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Democratic Governors Association
| Democratic Governors Association | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Location: | Washington, D.C. |
| Type: | 527 group |
| Affiliation: | Democratic Party |
| Top official: | Meghan Meehan-Draper., Executive Director |
| Year founded: | 1983 |
| Website: | Official website |
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The Democratic Governors Association (DGA) is an IRS designated 527 political organization that serves as a resource for Democratic gubernatorial candidates and elected governors.[1]
The organization's purpose is to provide campaign resources and funding to Democratic gubernatorial candidates and help governors and their staff develop and implement policy.[2]
Mission
According to its website, the DGA's mission is as follows:[1]
| “ | The Democratic Governors’ Association was founded in 1983 to support the candidacy of Democratic governors throughout the nation. The DGA provides political and strategic assistance to gubernatorial campaigns. In addition, the DGA plays an integral role in developing positions on key state and federal issues that affect the states through the governors’ policy forum series.[3][4] | ” |
Background
The Democratic Governors Association (DGA) was founded in 1983 as a resource for Democratic gubernatorial candidates and elected governors. The group provides funding for campaigns and policy consulting. Some money goes to supporting PACs and super PACs. The DGA also makes ads in support or opposition to candidates.
According to the DGA's website, the group describes itself as the "only organization dedicated to electing Democratic governors and candidates" that "participates at all levels of campaigns, from providing resources to fund operations to helping articulate and deliver their messages." The website also says that the group is a "clearinghouse of best practices to help governors and their staff share their policy successes and learn from each other."[5]
| Subsidiaries of the Democratic National Committee |
|---|
| • Democratic Governors Association • Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee • Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee • The Association of State Democratic Chairs • Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee • National Lawyers Council • DNC Voting Rights Institute |
The DGA's governing committee consists of governors and executive leadership. The committee chair is a governor.[1]
Leadership
Below is a list of the DGA's leadership as of September 2025:[1]
- Gov. Laura Kelly (D-Kan.), Chair
- Gov. Andy Beshear (D-Ky.), Vice chair
- Gov. Phil Murphy (D-N.J.), Finance chair
- Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.), Policy chair
- Gov. Maura Healey (D-Mass.), Women Governors Fund Chair
Work and activities
Electoral activities and influence
The DGA spends money supporting Democratic governors and candidates and opposing Republican governors and gubernatorial candidates.
In 2024, the DGA spent more than $15 million in the North Carolina gubernatorial election in which Josh Stein (D) defeated Mark Robinson (R) 54.9%-40.1%.[6]
Also in 2024, the DGA donated $1 million to the Washington Democratic Party and Evergreen Values, a group that receives funding from the DGA, spent $7 million opposing Republican gubernatorial candidate Dave Reichert (R). In Washington's 2024 gubernatorial election, Bob Ferguson (D) defeated Reichert 55.5%-44.3%. In October 2024, the Cook Political Report rated the race as Likely Democrat, writing "Ultimately, the biggest factor here has been the DGA’s relentless barrage of advertisements blasting Reichert for his record on abortion during his 14 years in Congress."[7]
Affiliations
DGA Action
DGA Action is the Democratic Governors Association's super PAC. In 2023-2014 election cycle the committe reported raising $224,400 and spending $238,000. In the 2021-2022 election cycle the committee reported raising $23.2 million and spending $23.2 million.[8]
America Works USA
America Works USA is a 501(c)(4) organization affliated with the Democratic Governors Association.[9]
America Works USA was founded in 2011, According to America Works USA's 2023 IRS 990, its mission is "to promote social welfare by advocating for public policies that will lead to fiscally responsible government, economic development, and job creation."[9]
Notable endorsements
This section displays endorsements this organization made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope. Know of one we missed? Click here to let us know.
Finances
The Republican Governors Association (RGA) raised $83.8 million in 2024, according to filings with the Internal Revenue Service compiled by ProPublica.[10]
The following is a breakdown of Democratic Governors Association's (DGA) revenues from 2020 to 2025, as reported to the IRS and compiled by ProPublica.[10]
| Annual revenues for the DGA, 2020-2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tax Year | Total Revenue | |
| 2024 | $83.8 million[10] | |
| 2023 | $56.9 million[10] | |
| 2022 | $153.4 million[10] | |
| 2021 | $43.4 million[10] | |
| 2020 | $43.5 million[10] | |
The following is a breakdown of the Democratic Governors Association's (DGA) expenses for the 2020-2025 fiscal years, as reported to the IRS and compiled by ProPublica: [10]
| Annual expenses for the DGA, 2020-2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tax Year | Total Expenses | |
| 2024 | $84.3 million[10] | |
| 2023 | $57 million[10] | |
| 2022 | $166.8 million[10] | |
| 2021 | $31.6 million[10] | |
| 2020 | $45.9 million[10] | |
Contributions
The following table breaks down the top five contributors to the DGA during the 2024 election cycle, according to Open Secrets:[11]
| Top 5 contributions made to the DGA, 2024 election cycle | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Contribution amount | |
| Blue Cross/Blue Shield | $564,999 | |
| Vertex Pharmaceuticals | $500,000 | |
| United Healthcare | $500,000 | |
| Simon Youth Foundation | $500,000 | |
| CVS Health | $500,000 | |
Media
A selection of ads sponsored by the DGA. To view others, see the DGA's YouTube channel.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Democratic Governors Association. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- Democratic National Committee
- Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
- Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
- Democratic Party
External links
- Democratic Governors Association homepage
- Democratic Governors Association on Twitter
- Democratic Governors Association on Facebook]
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 DGA, "About," accessed March 6, 2018
- ↑ Democratic Governors Association," "About Us," accessed September 10, 2025
- ↑ Democrats.org, "Party organization," accessed December 4, 2013
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Democratic Governors Association, "About us," accessed September 19, 2025
- ↑ Democratic Governors Association, "MEMO: After Winning Even More Tough Races, Democratic Governors Are The Best Path Forward and Last Line of Defense," December 3, 2025
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "2024 Governors Outlook: All Eyes on New Hampshire," October 17, 2024
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "DGA ACTION," accessed September 19, 2025
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 ProPublica, "America Works USA Full text of "Full Filing" for fiscal year ending April 2024," accessed September 19, 2025
- ↑ 10.00 10.01 10.02 10.03 10.04 10.05 10.06 10.07 10.08 10.09 10.10 10.11 10.12 ProPublica , "Democratic Governors Association," accessed September 19, 2025
- ↑ Open Secrets, "Democratic Governors Assn," accessed September 19, 2025
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