Democratic Governors Association

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Democratic Governors Association
DGA.jpeg
Basic facts
Location:Washington, D.C.
Type:527 group
Affiliation:Democratic Party
Top official:Elisabeth Pearson, Executive Director
Year founded:1983
Website:Official website



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The Democratic Governors Association (DGA) is an IRS designated 527 political organization that serves as a resource for Democratic gubernatorial candidates and elected governors.[1]

  • As of March 2018, the DGA supported Democratic governors in 16 states and 2 U.S. territories.[1]
  • The Democratic Governors Association (DGA) raised $41 million in 2017, according to Politico.[2]
  • Mission

    According to its website, the DGA's mission is as follows:[1]

    The Democratic Governors’ Association was founded in 1983 to support the candidacy of Democratic governors throughout the nation. The DGA provides political and strategic assistance to gubernatorial campaigns. In addition, the DGA plays an integral role in developing positions on key state and federal issues that affect the states through the governors’ policy forum series.[3][4]

    Background

    The Democratic Governors Association (DGA) was founded in 1983 as a resource for Democratic gubernatorial candidates and elected governors. The group provides funding for campaigns and policy consulting.[1] Some money goes to supporting PACs and super PACs; the DGA also makes ads in support or opposition to candidates. The DGA holds multiple policy conferences a year that cover a wide range of policy issues, including biotechnology, life sciences, and the "new energy economy."[1]

    Subsidiaries of the Democratic National Committee
    Democratic Governors Association
    Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
    Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
    The Association of State Democratic Chairs
    Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee
    • National Lawyers Council
    • DNC Voting Rights Institute

    The DGA is governed by a committee, which consists of governors and executive leadership. The committee is chaired by a governor.[1]

    Leadership

    Below is a list of the DGA's leadership as of March 2018:[1]

    Finances

    The Democratic Governors Association (DGA) raised $41 million in 2017, according to Politico. The group's counterpart, the Republican Governors Association, raised $63 million in 2017.[7]

    The following table breaks down DGA's contributions and expenditures for the 2004 to 2016 election cycles, according to Open Secrets:[2]

    Key spending areas

    In 2016, the majority of DGA expenditures included contributions to committees and candidates and fundraising activities. In 2014, contributions to committees and candidates made up 40 percent of the DGA's overall spending, while 22 percent overall spending consisted of media buys and production.[8] In the 2012 and 2010 cycles, contributions to committees and candidates hovered around 50 percent, while media related expenditures were much lower, less than one percent in 2012 and 10 percent in 2010.[9][10]

    Top donors

    The following are a list of the top five donors to the DGA for the election cycle years 2010 to 2016.

    Top vendors

    According to Open Secrets, the following were the top vendors for the election cycle years 2010 to 2016.

    Affiliated programs

    DGA Action

    DGA Action is the Democratic Governors Association's super PAC. In the last two election cycles, the committee has raised over $14 million and spent around $14.5 million in expenditures.[14] In 2014, the super PAC contributed about $9.6 million to candidates and national parties, while in 2012 the committee only contributed $1.4 million to candidates and national parties.[15][16]

    Media

    A selection of ads sponsored by the DGA. To view others, see the DGA's YouTube channel.

    Recent news

    The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Democratic Governors Association. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

    See also

    External links

    Footnotes