Buoyed by strong polling and a series of off-cycle electoral wins, Democratic governors convened in the Arizona desert over the weekend sounding like leaders of a party gaining momentum — even as concerns simmered beneath the surface about aggressive interventions from the Trump administration and the stakes of upcoming elections.
At the Democratic Governors Association’s Winter Meeting at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, many of the party’s highest-profile governors highlighted the “affordability” message that recently resonated with voters from progressive neighborhoods in New York City to suburban swing areas in New Jersey and Virginia. At the same time, they warned that the White House is moving forcefully to reshape political rules heading into 2026 and beyond.
Though the 2028 cycle is still young — a moment when ambitious Democrats might normally begin to distinguish themselves — the governors presented a largely united front.
“We had big wins this year because our candidates recognized something important: people aren’t as political as many assume,” said Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, the new DGA chair, outlining plans to expand the party’s current roster of 23 governorships and reclaim a national majority for the first time in nearly 20 years.
“If we continue to show Americans that we are for them, that we understand their immediate challenges, and that the American dream feels out of reach for too many,” Beshear said, “we’ll start winning in places we haven’t for a long time. We’re going to flip seats — places you expect, like Georgia and Nevada, and places you might not — like Iowa.”
Nearly 50 Democratic governors and gubernatorial hopefuls attended the gathering, alongside major donors and strategists. In conversations with News Agencies, attendees expressed differing views on how to approach contentious issues like economic messaging, redistricting, and safeguarding democratic institutions. Still, they appeared unified in their commitment to wielding state-level power to preserve stability amid escalating political and legal confrontations with the White House.
