Gov. Markell to head Democratic Governors Association

The Democratic Governors Association (DGA) on Wednesday announced that Delaware Gov. Jack Markell will serve as its chairman for the 2010 election cycle, with Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley serving as vice chairman.

O'Malley is up for re-election next year, but he has agreed to stay in his current post. Markell will replace Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer.

"I am so excited to lead the Democratic Governor's Association this year," Markell said Wednesday in an op-ed published on RealClearPolitics.com. "We have Governors and candidates across the country that are seizing the opportunity to get our fiscal houses in order, to rebuild our nation's economy, to stand and fight for hardworking taxpayers, to strengthen our nation's schools and give our children every opportunity to reach their potential."

The new chairman also announced the DGA would launch the "GOP Accountability Project" in the coming weeks to "remind people in critical states that the same Republicans who are pledging progress now helped create the national recession which we have had to work so hard to reverse."

"Efforts like this to help educate voters need to start now because the stakes have never been higher," he added. "In the next two years, 42 out of 50 governors will play a major role in deciding what their state's political lines will look like for the next decade."

Despite Wednesday's slight re-alignment, the DGA still faces the daunting task of managing 37 gubernatorial races across the country in 2010. Nine of those contests feature Democratic incumbents -- some of whom, like New York Gov. David Paterson, are more vulnerable than others -- and 10 are open races due to local term limits or announced retirements.

Making matters more difficult: The first two races of this year's election season, in New Jersey and Virginia, proved difficult and costly for the DGA.

Incumbent New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine failed to overcome a low approval rating among his state's voters, and he lost his seat by a few points to Gov.-elect Chris Christie (R). Democratic candidate Creigh Deeds fared far worse against Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell (R) -- a race many predicted Democrats to lose from the start.

“We knew both these races would be tough, and although we’re disappointed in the results, we’re not discouraged in our greater mission,” Nathan Daschle, executive director of the DGA, said after those results were official. “While we wish tonight's results in two states would’ve been different, we’re preparing for the fight ahead in 37 states. A fight to restore prosperity, build the middle class, and elect strong democratic governors.”

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