HARTFORD — Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is officially taking over as chairman of the Democratic Governors Association.
Malloy was elected chairman during a meeting in Washington, D.C. on Monday. It’s a one-year term.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee will serve as the vice chairman of the organization, which supports the election and re-election of Democratic candidates for governor throughout the country.
DGA Executive Director Elisabeth Pearson credited Malloy with being “an innovative policy leader and strong campaigner who won hard-fought races” in 2010 and 2014.
“Thanks to Governor Malloy’s leadership, Connecticut has been a national leader on policies that improve the lives of middle-class families,” Pearson added. “Governor Malloy was the first governor in the nation to pass paid sick leave legislation, the first governor to raise the minimum wage to $10.10, and a leading voice on expanding voting rights and strengthening equal pay laws. We’re proud to have him as the DGA’s leader.”
Gov. Malloy follows Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, who served since last December.
Malloy’s Republican counterparts criticized his selection, claiming he’s a liability to the Democrats because of his low public approval numbers and record on taxes.
Republican Governors Association spokeswoman Jon Thompson says that will hurt the Democratic Party, which will control 18 governorships in 2016.
