Democratic Governors Association
The Democratic Governors Association (DGA) is a Washington, DC–based 527 political organisation established in 1983 to support the election and re-election of Democratic governors across the United States and its territories. It functions as the principal national body dedicated to strengthening Democratic leadership at the gubernatorial level and plays a strategic role in shaping state-level political outcomes. Although closely aligned with the Democratic Party, the DGA operates independently and is not formally affiliated with the non-partisan National Governors Association. Its Republican counterpart is the Republican Governors Association (RGA).
The association brings together Democratic governors from US states, US territories, and the mayor of the District of Columbia. Through coordinated fundraising, messaging, policy collaboration, and campaign support, the DGA seeks to advance Democratic priorities within state governments and to cultivate future national leaders.
Background and Purpose
The central purpose of the DGA is to provide organisational, financial, and strategic assistance to Democratic gubernatorial candidates. Gubernatorial offices are considered crucial within the American federal system, as governors exercise significant authority over state budgets, public policy implementation, emergency powers, and redistricting processes. As such, success at the gubernatorial level has long-term implications for both state governance and national electoral politics.
The DGA focuses on:
- Supporting competitive gubernatorial campaigns in targeted states
- Assisting incumbent Democratic governors seeking re-election
- Coordinating national messaging around state-level Democratic policy achievements
- Building collaboration between Democratic governors and congressional leadership
Unlike national party committees, the DGA concentrates exclusively on state executive leadership rather than legislative or presidential contests.
Historical Development
Prior to its formal establishment, Democratic governors met under the banner of the Democratic Governors Conference, which operated within the Democratic National Committee. In 1983, the organisation became an independent institution, adopting the name Democratic Governors Association. This transition occurred under the leadership of then Governor of Virginia Chuck Robb, with support from then Democratic National Committee chair Charles Manatt.
The creation of an autonomous organisation reflected the growing recognition that governors required a dedicated national structure to coordinate fundraising and strategy, particularly in an era of increasingly expensive and media-driven campaigns. From its inception, the DGA aimed to strengthen the relationship between Democratic governors and the Democratic leadership in the United States Congress.
Role in National Politics
The DGA has periodically played a pivotal role beyond gubernatorial elections, particularly when state-level leadership intersects with national campaigns. One of its most notable contributions occurred during the 1992 United States presidential election, when Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton secured the Democratic nomination.
Under the leadership of then DGA chair and Governor of Hawaii John D. Waihee III, the association helped organise Clinton’s Western campaign tour. This effort targeted states such as Colorado, Nevada, Montana, Washington, Oregon, and California—many of which had been reliably Republican in previous presidential elections. Clinton ultimately carried all of these states except Wyoming, contributing significantly to his electoral victory and demonstrating the strategic value of gubernatorial networks.
More recently, the association gained national attention in 2024 when Tim Walz, Governor of Minnesota and chair of the DGA, was selected as the Democratic nominee for Vice President of the United States. Following his nomination, Walz stepped down as chair, with Governor Laura Kelly of Kansas assuming the role for the remainder of the year.
Organisational Structure and Leadership
The DGA is led by elected Democratic governors who serve in senior leadership roles, including a chair and vice-chair. These positions rotate periodically and are intended to reflect geographic and political diversity within the party.
As of the mid-2020s:
- Laura Kelly, Governor of Kansas, serves as chair
- Meghan Meehan-Draper serves as executive director
The executive director oversees day-to-day operations, fundraising activities, campaign coordination, and staff management. The leadership structure ensures that sitting governors retain direct influence over organisational priorities and strategies.
Membership and Representation
Membership in the DGA includes:
- Democratic governors of US states
- Democratic governors of US territories
- The mayor of the District of Columbia
At present, there are 23 Democratic governors serving across the United States. The inclusion of territorial governors and the District of Columbia reflects the association’s broader commitment to Democratic executive leadership beyond the fifty states.
Democratic Governors in Other Federal Roles
Since the DGA’s formalisation in 1983, numerous Democratic governors have gone on to hold prominent federal offices, underscoring the governorship as a pathway to national leadership.
Democratic governors elected as President of the United States include:
- Jimmy Carter, Governor of Georgia (1977–1981)
- Bill Clinton, Governor of Arkansas (1993–2001)
Others have served as Cabinet secretaries, ambassadors, or senior federal officials under Democratic administrations, including roles such as Secretary of State, Secretary of Energy, Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of Agriculture, and United States ambassadors to major international partners. This pattern highlights the significance of gubernatorial experience in federal executive governance.
Fundraising and Campaign Support
Fundraising is a core function of the DGA. The organisation raises and distributes funds to support advertising, voter outreach, opposition research, and campaign infrastructure for Democratic gubernatorial candidates.
In 2011, the DGA reported raising over $20 million, nearly doubling its fundraising total from the comparable 2007 election cycle. This increase reflected intensified efforts to compete in a challenging electoral environment and to defend Democratic-held governorships.
DGA leadership has consistently emphasised the strategic deployment of resources, prioritising competitive races and states where gubernatorial outcomes may influence broader political dynamics, such as redistricting or presidential election administration.
Staff and Institutional Influence
Beyond elected officials, the DGA has served as a training ground for political professionals who later assumed influential roles in government, media, and the private sector. Former staff members have gone on to work in the White House, federal agencies, major corporations, and prominent non-profit organisations.
Notable alumni include communications directors, policy advisers, and executive directors who later served as presidential press secretaries, cabinet advisers, public affairs officials, and senior policy consultants. This institutional legacy contributes to the DGA’s long-term influence within Democratic political networks.