Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey took over as the leader of the nation’s nonpartisan governors’ association on Friday in a time of deep divide between the states over issues such as abortion and gun control. Murphy took the reins as chair of the National Governors Association from departing head Asa Hutchinson, the Republican governor of Arkansas. Murphy will be tasked with fostering bipartisanship among members of the organization while some of them, such as California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, are publicly feuding with each other. The states are also in the midst of an era of state-against-state legal battles over abortion access. The association meeting was held in Maine, where Democratic Gov. Janet Mills has signed an executive order prohibiting state agencies from cooperating with other states’ investigations into abortions. Hutchinson has signed off on a near-total ban of abortion for his state. Members of the association sounded a cooperative tone at the meeting, and Murphy encouraged members to prioritize working together. “I do not expect over the course of the next year we are going to take our hats off as Democrats and Republicans,” Murphy said. “Remember that we are partisans third, governors second and Americans foremost.” The National Governors Association also appointed a new vice chairman, Republican Utah Gov. Spencer Cox. The previous vice chair was Murphy. Cox also acknowledged the need for less partisan bickering. “We fight about some really stupid (expletive) sometimes,” Cox said to applause from the crowd. “My point is our ability to work together means so much more than the things we fight about.” The meeting was the first of its kind held in person since 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. The proper response to the pandemic is one of several issues that has divided governors over the past two years. The chasm between Democratic and Republican states has recently been widened by U.S. Supreme Court rulings that have overturned Roe v. Wade and struck down gun restrictions in New York. The agenda at this week’s meeting of the governors avoided such hot-button topics, focusing instead on issues such as computer science education and travel and tourism. After the meeting was over, Murphy and Hutchinson agreed that some issues, such as abortion laws, will remain polarizing. But both said the states can work together to serve the public interest on numerous other fronts. “There’s going to be a list of things we’re not going to find common ground on,” Murphy said. “That will never preclude the NGA and its members from finding common ground on the things we do agree about.” Hutchinson added that members should “do it in the right tone and remember what’s at stake” when confronting divisive topics. The governors association was founded in 1908 and its members are the governors of the 55 states, territories and commonwealths. This year’s meeting attracted throngs of demonstrators to Portland. Many were criticizing the Roe v. Wade ruling and states that are moving to end or restrict abortion access. Organizers said 19 governors were confirmed in attendance. DeSantis and Newsom were not among them. The attendants included some who are well known in their states for working across the political aisle, such as Massachusetts Republican Gov. Charlie Baker and Vermont Republican Gov. Phil Scott. Cox, […]

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