Democratic governors are considering leaving the National Governors Association (NGA) over disagreements with President Donald Trump’s policies. Laura Kelly, chair of the Democratic Governors Association, plans to stop paying NGA dues next month, while former chair Tim Walz of Minnesota is also reconsidering membership.
Kelly, who is one of the Democratic governors, expressed frustration that the NGA hasn’t been upholding its mission to advance and protect states’ rights. She said the organization hasn’t been doing enough to stand up against the ‘dismantling of solutions-based governance.’ She would reconsider her membership if the NGA demonstrated a stronger commitment to these values.
Walz, who also considers leaving the NGA, feels the organization didn’t respond forcefully enough when the Trump administration paused federal funding earlier this year. He and Kelly believe the NGA should have been more vocal in opposing Trump’s policies on issues such as biological men in women’s sports and the National Guard’s involvement in California’s anti-ICE protests.
NGA Communications Director Eric Wohlschlegel responded that all public statements issued by the NGA reflect bipartisan consensus. He noted that the organization’s commitment to bipartisan collaboration is what keeps it effective and that the recent release of over $5.5 billion in frozen education funds was a direct result of that collaboration.
Other Democratic governors, such as Wes Moore, are more optimistic, acknowledging the NGA’s value. Moore spoke with both Kelly and Walz about their potential departure but did not endorse their frustrations publicly. He believes the NGA plays an important role in providing a nonpartisan platform for collaboration among governors.
The NGA has a long history of bipartisan cooperation, having existed since 1908. Incoming chair Kevin Stitt emphasized that the group should not be used as a political tool, reminding members that the focus should be on effective governance and problem-solving over political posturing.
Despite the tensions, the NGA continues to serve as a forum for governors to address shared concerns like education and healthcare. With Trump’s policies being a focal point of many governors’ frustrations, the future of the organization remains uncertain as some Democratic governors reconsider their involvement.