Being a Governor is often called the best job in politics: close enough to the people to see the impact of policy, powerful enough to shape outcomes and practical enough to demand results. As two new Governors assume office in New Jersey and Virginia, departing New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin used the occasion of their final addresses to reflect on their time in office, celebrating achievements, acknowledging challenges and sharing what they hope to leave behind – including optimism for the next chapter in their states’ stories.
Taking the Reins
NGA Acting Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Brandon Tatum attended inaugural events held in New Jersey and Virginia. Here is his report:
I have the privilege of working with Governors from every state and territory, and witnessing gubernatorial leadership up close is one of the most inspiring parts of the job.
Governor Abigail Spanberger’s inaugural address was a powerful reminder that Governors are uniquely positioned to unite people across geography, ideology and party, grounding progress in shared history while focusing squarely on the common good. By lifting up Virginia’s bipartisan tradition of leadership, reaching all the way back to the Commonwealth’s first Governor Patrick Henry, Governor Spanberger articulated her clear understanding that unity does not require uniformity, but rather a commitment to governing with respect, cooperation and purpose. It was an address that reflected the very best of Governors everywhere: pragmatic, people-centered leaders who know that democracy works best when we choose collaboration over division.
Governor Mikie Sherrill’s address exemplified the action-oriented leadership that defines Governors. Drawing on her military service and prosecutorial background, she emphasized accountability, competence, and a commitment to tangible results over empty promises. Governor Sherrill didn’t just speak about New Jersey’s affordability crisis—she acted on it, announcing executive orders to freeze utility rate hikes and invest in long-term energy solutions. Her focus on opening doors to opportunity for every New Jerseyan, grounded in her own family’s American Dream story, reflects the same people-centered pragmatism that drives the best gubernatorial leadership nationwide.
Looking Back
New Jersey
In his last State of the State address, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy reflected on eight years in office through the lens of his “stronger and fairer” governing philosophy, rooted in his working‑class upbringing. He highlighted major achievements, including raising the minimum wage, record economic growth, criminal‑justice reforms, expanded civil and voting rights, historic investments in schools, pensions, transit, and property‑tax relief, as well as nine credit‑rating upgrades and a nearly $7 billion surplus. Looking ahead, he touted rapid growth in innovation, AI and film production, as well as New Jersey’s central role in upcoming global events like the U.S. Semiquincentennial and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Governor Murphy noted that New Jersey is fiscally strong, socially inclusive and positioned to lead in the decades ahead.
Governor Murphy served as the 2022-2023 Chair of the National Governors Association. As NGA Chair, Governor Murphy led a nationwide initiative focused on strengthening youth mental health across the country. As part of the initiative, Governor Murphy unveiled “Strengthening Youth Mental Health: A Governor’s Playbook.” New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy also released the “Tackling the Maternal and Infant Health Crisis: A Governor’s Playbook” – a complementary policy roadmap to Governor Murphy’s youth mental health playbook. Mrs. Murphy’s playbook came as part of the parallel initiative she ran in conjunction with Governor Murphy’s Chair’s Initiative to focus on improving maternal and infant health as an extension of her Nurture NJ initiative, a program she launched in 2019 to help reduce the maternal and infant mortality rates in New Jersey.
Governor Phil Murphy
New JerseyVirginia
In his final State of the Commonwealth address, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin highlighted record-breaking economic performance, citing business investment, job creation and the fastest revenue growth in decades, which fueled $9 billion in tax relief while maintaining large budget surpluses. Governor Youngkin pointed to major regulatory rollbacks, workforce reforms and Virginia’s emergence as a leader in advanced manufacturing and life sciences. Youngkin emphasized education gains, including rising test scores, a sharp reduction in chronic absenteeism, expanded lab schools and higher teacher pay. On public safety, he cited a 30% drop in murders and a 59% reduction in fatal fentanyl overdoses. The Governor also highlighted expanded behavioral health capacity, faster government services, infrastructure investment and population growth. The Governor closed by tying Virginia’s trajectory to its founding‑era legacy as America celebrates its 250th anniversary this year, asserting that the Commonwealth is more competitive, safer and better positioned for the future.
Governor Youngkin served as Co-Chair of the presidentially appointed Council of Governors, and as a member of NGA’s Education, Workforce and Community Investment Task Force and has worked collaboratively with other Governors on a range of issues, including workforce development, career and technical skills, postsecondary education, criminal justice, housing, and agriculture. To help augment the work Governors and states are leading to address the country’s overdose epidemic, New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy and Virginia First Lady Suzanne Youngkin launched an initiative to engage the nation’s First Spouses to help raise awareness about the risks of fentanyl and to prevent overdose. As part of the initiative, Mrs. Murphy and Mrs. Youngkin worked with the NGA to organize a briefing for Governors’ staff members and First Spouses to hear from some of the country’s leading experts about national campaigns underway to address the drug overdose epidemic. Learn more about the briefing and initiative here.
