National Governors Association facts for kids

Quick facts for kids National Governors Association
Chair	Jared Polis (D-CO)
Vice Chair	Kevin Stitt (R-OK)
Executive Committee	Spencer Cox (R-UT) Greg Gianforte (R-MT) Kathy Hochul (D-NY) Jeff Landry (R-LA) Bill Lee (R-TN) Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM) Josh Shapiro (D-PA)
Founded	1908; 117 years ago (1908)
Headquarters	444 N Capitol St Suite 267 Washington, D.C., U.S.
Affiliated	Bipartisan
Politics of United States Political parties

The National Governors Association (NGA) is a group for governors in the United States. It started in 1908. All 55 governors from U.S. states, territories, and commonwealths are members. They come from different political parties. The NGA says it doesn't favor one party over another.

The NGA helps state governments talk to the U.S. federal government. They speak for states in places like Capitol Hill and the White House. This happens when they discuss national issues. The NGA also creates reports about state programs.

The NGA helps governors and their teams learn from each other. They share ideas on topics like education, public health, technology, and the environment. The NGA also gives advice and support to governors, both new and experienced.

The current NGA chair is Governor Jared Polis of Colorado. He is a Democrat. The current vice chair is Governor Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma. He is a Republican.

History of the NGA

Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks at the National Governors Association's 2020 winter meeting.

The NGA began in 1908. Before that, in 1907, a group called the Inland Waterways Commission wanted to hear from governors. They wanted to know what states and the country thought about using and managing natural resources.

The NGA represents the governors of all fifty U.S. states. It also includes governors from five U.S. territories. These are American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The NGA gets its money mainly from state fees. It also receives money from federal grants and private donations.

Since 1977, the NGA has a rule about its chair. The position of NGA chair switches every year. It goes between a Republican governor and a Democratic governor. This makes sure that one party doesn't control the position for too long. The vice chair is always from the opposite party. They usually become the chair the next year.

As of 2024, Bill Clinton is the only former NGA chair who later became president of the United States. Janet Napolitano was the first woman to become chair in 2006.

Sometimes, the NGA's claim of being nonpartisan has been questioned. This happened after some public statements by governors. For example, Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal made statements in 2014.

In February 2020, then Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke to the NGA. He warned that the Chinese Communist Party was trying to influence U.S. policy. They were doing this through state governors and local officials. Later, in October 2020, the U.S. Department of State stopped taking part in a U.S.-China governors' meeting. This was because of concerns about influence from a Chinese organization.

NGA Chairs: How They Work

The NGA formally adopted a policy in 1977 for its chairs. Chairs serve for one year. Their party affiliation alternates. This means the same party never holds the chair position for two years in a row.

Some states have never had an NGA chair. These include Alabama, Alaska, Connecticut, Hawaii, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, and South Dakota. Also, none of the five territories have ever produced an NGA chair. These territories are American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

NOTES

• Cecil Andrus resigned as Governor of Idaho in January 1977. He became the Secretary of the Interior. Florida's Reubin Askew finished Andrus' term as chair.
• Joe Manchin resigned as Governor of West Virginia in November 2010. He was elected to the United States Senate. Washington's Christine Gregoire finished Manchin's term as chair.

See also

• Executive federalism
• National Cabinet (Australia), a similar body in Australia
• Council of the Federation, a similar body in Canada
• Inter-State Council, a similar body in India
• Joint Ministerial Committee (UK), a similar body in the United Kingdom
• National Governors Association of Japan
• National Governors Conference (Mexico), a similar organization in Mexico
• Conference of Ministers-President, a similar body in Germany
• European Council, a similar body in the European Union
• United States Conference of Mayors
• Republican Governors Association
• Democratic Governors Association
• Governors Highway Safety Association