Gov. Beshear Begins Term as DGA Chair, Democratic Governors Elect Gov. Whitmer as Vice Chair for 2026

Gov. Beshear Begins Term as DGA Chair, Democratic Governors Elect Gov. Whitmer as Vice Chair for 2026

Today, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear officially began his term as Chair of the Democratic Governors Association for 2026. He was elected Vice Chair and Chair-Elect in December 2024.

Additionally, America's Democratic governors voted to elect Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer to serve as Vice Chair. The vote occurred at the DGA's Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona.

"I am honored to lead the Democratic Governors Association, and I look forward to working with Governor Whitmer to build on our successes in Virginia and New Jersey by expanding the map and growing our ranks of Democratic governors next year," said DGA Chair Governor Andy Beshear. "Democratic governors are making life better for families across our country by staying laser-focused on issues like lowering costs, creating jobs, and improving public education. In Kentucky, we've shown that when you focus on bringing people together and the real issues families are facing, Democrats can win anywhere - and that's exactly what we're going to do in 2026.

"I also want to thank Governor Kelly for her hard work and steady, successful leadership as DGA Chair going back to 2024. Under her leadership, the DGA broke fundraising records, protected every Democratic seat, and flipped a Republican seat. It's been an honor to serve by her side."

"I am grateful to be elected Vice Chair of the DGA and excited to work with Governor Beshear to elect more Democratic governors ready to get stuff done for their constituents. Lowering costs, creating jobs, and getting things done has always been my focus in Michigan, and it's how Democrats have held this seat for eight years," said DGA Vice Chair Governor Gretchen Whitmer. "This year, Democrats had two landslide victories in Virginia and New Jersey, and we are keeping our foot on the gas for the 36 races coming up next year. As Democratic governors, we're delivering where it matters most, from lowering costs for seniors and families to protecting health care and creating good-paying jobs.

"We've proven that when we show up and focus on what we can do to make people's lives better, then we can win anywhere, even in the toughest places."

BACKGROUND

Governor Andy Beshear knows how to run and win in a red state, defying the odds by winning reelection in 2023 by five points as a Democrat in deep-red Kentucky. During Governor Beshear's term as Vice Chair in 2025, the DGA delivered the first two massive wins of the second Trump Administration with Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger's and Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill's historic victories in Virginia and New Jersey.

Governor Beshear has worked across the aisle on the issues that matter most to Kentuckians: strengthening the economy, fully funding public education, fixing roads and bridges, and protecting fundamental freedoms. Under his leadership, Kentucky has secured more than $43 billion in private-sector projects and created more than 65,400 jobs. Governor Beshear has brought both parties together to score big wins for Kentucky, including legalizing sports betting, making key investments in infrastructure, and lowering the income tax.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has never lost an election. She was elected twice by double digits in one of the nation's most competitive swing states, flipping counties typically held by Republicans. Since taking office in 2019, Governor Whitmer has fixed the damn roads, cut taxes for the middle class to put money back in Michiganders' pockets, invested in public education, protected Michiganders' reproductive freedom, and grown Michigan's economy and auto industry.

Governor Whitmer has negotiated and passed seven balanced, bipartisan budgets and signed over 1,500 bipartisan bills into law. Her most recent budget will protect core Medicaid funding for over 2 million Michiganders in the wake of looming federal cuts.

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