Kathy Hochul of New York and JB Pritzker of Illinois over their states’ status as sanctuaries for migrants.

The hearing, scheduled more than a month ago, comes amid unrest in California over President Trump's immigration policies.

However, Thursday’s hearing will also present a test for the governors, as Pritzker and Walz have been floated as potential 2028 presidential contenders and Hochul faces reelection in 2026.

“It’s a great opportunity if you’re a Republican who gets to have further discussions about illegal immigration in the country and Democrat elected officials who are promoting what we are seeing on the streets in LA and the confrontations with ICE officials,” said Jesse Hunt, a Republican strategist and former communications director at the Republican Governors Association.

“If you’re one of those three Democrats who all have aspirations for higher office, it also provides you with an opportunity to generate news on an issue that everyone is discussing at this present moment,” he added.

Each of those three governors will walk into the hearing with different political dynamics at play.

While Walz has had to contend with being on the Democratic ticket that lost to Trump in November, the governor has not shied away from taking........

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