Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Thursday was once again elected to serve on the executive committee of the National Governors Association. Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, a Republican, was elected as the chairman of the National Governors Association, and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, a Democrat, was elected vice chairman.
The bipartisan National Governors Association works alongside governors in their efforts to restore public health and continue a robust, sustainable economic recovery. Elected to serve alongside Ivey on the NGA Executive Committee were:
- Governor Doug Ducey, Arizona;
- Governor Jared Polis, Colorado;
- Governor Charlie Baker, Massachusetts;
- Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan;
- Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, New Mexico.
After a vote of his fellow leaders of states and territories, Murphy became the NGA vice chairman, 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, which took place in a virtual format.
Hutchinson has served as Arkansas’s governor since 2015. Hutchinson has previously served Arkansas as a U.S. attorney, member of Congress, administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration and undersecretary of the Department of Homeland Security after its establishment.
At NGA, Hutchinson has served as co-chair of the Resource Center for State Cybersecurity. Hutchinson is not running for another term.
“This is a highlight of my time as Governor, and my pledge is to use the platform to build on the areas where Republicans and Democrats agree and work to remove the obstacles in Washington where we can,” Hutchinson said. “One of my most important missions will be to help facilitate the states’ partnership with the White House as we guide the nation out of the pandemic. We must combat the fear that many have expressed about getting a vaccination.”
Ivey was elevated to the governor of Alabama in 2017 and then elected in her own right in 2018. She is seeking another term. The Republican primary is on May 24, 2022. Ivey previously served the state for two terms as lieutenant governor and two terms as state treasurer, following careers in government and education. Ivey grew up on a cattle farm in Wilcox County and is a graduate of Auburn University.
During the NGA Summer Meeting, three governor-led task forces held discussions with federal cabinet secretaries on key issues of the day including cybersecurity, workforce development and transportation electrification.
The Economic Recovery and Revitalization Task Force, co-chaired by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear hosted Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm.
The Pandemic and Disaster Response Task Force, co-chaired by Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont and Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee met with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
And the Community Renewal Task Force co-chaired by U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. Albert Bryan and Missouri Gov. Mike Parsons convened a discussion with Labor Secretary Marty Walsh.
Next year’s NGA Summer Meeting will be held in person in July in Portland, Maine, where it had been scheduled for 2020 before it switched to a virtual format during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the next annual Winter Meeting is to be held in-person in Washington, D.C.
