Western Governors Association

The Western Governors' Association (WGA) is a non-partisan organization of all 22 United States Governors (representing 19 U.S. States and 3 U.S. territories) that are considered to be part of the Western region of the nation.

The WGA also invites the premiers (Canada's equivalent of governors) of Western Canada to its annual conference.[1]

Mission

The WGA addresses important policy and governance issues in the West, advances the role of the Western states in the federal system, and strengthens the social and economic fabric of the region.

WGA develops policy and carries out programs in the areas of natural resources, the environment, human services, economic development, international relations and state governance.

WGA acts as a center of innovation and promotes shared development of solutions to regional problems.

Strategies

The WGA takes up issues using six basic strategies:

  • Develop and Communicate Regional Policy
    • The WGA enables Governors to identify issues of regional concern, to formulate regional policy for those issues, and to take action that promotes Western interests.
  • Serve as a Leadership Forum
    • The WGA provides a forum for Governors and other leaders to exchange ideas, positions and experiences.
  • Build Regional Capacity
    • Through the WGA, Governors and their staffs exchange information and ideas about problem solving for a wide range of practical management concerns. The exchange helps Governors manage their resources more efficiently, for example, when they procure services jointly and share development costs for new programs. The exchange also helps build rapport among Governors, cabinet officers and gubernatorial staffs in the region.
  • Conduct Research and Disseminate Findings
    • The WGA develops and maintains up-to-date information on a wide range of subjects important to Western policy-makers, business leaders and educators. WGA produces occasional white papers, reports and other analyses used in the development of policy on matters important to the West.
  • Form Coalitions and Partnerships to Advance Regional Interests
    • Through the WGA, Western Governors form coalitions to collectively express their positions on matters of shared interest, and together advocate a Western agenda before Congress and the executive branch of the federal government.
  • Build Public Understanding and Support for Regional Issues and Policy Positions
    • Through its annual convention, meetings, media briefings, resolutions and background papers, the WGA provides timely information for the public.

List of current Western Governors

The Current Chairman of the WGA is Democratic David Ige of Hawaii and the Vice Chair is Republican Doug Burgum of North Dakota.[2]

Current Governor State Past Party Assumed office Seat Up
Mike Dunleavy Alaska List Republican 2018 2022
Lolo Matalasi Moliga American Samoa List Democratic 2013 2020
Doug Ducey Arizona List Republican 2015 2022 (term-limited)
Gavin Newsom California List Democratic 2019 2022
Jared Polis Colorado List Democratic 2019 2022
Lou Leon Guerrero Guam List Democratic 2019 2022
David Ige Hawaii List Democratic 2014 2022 (term-limited)
Brad Little Idaho List Republican 2019 2022
Laura Kelly Kansas List Democratic 2019 2022
Steve Bullock Montana List Democratic 2013 2020 (term-limited)
Pete Ricketts Nebraska List Republican 2015 2022 (term-limited)
Steve Sisolak Nevada List Democratic 2019 2022
Michelle Lujan Grisham New Mexico List Democratic 2019 2022
Ralph Torres Northern Mariana Islands List Republican 2015 2022
Doug Burgum North Dakota List Republican 2016 2020
Kevin Stitt Oklahoma List Republican 2019 2022
Kate Brown Oregon List Democratic 2015 2022 (term-limited)
Kristi Noem South Dakota List Republican 2019 2022
Greg Abbott Texas List Republican 2015 2022
Gary Herbert Utah List Republican 2009 2020 (declined re-election bid)
Jay Inslee Washington List Democratic 2013 2020
Mark Gordon Wyoming List Republican 2019 2022

The Premiers of Canada's Western provinces are also typically invited to attend WGA meetings.

Current Premier Province Past Party Assumed office
Jason Kenney Alberta List United Conservative 2019
John Horgan British Columbia List New Democratic 2017
Brian Pallister Manitoba List Progressive Conservative 2016
Scott Moe Saskatchewan List Saskatchewan Party 2018

References

  1. "Our Governors". Western Governors Association. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
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