Subject: Montana’s Steve Bullock poised to lead Democratic governors - Kyle Cheney - POLITICO
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http://www.politico.com/story/2014/11/montana-steve-bullock-dga-113034.html?hp=b2_c3

Montana’s Steve Bullock poised to lead Democratic governors

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock is the frontrunner to become the next chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, an appointment that would put him at the center of the party’s effort to bounce back from a 2014 election season that saw Republicans tighten their grip on the nation’s statehouses.

Bullock, a freshman governor whose own reelection bid is slated for 2016, would succeed Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin in the position, POLITICO has learned. A source familiar with DGA leadership discussions added that Bullock is likely to step down from the post after a year to focus on his reelection.

The DGA is convening in early December to vote on its new leadership slate. A Bullock aide confirmed that the governor is asking colleagues to back his bid at that meeting.
“Governor Bullock is a Democratic governor who knows how to balance a budget, keep money in the bank for a rainy day and prioritize public schools,” said Bullock spokesman Dave Parker. “Folks have noticed what Governor Bullock is doing out here and some of his colleagues have encouraged him to consider running. He’s doing that.”

Bullock narrowly defeated Republican Rick Hill in their 2012 race, succeeding then-Gov. Brian Schweitzer, who headed the DGA in 2009.

Kentucky, Louisiana and Mississippi will hold gubernatorial elections in 2015. Democrats are defending the open seat in Kentucky being vacated by Gov. Steve Beshear, and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s retirement opens up what was a Democratic-held post prior to Jindal’s election in 2007.

Bullock’s one-year tenure would set the stage for a cycle that features contests in a slew of states already run by Democrats: Missouri, Delaware, West Virginia, New Hampshire, Washington and Vermont. States with Republican governors that will also feature elections include Utah, Indiana, North Carolina and North Dakota.

The DGA would then select a new chairman for the next year. Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy, who narrowly won his own reelection bid this year, is expected to vie for the 2016 chairmanship.

The change in leadership comes after a miserable cycle for Democrats that include gubernatorial losses in solid-blue strongholds, including Massachusetts, Illinois and Maryland. Democrats also lost close contests in Wisconsin, Maine and Florida.

Shumlin, the outgoing chairman, ran only slightly ahead of his Republican challenger this year in Vermont, Scott Milne. But because neither candidate won a majority of the vote, the Democratic-controlled state legislature will pick the next governor in January.

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