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 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:

  • 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 chair of the WGA is Republican Brad Little of Idaho and the vice chair is Democrat Jared Polis of Colorado.[2]

Current governor State Past Party Assumed office Seat up
Mike Dunleavy Alaska List Republican 2018 2026 (term-limited)
Lemanu Peleti Mauga American Samoa List Democratic 2021 2024
Katie Hobbs Arizona List Democratic 2023 2026
Gavin Newsom California List Democratic 2019 2026 (term-limited)
Jared Polis Colorado List Democratic 2019 2026 (term-limited)
Lou Leon Guerrero Guam List Democratic 2019 2026 (term-limited)
Josh Green Hawaii List Democratic 2022 2026
Brad Little Idaho List Republican 2019 2026
Laura Kelly Kansas List Democratic 2019 2026 (term-limited)
Greg Gianforte Montana List Republican 2021 2024
Jim Pillen Nebraska List Republican 2023 2026
Joe Lombardo Nevada List Republican 2023 2026
Michelle Lujan Grisham New Mexico List Democratic 2019 2026 (term-limited)
Arnold Palacios Northern Mariana Islands List Independent 2023 2026
Doug Burgum North Dakota List Republican 2016 2024
Kevin Stitt Oklahoma List Republican 2019 2026 (term-limited)
Tina Kotek Oregon List Democratic 2023 2026
Kristi Noem South Dakota List Republican 2019 2026 (term-limited)
Greg Abbott Texas List Republican 2015 2026
Spencer Cox Utah List Republican 2021 2024
Jay Inslee Washington List Democratic 2013 2024 (retiring)
Mark Gordon Wyoming List Republican 2019 2026 (term-limited)

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

Current premier Province Past Party Assumed 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. "Our Governors". Western Governors Association. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
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