About Us

Who We Are

The Democratic Governors Association (DGA) is an independent voluntary political organization organized to support Democratic governors and candidates across the nation.

The DGA is proud to support the Democratic governors in 23 states and 4 U.S. territories, as well as the mayor in Washington, D.C.

What We Do

As the only organization dedicated to electing Democratic governors and candidates, the DGA participates at all levels of campaigns, from providing resources to fund operations to helping articulate and deliver their messages.

The DGA also helps governors lead their states. We serve as a clearinghouse of best practices to help governors and their staff share their policy successes and learn from each other.

DGA Leadership

Chair

Andy Beshear 
Governor of Kentucky

​​Gov. Andy Beshear strives each day to live out the values of faith and public service. At no time was that more evident than during the global pandemic and in the wake natural disasters that devastated the western and eastern regions of the commonwealth. But Gov. Beshear’s faith and values are also the North Star that provides guidance in all aspects of his job, and that means doing what’s right, every time, to better the lives of all Kentuckians.

Since the beginning of his administration, Gov. Beshear has overseen the largest private sector investment secured during the tenure of any governor in Kentucky history, at over $35 billion. He has announced more than 1,150 private sector new-location and expansion projects and more than 59,800 full-time jobs. Since 2022, the average incentivized hourly wage has topped $26 in three consecutive years for the first time ever. The Governor has now secured three of the top four years for private sector investment in the commonwealth’s history.

At the same time, Gov. Beshear has expanded access to health care and invested in cleaner water. His administration is building and repairing the state’s roads and bridges and seeing that access to high-speed internet is extended across the state. He has also secured record-high budget surpluses and record-low unemployment.

As the Governor likes to say: We’re not looking at the same Kentucky anymore. That’s why he is leading the effort to reintroduce the commonwealth to the world, to leave the stereotypes of the past behind, and to welcome the world to our New Kentucky Home – where the pace of business is fast, but the pace of life is just right.

Vice Chair

Gretchen Whitmer
Governor of Michigan

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is a tough and tested leader who works tirelessly to put Michigan first. Inspired by her family, she has devoted her life to public service, governed through unprecedented crises, and remains focused on working with anyone to get things done that will make a difference in people’s lives.

Amidst historic circumstances, Gov. Whitmer has led with grit and grace, tackling Michigan’s long standing infrastructure, health care, and education challenges while taking decisive action to save lives and rebuild the state’s economy. Despite the unprecedented challenges of her first term, she continues to govern with a steely resolve and dedication to delivering for the people of Michigan.

Her administration has delivered results for Michiganders by creating over 37,000 new auto jobs while working across the aisle to ensure Michigan has the resources to compete for new business; passing balanced, bipartisan budgets; making the largest investment in  K–12 education in state history; closing the school funding gap without raising taxes.

She has created two successful workforce education programs to ensure Michigan’s businesses can fill jobs with skilled workers: Michigan Reconnect and Futures for Frontliners. She’s cut costs for hardworking families by securing $400 auto insurance refund checks for every Michigan driver, repealing the tampon tax, and expanding low or no-cost childcare to 105,000 additional families. As of June of 2023, she has also fulfilled her signature promise to fix the damn roads, repairing over 20,000 lane miles and more than 1,400 bridges, while supporting over 118,000 good-paying jobs.

She’s tackling the big challenges Michigan faces with bold solutions and decisive leadership. She will continue working to ensure that every Michigander has a great public education and a path to a good-paying job, every community has clean, safe drinking water, and everyone can drive to work or drop their kids at school safely, without blowing a tire or cracking a windshield. She knows that our best days are ahead of us and will never stop fighting for Michigan’s families.

She will continue working to ensure that every Michigander has a great public education and a path to a good-paying job, every community has clean, safe drinking water, and everyone can drive to work or drop their kids at school safely, without blowing a tire or cracking a windshield.

Policy Chair

Gavin Newsom
Governor of California

On January 6, 2023, Gavin Newsom was sworn in for a second term as Governor of California.

Gov. Newsom was born and raised in San Francisco. He graduated from Redwood High School in Marin County and received a baseball scholarship to Santa Clara University where he studied political science.

Gov. Newsom has established himself as a leader at the forefront of policy initiatives in arenas such as gun safety, same-sex marriage, education affordability and access, criminal justice reform, climate action, and universal health care.

Gov. Newsom and his wife Jennifer Siebel Newsom have four children: Montana, Hunter, Brooklynn, and Dutch.

Women Governors Fund Chair

Maura Healey
Governor of Massachusetts

On November 8, 2022, Maura Healey made history, becoming the first woman and first openly gay person elected Governor of Massachusetts, as well as the first openly lesbian governor elected in American history.

In 2014, Maura was elected the first openly gay Attorney General in the country. She was reelected in 2018. As the People’s Lawyer, Maura took on some of the most powerful institutions on behalf of Massachusetts residents. She protected student borrowers and homeowners from predatory lenders, sued Exxon Mobil for lying about climate change, and held Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family accountable for their role in fueling the opioid epidemic. She made the AG’s office the first statewide office to implement paid leave for families and established the office’s first-ever Community Engagement Division to go out directly into communities, share resources, and empower people through education about their rights.

Maura delivered strong, steady leadership as AG, particularly through the tumultuous years of the Trump presidency and COVID-19 pandemic. She leads with a focus on teamwork, collaboration, open lines of communication, and bringing people together. As governor, she will bring people together to make housing more affordable, improve public transportation, expand job training and transition to a clean energy economy.