Republican Governors Association
The Republican Governors Association (RGA) is a Washington, D.C.-based 527 organization founded in 1961,[1] consisting of U.S. state and territorial Republican governors. The Republican Governors Association is dedicated to one primary objective: electing and supporting Republican governors.[2]
Republican Governors Association | |
---|---|
Chair | Doug Ducey (AZ) |
Vice Chair | Kim Reynolds (IA) |
Policy Chair | Bill Lee (TN) |
Policy Vice Chair | Tate Reeves (MS) |
Executive Committee | Greg Abbott (TX) Charlie Baker (MA) Doug Burgum (ND) Larry Hogan (MD) Eric Holcomb (IN) Henry McMaster (SC) Kristi Noem (SD) Pete Ricketts (NE) |
Founded | 1961 |
Headquarters | 1747 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 250 Washington, DC 20006 |
Political position | Center-right Christian right Social conservatism Libertarianism |
Affiliated | Republican Party |
State Governors | 27 / 50 |
Territorial Governors | 1 / 5 |
Website | |
www | |
The current RGA chairman is Governor Doug Ducey of Arizona, who assumed the office in December of 2020.[3]
The RGA's Executive Committee for 2021 includes Governors Eric Holcomb of Indiana, Larry Hogan of Maryland, Charlie Baker of Massachusetts, Pete Ricketts of Nebraska, Doug Burgum of North Dakota, Henry McMaster of South Carolina, Kristi Noem of South Dakota, and Greg Abbott of Texas. Additionally, Governor Bill Lee of Tennessee was elected Policy Chairman, and Governor Tate Reeves of Mississippi was elected Policy Vice Chairman.[4]
Its Democratic Party counterpart is the Democratic Governors Association. The RGA is not directly affiliated with the non-partisan National Governors Association.
Current Mission Statement
The current mission statement of the RGA is as follows:
The Republican Governors Association is dedicated to one primary objective: electing and supporting Republican governors. Republicans now hold a majority of 27 governorships as millions of Americans enjoy the strong leadership provided by Republican chief executives. All across the country, Republican governors are implementing innovative ideas, lowering taxes, growing jobs and achieving meaningful reform. Republican governors are America’s doers. We are transforming our states for the better, driving economic growth, reinventing state government and getting results. The RGA continues to be the most effective political organization in America and Republican governors continue to be the best investment for advancing conservative policies across the country.[5]
List of current Republican governors
All of the following states are members of the Republican Governors Association:
Current Governor | State | Past | Took office | Current term |
---|---|---|---|---|
Kay Ivey | Alabama | List | 2017 | First term (elected to first full term in 2018) |
Mike Dunleavy | Alaska | List | 2018 | First term |
Doug Ducey | Arizona | List | 2015 | Second term (term-limited in 2022) |
Asa Hutchinson | Arkansas | List | 2015 | Second term (term-limited in 2022) |
Ron DeSantis | Florida | List | 2019 | First term |
Brian Kemp | Georgia | List | 2019 | First term |
Brad Little | Idaho | List | 2019 | First term |
Eric Holcomb | Indiana | List | 2017 | First term |
Kim Reynolds | Iowa | List | 2017 | First term (elected to first full term in 2018) |
Charlie Baker | Massachusetts | List | 2015 | Second term |
Larry Hogan | Maryland | List | 2015 | Second term (term-limited in 2022) |
Tate Reeves | Mississippi | List | 2020 | First term |
Mike Parson | Missouri | List | 2018 | First term |
Greg Gianforte | Montana | List | 2021 | First term |
Pete Ricketts | Nebraska | List | 2015 | Second term (term-limited in 2022) |
Chris Sununu | New Hampshire | List | 2017 | Third term |
Doug Burgum | North Dakota | List | 2016 | First term |
Mike DeWine | Ohio | List | 2019 | First term |
Kevin Stitt | Oklahoma | List | 2019 | First term |
Henry McMaster | South Carolina | List | 2017 | First term (elected to first full term in 2018) |
Kristi Noem | South Dakota | List | 2019 | First term |
Bill Lee | Tennessee | List | 2019 | First term |
Greg Abbott | Texas | List | 2015 | Second term |
Spencer Cox | Utah | List | 2021 | First term |
Phil Scott | Vermont | List | 2017 | Second term |
Jim Justice | West Virginia | List | 2017 | Second term |
Mark Gordon | Wyoming | List | 2019 | First term |
One governor of a U.S. territory is a member of the Republican Governors Association:
Governor | Territory | Prev | Took office | Current term |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ralph Torres | Northern Mariana Islands | List | 2015 | First Term (elected to first full term in 2018) |
List of RGA Chairs
Current and former RGA Chairs.
Executive Directors
Term | Director |
---|---|
1963–1964 | Robert McCall |
1966 | Carl McMurray |
1967–1969 | Richard Fleming |
1971–1975 | Buehl Berentson |
1976–1980 | Ralph Griffith |
1980–1981 | Ronald Rietdorf |
1981 | John Stevens |
1982–1985 | Carol Whitney |
1985–1991 | Michele Davis |
1991–1995 | Chris Henick |
1995–1996 | Paul Hatch |
1996 | LeAnne Wilson |
1997 | Brian Kennedy |
1997–2000 | Clinton Key |
2000–2001 | Michael McSherry |
2001 | Duncan Campbell |
2001–2002 | Clinton Key |
2002–2004 | Edward Tobin |
2004–2005 | Mike Pieper |
2005–2006 | Phillip Musser |
2006–2011 | Nick Ayers |
2011–2014 | Phil Cox |
2014–2018 | Paul Bennecke |
2019–present | Dave Rexrode |
Election Cycles
2018
36 gubernatorial races occurred during the 2018 election cycle. The elections were held on November 6, 2018, with Republicans losing a net of 7 governorships.[6]
In 2017, it sponsored a website The Free Telegraph to promote issues from the perspective of Republicans.[7]
2020
In the 2020 election cycle, 11 states and two territories held elections for governors. The elections were held on November 3, 2020, with Republicans gaining a net of one governorship, Montana, for state elections.[8] This marked the first time Montana elected a Republican governor in 16 years.[9] Former Governor Wanda Vázquez Garced, who was a member of the Republican Governors Association, lost reelection in Puerto Rico, meaning a net loss of one Republican governor for territorial elections.[10] As of 2021, this election meant that only one of five American territories have Republican governors.
Fundraising
In the 18 months ending June 30, 2010, the RGA raised $58 million, while its counterpart DGA raised $40 million. "Unlike the national political parties and federal candidates, the governors' associations can take in unlimited amounts from corporations," according to Bloomberg, which notes that the RGA recently received $1 million from Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, the parent corporation of Fox News, and $500,000 from WellPoint (now Anthem).[11]
In 2018, the Republican Governors Association announced that $63.2 million was raised in all of 2017, including $27.2 million raised in the final six months of the year, setting a new fundraising record that significantly eclipses the $52.5 million raised in 2013, the last comparable year.[12]
References
- Sparacino, Anthony (2021). "The Democratic and Republican Governors Associations and the Nationalization of American Party Politics, 1961–1968". Studies in American Political Development: 1–28. doi:10.1017/S0898588X20000188. ISSN 0898-588X.
- "About the RGA". Archived from the original on 2007-07-27.
- Polletta, Maria. "As he faces backlash from Trump, Arizona GOP, Ducey is picked to lead Republican Governors Association". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
- "RGA Announces 2021 Leadership". RGA. 2020-12-09. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
- Ricketts, Pete. "RGA". Retrieved 2019-06-01.
- Haslam, Bill. "RGA". Retrieved 2018-02-19.
- Chokshi, Niraj (2017-09-19). "This New G.O.P. Publication Looks a Lot Like a News Website (Published 2017)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2020-11-12. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
- "2020 gubernatorial election results". www.cnn.com. Archived from the original on 2021-01-01. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
- Muvlihill, Geoff (2020-11-03). "Montana goes red; it's status quo in other governor races". WSLS. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
- Florido, Adrian (2020-08-16). "Puerto Rico's Governor Loses Primary Bid For Full Term". NPR.org. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
- Salant, Jonathan D. (August 16, 2010). "Republicans See Gains in Governors' Races as Funding Hits Peak". Bloomberg News.
- "RGA Breaks Fundraising Records, Brings In $63 Million in 2017" (Press release). Washington, DC: RGA. 2018-01-31. Retrieved 2018-02-19.