Maryland Governor Wes Moore Elected Vice Chair
Colorado Springs – Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt was elected Chair of the National Governors Association (NGA) — the bipartisan voice of the 55 states, territories and commonwealths.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore was elected NGA Vice Chair / 2026-2027 Chair-elect, with a role overseeing the NGA Center for Best Practices, the only research and development office directly serving the nation’s Governors. The Governors assumed their new roles during the NGA Summer Meeting in Colorado Springs and will serve for one year.
Governor Stitt announced his 2025-2026 Chair’s Initiative, Reigniting the American Dream.
“The beautiful thing about the American Dream is that there are as many dreams as there are people,” said Gov. Stitt. “In a time where all we hear is about how divided we are, let’s remind them that we agree on this: The American Dream doesn’t need to be reimagined, it needs to be reignited. Governors are in a unique position to lead this charge. I’m grateful for the trust of my fellow governors as we start this journey together.”
“We all want to create a brighter future for our states, and the nation. When we get together at the National Governors Association, we’re focused on whether an idea is good, not on where the idea came from,” said Gov. Moore. “I’m looking forward to collaborating with my fellow governors to build stronger on-ramps to opportunity so every person in our states has a shot at success – no matter how they define it.”
The yearlong Reigniting the American Dream initiative will focus on three policy pillars:
- Unlocking Economic Opportunity: Advancing the American Dream through entrepreneurship, creating a good jobs economy and economic mobility
- Empowering Every Learner: Reimagining education and creating real on-the-jobs experiences for youth
- Energizing the Future: Powering America’s next chapter by powering our AI future
Throughout the year, Governor Stitt will lead a series of convenings bringing together governors, private-sector leaders, and changemakers to explore policy and practice to forge a more hopeful, prosperous future for every American.
In addition to Governors Stitt and Moore, the following Governors were elected to positions on the NGA Executive Committee, which guides NGA’s operations and priorities:
- Colorado Governor Jared Polis (Past Chair)
- Hawai`i Governor Josh Green, M.D.
- Indiana Governor Mike Braun
- Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry
- Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey
- New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham
- Tennessee Governor Bill Lee
NGA also announced leadership for NGA’s three Governor-led task forces. The task forces foster a collaborative environment for Governors to focus on NGA’s top federal priorities. The task force co-chairs are:
- Education, Workforce and Community Investment: Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon
- Economic Development and Revitalization: Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong
- Public Health and Emergency Management: Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe, North Carolina Governor Josh Stein
Learn more about the Reigniting the American Dream initiative, and upcoming bipartisan events, on the NGA website.
