White House Excludes Democrats from Governors' Annual Meeting

Partisan tensions rise as Trump administration plans to invite only Republican governors to traditional bipartisan event.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The annual meeting of the nation's governors, a rare bipartisan gathering, is unraveling after the White House announced plans to invite only Republican governors to the event. Democratic governors have announced they will boycott a traditional White House dinner in response, and the National Governors Association said it will no longer hold a formal meeting with President Trump.

Why it matters

The governors' meeting is one of the few remaining venues where political leaders from both parties come together to discuss key issues facing their states. By excluding Democrats, the White House is undermining this tradition of bipartisan cooperation and further dividing the political landscape.

The details

The White House plans to invite only Republican governors to the annual National Governors Association meeting scheduled for February 20. In response, 18 Democratic governors announced they will boycott the traditional White House dinner, and the NGA said it will no longer hold a formal meeting with President Trump. This follows tensions at last year's event when Trump and Maine's Democratic Governor Janet Mills traded barbs over transgender athlete policies.

  • The National Governors Association meeting is scheduled for February 19-21, 2026.
  • The White House dinner for governors is traditionally held during this annual meeting.

The players

Donald Trump

The President of the United States who plans to only invite Republican governors to the annual meeting.

Kevin Stitt

The Republican Governor of Oklahoma who chairs the National Governors Association.

Janet Mills

The Democratic Governor of Maine who clashed with President Trump at last year's governors' meeting.

Karoline Leavitt

The White House press secretary who defended the administration's decision to only invite certain governors.

Brandon Tatum

The CEO of the National Governors Association who expressed disappointment in the administration's decision to make the event partisan.

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What they’re saying

“If the reports are true that not all governors are invited to these events, which have historically been productive and bipartisan opportunities for collaboration, we will not be attending the White House dinner this year.”

— 18 Democratic Governors (The Associated Press)

“It's the people's house. It's also the president's home, so he can invite whomever he wants to dinners and events here at the White House.”

— Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary (The Associated Press)

“We cannot allow one divisive action to achieve its goal of dividing us. The solution is not to respond in kind, but to rise above and to remain focused on our shared duty to the people we serve.”

— Kevin Stitt, Republican Governor of Oklahoma, Chair of the National Governors Association (The Associated Press)

What’s next

The National Governors Association meeting is scheduled to take place February 19-21, 2026, though the formal meeting with the White House has been canceled.

The takeaway

The White House's decision to exclude Democratic governors from the traditional bipartisan gathering of state leaders threatens to further divide the political landscape and undermine the ability of governors from both parties to collaborate on key issues facing their states.