Gov. Daniels chosen as policy chairman for Republican Governors Association

The Republican Governors Association has chosen Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels to serve as its policy chairman for the 2011-12 election cycle.

Additionally, the RGA reelected Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell as chairman and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie as vice chairman.

“Thanks to the support of all 29 Republican governors, the RGA laid a strong foundation to expand our majority in 2012,” RGA Chairman Bob McDonnell said in a
statement.

“In 2011, the RGA won historic victories in Louisiana and Mississippi, and we are raising record sums. Next year, Democrats must defend eight of 11 states scheduled to hold governors’ races, and the RGA is in position to make a major impact in battleground states, as well as in states that will be holding both a governor’s and U.S. Senate race.”

Daniels will now lead the Republican Governors Public Policy Committee, which proposes and advocates Republican-friendly policies on the state and national level.

“After increasing the number of Republicans from 22 to 29 over the previous election cycle, Gov. (Haley) Barbour (of Mississippi, the former RGA Chair) and RGA leadership set out to reflect this surge at the state level with a more prominent voice on national issues, and we look forward to extending the effectiveness with which they have done so,” Daniels said in a statement.

Daniels and the RGA are planning to increase the governmental service training for Republican governors because “a more effective governor is a more electable governor,” Daniels said.

— Zach Ammerman