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National Governors Association
| National Governors Association | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Location: | Washington, D.C. |
| Type: | 501(c)(3) |
| Top official: | Jared Polis (D), Chair |
| Year founded: | 1908 |
| Website: | Official website |
The National Governors Association (NGA) is a 501(c)(3) bipartisan organization that includes governors from the 50 states, three territories, and two commonwealths. As of July 2025, the NGA's website says they are " the voice of the nation’s Governors and a leading forum for bipartisan policy solutions.[1]
Background
The National Governor's Assocation was founded in 1908.[2] According to their website, the NGA "advances bipartisan dialogue, fosters policy innovation, facilitates information-sharing, advocates bipartisan policy priorities, conducts research and data development, and provides technical assistance in support of the leaders of the nation’s 55 states, territories and commonwealths."[1]
Leadership
The NGA is led by a nine-person committee. Elected annually, the Executive Committee supervises the association’s operations.[3] As of July 2025, the following governor served on the executive board.
- Democratic governors
Jared Polis, Governor of Colorado, chair- Michelle Lujan Grisham, Governor of New Mexico
- Kathy Hochul, Governor of New York
- Josh Shapiro, Governor of Pennsylvania
Kevin Stitt, Governor of Oklahoma, vice chairJeff Landry, Governor of LouisianaGreg Gianforte, Governor of MontanaBill Lee, Governor of TennesseeSpencer Cox, Governor of Utah
Work and activitites
Collaboration between states
As of July 2025, the NGA's website says the following:[2]
| “ | Working in the States—Our Membership staff provide services, including management and technical assistance to both new and incumbent Governors, their senior executive staff and trusted advisors.
Sharing between States—Teams from the Center for Best Practices work with state policy leaders and other experts in fostering information sharing between states to research, develop and implement innovative solutions to public policy challenges. Advocating for the States—NGA’s Government Relations advocates for the bipartisan policy priorities of Governors among federal agencies and with Congress and the White House Supporting Public/Private Partnerships—NGA Partners works with leading industry and association stakeholders to promote information sharing and support bipartisan state solutions to the challenges facing state government today.[4] |
” |
Best Practices Center
The NGA Best Practices Center describes itself as developing "innovative solutions to today’s most pressing public policy challenges. The center is the only research and development firm that directly serves the nation’s governors."[5]
The Center consists of 12 program areas:
- Children And Families
- Cybersecurity
- Energy
- Environment
- Post Secondary Education
- Public Health
- Public Safety And Legal Counsel
- Workforce Development And Economic Policy
- Healthcare Delivery
- Homeland Security
- Infrastructure
- K-12 Education
Finances
The following is a breakdown of the National Governors Association's revenues and expenses from 2015 to 2022. The information comes from the Internal Revenue Service
| Year | Revenue | Expenses |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | $21,825,201 | $15,737,282 |
| 2016 | $15,706,556 | $17,806,622 |
| 2017 | $15,695,170 | $18,527,611 |
| 2018 | $19,963,160 | $16,875,933 |
| 2019 | $19,022,487 | $21,321,316 |
| 2020 | N/A | N/A |
| 2021 | $16,037,440 | $15,373,527 |
| 2022 | $14,545,573 | $11,490,400 |
Past leadership
2021-2022
Committee members for 2021-2022 were announced on July 8, 2021.[6]
| NGA Executive Committee | |
| Chair | Governor Asa Hutchinson, Arkansas
|
| Vice Chair | Governor Phil Murphy, New Jersey
|
| Member | Governor Kay Ivey, Alabama
|
| Member | Governor Doug Ducey, Arizona
|
| Member | Governor Charlie Baker, Massachusetts
|
| Member | Governor Jared Polis, Colorado
|
| Member | Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan
|
| Member | Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, New Mexico
|
| Member | Governor Roy Cooper, North Carolina
|
2014-2015
Committee members for 2014-2015 were announced on July 13, 2014.[7]
| NGA Executive Committee | |
| Chair | Governor John Hickenlooper, Colorado
|
| Vice Chair | Governor Gary Herbert, Utah
|
| Member | Governor Dan Malloy, Connecticut
|
| Member | Governor Terry Branstad, Iowa
|
| Member | Governor Mark Dayton, Minnesota
|
| Member | Governor Steve Bullock, Montana
|
| Member | Governor Pat McCrory, North Carolina
|
| Member | Governor Mary Fallin, Oklahoma
|
| Member | Governor Scott Walker, Wisconsin
|
2013-2014
Committee members for 2013-2014 were announced on August 4, 2013. The current term runs though July 2014.[8]
| NGA Executive Committee | |
| Chair | Governor Mary Fallin, Oklahoma
|
| Vice Chair | Governor John Hickenlooper, Colorado
|
| Member | Governor Mike Beebe, Arkansas
|
| Member | Governor Jack Markell, Delaware
|
| Member | Governor Terry Branstad, Iowa
|
| Member | Governor Mark Dayton, Minnesota
|
| Member | Governor Steve Bullock, Montana
|
| Member | Governor Gary Herbert, Utah
|
| Member | Governor Scott Walker, Wisconsin
|
Alongside the Executive Committee, there were five additional committees:[9]
- Economic Development and Commerce Committee
- Chair: Governor Robert Bentley, Alabama
- Vice Chair: Governor Earl Ray Tomblin, West Virginia
- Chair:
- Natural Resources Committee
- Chair: Governor Jack Dalrymple, North Dakota
- Vice Chair: Governor Dan Malloy, Connecticut
- Chair:
- Education and Workforce Committee
- Chair: Governor Steve Beshear, Kentucky
- Vice Chair: Governor Brian Sandoval, Nevada
- Chair:
- Homeland Security and Public Safety Committee
- Chair: Governor Jay Nixon, Missouri
- Vice Chair: Governor Rick Snyder, Michigan
- Chair:
- Health and Human Services Committee
- Chair: Governor Bill Haslam, Tennessee
- Vice Chair: Governor Peter Shumlin, Vermont
- Chair:
Former NGA Chairs
Chair's Initiative
Since 1985, the NGA chair has chosen a policy area to focus on during their term. It is known as the "Chair's Initiative." The following is a chart of NGA chairs since 1985 and their chosen initiative.[10]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 National Governors Association, "Homepage," accessed July 23, 2025
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 National Governors Association, About, accessed July 23, 2025
- ↑ National Governors Association, "FAQ," accessed June 10, 2022
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ NGA, "Best Practices, accessed June 10, 2022
- ↑ National Governors Association, "Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson Becomes Chairman Of National Governors Association,"June 10, 2022
- ↑ National Governors Association, "NGA Announces New Executive Committee Leadership," July 13, 2014
- ↑ National Governors Association, "NGA Announces New Executive Committee Leadership," August 4, 2013
- ↑ National Governors Association, "2013-2014 Committees," accessed November 26, 2013
- ↑ National Governors Association, "List of NGA Chairs," accessed November 26, 2013
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