100 Lawsuits, 82% Win Rate
Democratic attorneys general filed their 100th lawsuit against the Trump administration in April 2026. Of the 67 cases that have reached a court ruling, they won 55. That is an 82% win rate.
100 lawsuits. 55 of 67 won. 82% win rate. $2 billion restored to Michigan alone. Oregon’s AG filed over 50 cases.
These are not symbolic filings. They are constitutional challenges that have blocked executive orders, restored federal funding, and protected programs that serve millions of people.
$2 Billion Back to Michigan
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel estimated that the lawsuits brought more than $2 billion back to Michigan. That money funds childcare for families, Medicaid payments to doctors, and food programs for older adults. Without the lawsuits, it would have been cut.
Oregon’s Attorney General Dan Rayfield has filed over 50 cases alone, including one that prevented National Guard deployment in Portland. Nearly two dozen states sued to restore CFPB funding. A coalition challenged tariffs as illegal. The birthright citizenship challenge was filed the day after the inauguration.
The Most Effective Check
Federal courts have ruled against the administration 262 times. The government wins only 33% of decided cases. The AGs are winning at an even higher rate because they select their cases strategically, build coalitions across states, and challenge policies on constitutional grounds that judges consistently agree with.
The 5-step autocracy pattern describes capturing institutions. The attorneys general represent institutions pushing back. The judges who rule against the administration face 564 threats per year. The AGs keep filing.
Maryland’s Attorney General Anthony Brown said the biggest challenge is “protecting the rule of law.” The 82% win rate suggests the rule of law, when tested in court, still holds. The question is how long the courts themselves can hold under the pressure.
Read more on the Rule of Law hub and the courts blocking analysis.