Governor Gretchen Whitmer was elected to serve as Vice Chair of the Democratic Governors Association (DGA). She’ll serve alongside DGA Chair, Governor Andy Beshear of Kentucky, to help Democratic candidates win gubernatorial races in 2026. Next year, voters in 36 states will cast ballots to elect their governor. At the start of the year, Democrats will control 24 of America’s 50 governorships.
According to the DGA, they’ve identified issues that will be part of its “winning playbook,” including:
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- Focus intently on making life more affordable, a message they hope will work even in some conservative-leaning states.
- Emphasize the costs of housing, child care, utilities, and groceries under the Trump administration.
- Competing in states such as Iowa and Ohio, where the party used to be competitive but has struggled in the Trump era.
- Prioritizing flipping Iowa, Georgia, and Nevada.
Democratic Governors Association:
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- The DGA is an independent voluntary political organization.
- It supports Democratic governors and candidates across the nation.
- The organization participates at all levels of campaigns, from providing resources to fund operations to helping articulate and deliver their messages.
- The DGA also helps governors lead their states, serving as a clearinghouse of best practices to help governors and their staff share their policy successes and learn from each other.
