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Colorado Springs, Colorado — R-Okla’s Governor Kevin Stitt’s admissions chair for the National Governors Association (NGA) has been “disappointed” that some Democrat governors may stop paying dues to bipartisan groups.
The Atlantic reported at least two Democrats and the government ahead of the NGA’s summer meeting in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Minnesota Tim Waltz and Kansas Laura Kelly will stop paying membership fees this month when asked to renew their membership in the NGA’s response to President Donald Trump’s second term.
“We shouldn’t do politics the way we do in Washington, DC,” Stitt told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview at a summer conference. “But sometimes, if you’re a governor running for the president or a higher office, you make it political.”
Kelly is the chairman of the Democratic Governors Association (DGA), a partisan governor’s division that has spoken out in resisting the Trump administration. As Waltz weighs on his third governor run, the former vice presidential candidate has remained a major critic of the Trump administration since losing the White House along with Vice President Kamala Harris last year.
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At an NGA Summer Meeting in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Chairman Kevin Stitt spoke to Fox News Digital.
The democratic grievance comes as Colorado Democrat Jared Police prepares to hand over his chairmanship to Republican Stitt at this summer meeting. D-Md. Governor Wes Moore is set to become vice-chairman.
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“Do I want to listen to someone, listen, get the ball to your leader and go home just because you’re angry about something? That’s not a way to solve the problem,” Stitt said, adding that he likes both Waltz and Kelly.
“Listen, this is not the time to go home with our balls. Sit down and discuss the best policy [are] Stitt added in the future.
The governor of Oklahoma said it could be “irritating” when Democrats are constantly targeting Trump, but as a business leader, he said there are many instances where governors can find common positions, including cutting debts of more than $36 trillion.
Jared Police, the National Association of Governors’ Associations (NGA) Senior Commissioner, will discuss American education with Education Secretary Linda McMahon at an NGA Summer Meeting held in Colorado Springs, Colorado on Friday, July 25th, 2025.
Ahead of the summer meeting, NGA Communications Director Eric Walshlegel highlighted the bipartisan nature of the NGA, telling Fox News Digital that the NGA “mission will not change.”
NGA Democrats complained that when the Trump administration suspends federal funds earlier this year, they “didn’t forcefully respond to the group,” according to an Atlantic report.
“All issues of the NGA reflect a bipartisan consensus. So far, all statements except one have that consensus. If the governor disagrees, we simply won’t issue one.
Thirteen Republicans and seven Democratic leaders will be attending the summer meeting, featuring discussions between Education Secretary Linda McMahon and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, vice-chairman of the NGA, will speak to Colorado Governor Jared Police, who will listen at the National Association of Governors (NGA) Winter Conference held in Washington, DC (FOX News/Charlie Creitz).
Sources familiar with the situation condemned the controversy over “democratic internal conflict, jockeys of implicit campaigns, and several anonymous voices seeking to reshape nonpartisan institutions into political institutions.”
The source added, “There are no governors on the record expressing their dissatisfaction with the NGA. No allegations of fraud, failure to governance or mismanagement have been filed.”
And without directly addressing the controversy, Police spokesperson Conor Cahill said that the governor will lead the NGA, “work across the aisles with governors and education, allowing reforms, standing up to federal efforts, facing federal efforts over the National Guard, and raising the state’s priorities.”
He added: “In this age of polarization, bipartisan organizations are needed more than ever, and NGAs must continue to show value to all governors and effectively communicate the governor’s views on various issues with the people and the federal government.”
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Stitt spokesman Abegail Cave told Fox News Digital ahead of the NGA, “It appears that they have forgotten that the NGA is a bipartisan organization, not a political one.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Walz and Kelly for comment but did not receive an immediate response.
Deirdre Heavey is a political writer for Fox News Digital.
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