Democratic Governors Association
| Democratic Governors Association | |
|---|---|
| Chair | Martin O'Malley (MD) |
| Vice Chair | Bev Perdue (NC) |
| Finance Chair | Pat Quinn (IL) |
| Chair Emeritus | Jack Markell (DE) |
| Executive Committee | Mike Beebe (AR) Jerry Brown (CA) Andrew Cuomo (NY) Jay Nixon (MO) Brian Schweitzer (MT) |
| Founded | 1983 |
| Headquarters | 1401 K Street, NW, Washington, D.C., 20005 |
| Governorships |
20 / 50
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| Website | |
| www.democraticgovernors.org | |
| Politics of United States Political parties Elections |
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The Democratic Governors Association is a Washington, D.C. based 527 organization founded in 1983, consisting of U.S. state and territorial governors affiliated with the Democratic Party. The mission of the organization is to provide party support to the election and re-election of Democratic gubernatorial candidates. The DGA's Republican counterpart is the Republican Governors Association. The DGA is not directly affiliated with the non-partisan National Governors Association. Colm O'Comartun is currently the Executive Director of the DGA.
Contents |
[edit] Founding and Early Years
The DGA in its current form was founded by Virginia Governor Chuck Robb in 1983 with the help of Democratic National Committee Chairman Chuck Manatt. The purpose of the committee was to raise funds to elect Democrats to governorships and to improve the partnership between Democratic governors and the Democratic leadership of the House and Senate.
[edit] 1990s
The DGA played a pivotal role in the election of Bill Clinton to the Presidency in 1992. Under the leadership of DGA Chair and Colorado Governor Roy R. Romer, the DGA helped organize Clinton's "winning the West" campaign tour through Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Washington, Oregon, Nevada and California. Republicans had handily won in all but Washington and Oregon the previous three elections. According to The Washington Post,[1] it was "all but unthinkable to Republicans that the GOP could lose such stalwart pieces of the party's electoral base as Wyoming and Nevada." Clinton lost Wyoming but carried Nevada, Colorado, Montana, Washington, Oregon, and California.
[edit] Recent History
In the past 30 years Democratic Governors have served in various other government positions after their tenure. The following list provides recent positions from the Clinton and Obama administrations.
Democratic Governors elected as President: Governor Bill Clinton: President of the United States (1992-2000) Governor Jimmy Carter: President of the United States (1976-1980)
Democratic Governors appointed to Cabinet, Ambassadorship, or Chairs of the Democratic National Committee: Governor Richard Riley: US Secretary of Education 1993-2000 (Clinton) Governor Richard Celeste: US Ambassador to India (Clinton) Governor James Blanchard: US Ambassador to Canada (Clinton) Governor Mike Sullivan: US Ambassador to Ireland (Clinton) Governor Bruce Babbitt: US Secretary of the Interior (Clinton) Governor Ray Mabus: US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia (under President Clinton) and US Secretary of the Navy (under President Obama) Governor Gary Locke: US Secretary of Commerce and US Ambassador to China (Obama) Governor Tom Vilsack: US Secretary of Agriculture (Obama) Governor Janet Napolitano: US Attorney, District of Arizona, (Clinton) Arizona Attorney General, and US Secretary of Homeland Security (Obama) Governor Kathleen Sebelius: US Secretary of Health and Human Services (Obama) Governor Bill Richardson: US Secretary of Energy (Clinton), then was elected as Governor of New Mexico
DNC Chairs Governor Roy Romer: Chairman of the Democratic National Committee (1992-2000) Governor Howard Dean: Chairman of the Democratic National Committee (2004-2008) Governor Tim Kaine: Chairman of the Democratic National Committee (Obama)
Democratic Governors elected to the US Senate: Governor Dale Bumpers Governor Jeanne Shaheen Governor Mark Warner Governor Jay Rockefeller Governor Joe Manchin Governor Tom Carper Governor Evan Bayh Governor Ben Nelson
[edit] 2010-2011 DGA leadership
The leadership of the DGA consists of elected Democratic governors. The current leadership assumed their positions in 2010.
| Office | Officer | State | Since | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chair | Martin O'Malley | Maryland | 2010 | |
| Vice Chair | Bev Perdue | North Carolina | 2010 | |
| Finance Chair | Pat Quinn | Illinois | 2010 | |
| Chair Emeritus | Jack Markell | Delaware | 2010 | |
| NGA Chair | Chris Gregoire | Washington | 2010 | |
| CEO Roundtable Chair | Dan Malloy | Connecticut | 2010 | |
| Executive Committee | Mike Beebe | Arkansas | 2010 | |
| Executive Committee | Jerry Brown | California | 2010 | |
| Executive Committee | Andrew Cuomo | New York | 2010 | |
| Executive Committee | Jay Nixon | Missouri | 2010 | |
| Executive Committee | Brian Schweitzer | Montana | 2010 | |
[edit] List of current Democratic Governors
There are currently 20 Democratic governors:
| Current Governor | State | Past | Took office | Seat Up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Beebe | Arkansas | List | 2007 | 2014 |
| Jerry Brown | California | List | 2011 | 2014 |
| John Hickenlooper | Colorado | List | 2011 | 2014 |
| Dan Malloy | Connecticut | List | 2011 | 2014 |
| Jack A. Markell | Delaware | List | 2009 | 2012 |
| Neil Abercrombie | Hawaii | List | 2010 | 2014 |
| Pat Quinn | Illinois | List | 2009 | 2014 |
| Steve Beshear | Kentucky | List | 2007 | 2011 |
| Martin O'Malley | Maryland | List | 2007 | 2014 |
| Deval Patrick | Massachusetts | List | 2007 | 2015 |
| Mark Dayton | Minnesota | List | 2011 | 2014 |
| Jay Nixon | Missouri | List | 2009 | 2013 |
| Brian Schweitzer | Montana | List | 2005 | 2012 |
| John Lynch | New Hampshire | List | 2005 | 2012 |
| Andrew Cuomo | New York | List | 2011 | 2014 |
| Beverly Perdue | North Carolina | List | 2009 | 2012 |
| John Kitzhaber | Oregon | List | 2011 | 2014 |
| Peter Shumlin | Vermont | List | 2011 | 2012 |
| Christine Gregoire | Washington | List | 2005 | 2012 |
| Earl Ray Tomblin | West Virginia | List | 2010 | 2011 |
In addition to the states, the DGA also holds membership for governors of US Territories.
| Current Governor | Territory | Past | Took office | Seat Up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Togiola Tulafono | American Samoa | List | 2003 | 2013 |
| John de Jongh | U.S. Virgin Islands | List | 2007 | 2015 |
[edit] List of DGA Chairs
List of current and former DGA Chairs.
| Year | Chair | State | Executive Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Governor Martin O'Malley | Maryland | Colm O'Comartun |
| 2010 | Governor Jack Markell | Delaware | Nathan Daschle |
| 2009 | Governor Joe Manchin | West Virginia | Nathan Daschle |
| 2008 | Governor Brian Schweitzer | Montana | Nathan Daschle |
| 2007 | Governor Kathleen Sebelius | Kansas | Nathan Daschle |
| 2006 | Governor Bill Richardson | New Mexico | Penny Lee |
| 2005 | Governor Bill Richardson | New Mexico | Penny Lee |
| 2004 | Governor Tom Vilsack | Iowa | BJ Thornberry |
| 2003 | Governor Gary Locke | Washington | BJ Thornberry |
| 2002 | Governor Parris Glendening | Maryland | BJ Thornberry |
| 2001 | Governor Gray Davis | California | BJ Thornberry |
| 2000 | Governor Paul Patton | Kentucky | BJ Thornberry |
| 1999 | Governor Frank O'Bannon | Indiana | BJ Thornberry |
| 1998 | Governor Pedro Rossello | Puerto Rico | Katie Whelan |
| 1997 | Governor Howard Dean | Vermont | Katie Whelan |
| 1996 | Governor Gaston Caperton | West Virginia | Katie Whelan |
| 1995 | Governor Mel Carnahan | Missouri | Katie Whelan |
| 1994 | Governor Evan Bayh | Indiana | Katie Whelan |
| 1993 | Governor David Walters | Oklahoma | Katie Whelan |
| 1992 | Governor John Waihee | Hawaii | Mark Gearan |
| 1991 | Governor Roy Romer | Colorado | Mark Gearan |
| 1990 | Governor Dick Celeste | Ohio | Mark Gearan |
| 1989 | Governor Bill Clinton | Arkansas | Chuck Dolan |
[edit] Fundraising
The DGA reported raising approximately $11 million in the first six months of 2011, more than doubling what it raised during the comparable 2007 election cycle. The DGA reported having $8.6 million cash-on-hand in July 2011. "This record-breaking outpouring of support for the DGA reflects the important role Democratic governors are playing in our party's resurgence," DGA Chair Martin O'Malley said. "Because of our strong fundraising efforts, we will have the resources to win our competitive races in 2011 and lay the groundwork for 2012." [2]
In the 18 months ending June 30, 2010, the DGA raised $40 million, while its Republican counterpart RGA raised $58 million. "Unlike the national political parties and federal candidates, the governors’ associations can take in unlimited amounts from corporations," according to Bloomberg Businessweek, which notes that the RGA recently received $1 million from Rupert Murdoch's NewsCorp, the parent corporation of Fox News, and $500,000 from WellPoint, a major US health insurance firm. Labor groups giving money to the DGA include the Service Employees International Union ($1.1 million) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees ($3.3 million). [3]
[edit] Notable Staff Alumni
Several former DGA staff members have gone on to hold prominent positions in the government and in the private and non-profit sectors.
Former Communications Director Jake Siewert served as Press Secretary for President Bill Clinton for four months from 2000 to 2001. From 2001 to 2009, he worked for Alcoa Inc. He is currently an advisor to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.[4]
Former Policy Director Sheryl Rose Parker was Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. She is currently Deputy Director of Government Affairs for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.[5][6]
Former Policy Communications Director Doug Richardson served as Director of Public Affairs at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy in the Obama administration. He is currently Public Relations Director for R&R Partners.[7]
Former Executive Director Katie Whelan served as a senior advisor to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. She was an Institute of Politics Fellow at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government. She is currently Senior Public Policy Advisor for Patton Boggs LLP.[8]
Former Executive Director Chuck Dolan is the Managing Director of the Sage Agency and a lecturer at the George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs.[9]
Former Executive Director Nathan Daschle is the founder and CEO of Ruckus, Inc., an online political engagement platform. He is the son of former U.S. Senator Tom Daschle. In October 2010, Daschle was recognized as one of Time magazine's "40 under 40" rising stars in politics.[10]
Former Executive Director Mark Gearan was director of communications during the Clinton administration and served as director of the Peace Corps. He is the current president of Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York.[11]
[edit] References
- ^ Devroy, Ann "Clinton Takes His Case to GOP's Western Stronghold", The Washington Post, October 22, 1993, accessed August 8, 2011.
- ^ O'Malley, Martin. "DGA Breaks Fundraising Record". http://www.democraticgovernors.org/news/press_releases?id=0424.
- ^ Jonathan D. Salant (August 16, 2010). "Republicans See Gains in Governors’ Races as Funding Hits Peak". Business Week. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-08-16/republicans-see-gains-in-governors-races-as-funding-hits-peak.html. Retrieved August 17, 2010.
- ^ http://www.whorunsgov.com/Profiles/Jake_Siewert?loadTab=0
- ^ http://www.thewashingtoncurrent.com/2007/02/pelosi-names-senior-staff-to-speakers.html
- ^ http://topics.politico.com/index.cfm/topic/CherylParkerRose
- ^ http://rrpartners.com/publicrelations/
- ^ http://www.pattonboggs.com/kwhelan/
- ^ http://smpa.gwu.edu/faculty/people/27
- ^ http://thepublicsquared.com/post/nathan-daschle
- ^ http://www.hws.edu/about/president.aspx
[edit] External links
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