Governors Arrive in Washington Eager to Push Past Trump's Partisan Grip

Annual gathering of National Governors Association faces uncertainty amid Trump's feud with some state leaders

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Governors from across the country have arrived in Washington, D.C. for the annual National Governors Association conference, which has traditionally been a bipartisan event. However, President Donald Trump has disrupted norms by not inviting all governors to meetings at the White House, reflecting his broader confrontational approach toward some states in his second term. While Republican Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and Democratic Maryland Gov. Wes Moore struck an optimistic tone of cooperation, the bipartisan tone may be hard to maintain as tensions over the White House guest list underscore the uncertainty surrounding the week.

Why it matters

The National Governors Association conference is one of the few remaining bipartisan institutions in American politics, but Trump's decision to selectively invite governors to White House events threatens to further polarize the event. As Congress has been unwilling to limit Trump's executive power, governors have increasingly cast themselves as a counterweight to the White House, raising questions about the future of federal-state relations.

The details

Trump has broken with custom by declining to invite all governors to the traditional White House meeting and dinner, and has continued to feud with some governors like Maryland's Wes Moore. The break with tradition reflects Trump's broader approach to his second term, as he has taken a confrontational stance toward some states, withholding federal funds or deploying troops over the objections of local officials.

  • The National Governors Association is holding its annual conference this week in Washington, D.C.

The players

Kevin Stitt

The Republican governor of Oklahoma and chair of the National Governors Association.

Wes Moore

The Democratic governor of Maryland and vice chair of the National Governors Association.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who has taken a confrontational stance toward some states during his second term.

Spencer Cox

The Republican governor of Utah who has criticized the expansion of executive power in recent administrations.

Jared Polis

The Democratic governor of Colorado who was not invited to the White House by Trump.

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What they’re saying

“Presidents aren't supposed to do this stuff. Congress needs to get their act together. And stop performing for TikTok and actually start doing stuff. That's the flaw we're dealing with right now.”

— Spencer Cox, Governor of Utah (timesheraldonline.com)

“People are paying attention to how governors are moving, because I think governors have a unique way to move in this moment that other people just don't.”

— Wes Moore, Governor of Maryland (The Associated Press)

“Here's a Republican and Democrat governor from different states that literally agree on probably 80% of the things. And the things we disagree on we can have honest conversations on.”

— Kevin Stitt, Governor of Oklahoma (timesheraldonline.com)

What’s next

The bipartisan tone struck by Stitt and Moore during the opening of the conference will be tested as the week progresses, with uncertainty surrounding the White House guest list and Trump's continued feuds with some governors.

The takeaway

The National Governors Association conference serves as a rare example of bipartisanship in American politics, but President Trump's confrontational approach toward some states threatens to further polarize the event and undermine federal-state relations. As Congress has been unwilling to limit Trump's executive power, governors have increasingly positioned themselves as a counterweight to the White House.