Western Governors Association

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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.

Contents

The WGA also invites Canadian premiers (the leader of the provincial parliamentary party) of Western Canada to its annual conference. [1]

Western Governors University, an autonomous private non-profit online university, was co-founded by Western governors from a plan that originated in WGA meetings in the 1990s.

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:

List of current Western governors

The current chair of the WGA is Democrat Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico and the vice chair is Republican Spencer Cox of Utah. [2]

Current governor State PastPartyAssumed officeTerm ending
Mike Dunleavy Alaska List Republican20182026 (term-limited)
Pula Nikolao Pula American Samoa List Republican20252029
Katie Hobbs Arizona List Democratic20232027
Gavin Newsom California List Democratic20192027 (term-limited)
Jared Polis Colorado List Democratic20192027 (term-limited)
Lou Leon Guerrero Guam List Democratic20192027 (term-limited)
Josh Green Hawaii List Democratic20222026
Brad Little Idaho List Republican20192027
Laura Kelly Kansas List Democratic20192027 (term-limited)
Greg Gianforte Montana List Republican20212029 (term-limited)
Jim Pillen Nebraska List Republican20232027
Joe Lombardo Nevada List Republican20232027
Michelle Lujan Grisham New Mexico List Democratic20192027 (term-limited)
Arnold Palacios Northern Mariana Islands List Republican20232027
Kelly Armstrong North Dakota List Republican20242028
Kevin Stitt Oklahoma List Republican20192027 (term-limited)
Tina Kotek Oregon List Democratic20232027
Larry Rhoden South Dakota List Republican20252027
Greg Abbott Texas List Republican20152027
Spencer Cox Utah List Republican20212029
Bob Ferguson Washington List Democratic20252029
Mark Gordon Wyoming List Republican20192027 (term-limited)

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

Current premier Province PastPartyAssumed office
Danielle Smith Alberta List United Conservative 2022
David Eby British Columbia List New Democratic 2022
Wab Kinew Manitoba List New Democratic 2023
Scott Moe Saskatchewan List Saskatchewan Party 2018

References

  1. [ dead link ]
  2. "Our Governors". Western Governors Association. Retrieved 1 February 2025.