Jack Markell Named Head Of The Democratic Governors Association
This is just coming through the wires, via Twitter. Jack Markell has been elected the lead the Democratic Governors Association. The national party is starting to notice our governor. Good for him and good for us!
Delaware Gov. Jack Markell is just 11 months into his first term, but takes a high-profile leadership post in the Democratic Party today as the new chairman of the Democratic Governors Association for 2010. A formal announcement is to be made shortly at the organization’s Holiday Meeting here in Washington.
Markell had already been serving as the DGA’s finance chairman. As incoming chair, replacing Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, he now cements his status as a rising figure in the national Democratic Party and is charged with the difficult task of heading up the party’s efforts to hold its majority of governorship in 2010. It’s a quick rise, too — consider that just over a year ago, Markell was not even the choice of many establishment Democrats in Delaware as he ran for the office. Retiring Gov. Ruth Ann Minner (D) was among those backing the then-lieutenant governor, John Carney, in the September gubernatorial primary. Markell, then state Treasurer, won that race by under 2,000 votes before cruising to a general election win.
Markell also wrote an op-ed for Real Clear Politics:
That is why I am so excited to lead the Democratic Governor’s Association this year. We have Governors and candidates across the country that are seizing the opportunity to get our fiscal houses in order, to rebuild our nation’s economy, to stand and fight for hardworking taxpayers, to strengthen our nation’s schools and give our children every opportunity to reach their potential.
Admittedly, history’s headwind is working against us. Since 1978, the President’s party has traditionally lost an average of five Governor’s offices during the first mid-term election. And though Republicans may outspend us, the DGA is better prepared than at any point in our history to help our candidates. We helped recruit strong candidates around the country and are making early investments in key states.
In fact, we are starting some of those investments today, with a new effort to put our opponents on notice. The DGA will hold them accountable for any attempt they make to block our nation’s return to greater prosperity. This new initiative, The GOP Accountability Project, will remind people in critical states that the same Republicans who are pledging progress now helped create the national recession which we have had to work so hard to reverse.
Efforts like this to help educate voters need to start now because the stakes have never been higher. In the 2010 election cycle, four out of five Americans will see an election for Governor in their state. In the next two years, 42 out of 50 governors will play a major role in deciding what their state’s political lines will look like for the next decade.
Go read the whole op-ed it’s really good. Congratulations Governor Markell!
So this is what Selander was talking about in his Facebook status.
Congrats to Governor Markell. Make us proud.
Well, hey.
So how come the Governor doesn’t write an editorial for *us*? It isn’t like we weren’t fans before RCP or anything. /pout
Congratulations, Governor!
Nice to know that the Governor has so little to do that he’d take on a major, partisan, out-of-state election project like running the DGA. I guess there are no problems in Delaware that need addressing.
God, the right wing criticism is pathetic.
Eek, my God, Democratic Governor Markell is a Partisan!!!!! The horror!!!! Of course he was a partisan. He was not elected as a nonpartisan, or as an independent. He was elected as a Democrat. By definition, that is partisan.
Eek, my God, this is an out of state position. Um, no it isn’t. Has Anon heard of the telephone and email? And by being the chair, it means any annual meeting can be held here, just as the DGA was held in Philly when Rendell was chair.
Eek, my God, this is a major post!!! Yeah, I prefer my Governors to remain obsecure and minor.
You are pathetic Anon.
The rightwing has spent a lot of time making lemons out of lemonade lately.
For all intents and purposes, the day to day running of an organization like that is done by its Executive Director and a pretty full slate of staff that make it all work. Markell’s job is more like Chairman of the Board, which isn’t a full time job anyplace.
remember how the DGA made a big deal out of Minner being elected the first female governor? She did them proud.
I cannot think of anyone who would make a better Governor, especially at this exceptionally critical and challenging juncture, nor can I think of any Governor better suited to head the DGA. These sour grapes from the disgruntled Right are meaningless, if not actually predictable and hilarious.
Next? Mike Protack
Just one more thing to make me proud that I supported Jack.
Anon – guess Haley Barbour should resign his position at the RGA so that he can concentrate on lifting Mississippi form being at the bottom of everything (education, health care, equal rights, intelligence).
Way to go, Jack! That’s why I worked on his campaign.
Comment by Delaware Dem on
“Eek, my God, Democratic Governor Markell is a Partisan!!!!! The horror!!!! Of course he was a partisan. He was not elected as a nonpartisan, or as an independent. He was elected as a Democrat. By definition, that is partisan.”
Go ahead and rip be but DAM he doesn’t have to stick his partisan ass in the face of all Delawareans. There are people who crossed party lines and is this his way of saying SUCKER?
I might be pissed at Jack for opening the door for Arne Duncan who wants to federalize public education but I know Jack has good business skills but Monkey business, I didn’t expect that.
But serious, how doesn’t he seperate his time as governor for all the people even Republicans and work for this politcal group? Does he do it inthe evening on his dime?
Anyhow congratulation for the sake of you party. All is fair in love, war and politics.
MJ–that was funny….
I guess the others were too worried about campaigning for their jobs. Too bad Jack will be known as the guy who lost a dozen governorships.
David is predicting again. Remember, according to David, Christine O’Donnell would have been Senator three times over by now.
Hmm, link please. Twelve would stand pretty well as a prediction, but it is way too far out for that. This is more like partisan smack talk.
Anon – guess Haley Barbour should resign his position at the RGA so that he can concentrate on lifting Mississippi form being at the bottom of everything (education, health care, equal rights, intelligence).
It’s not just Mississippi. It’s the entire southeast, the last of the GOP “base”. Ironically, it is these southern conservative states that rank at the bottom in the nation in healthcare, education, infant mortality, equal rights, income and environmental protection. However, they do lead in obesity and high school dropout rates. Gotta love conservatives. So stupid they’ll vote against their own interests.
^^^Thread Over.