Governors arrive in Washington eager to push past Trump's partisan grip
[February 19, 2026]
By JOEY CAPPELLETTI and STEVEN SLOAN
WASHINGTON (AP) — In another era, the scene would have been
unremarkable. But in President Donald Trump's Washington, it's become
increasingly rare.
Sitting side by side on stage were Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a
Republican, and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat. They traded jokes
and compliments instead of insults and accusations, a brief interlude of
cordiality in a cacophony of conflict.
Stitt and Moore are the leaders of the National Governors Association,
one of a vanishing few bipartisan institutions left in American
politics. But it may be hard for the organization, which is holding its
annual conference this week, to maintain its reputation as a refuge from
polarization.
Trump has broken with custom by declining to invite all governors to the
traditional White House meeting and dinner. He has called Stitt, the
NGA’s chair, a “RINO,” short for Republican in name only, and continued
to feud with Moore, the group’s vice chair, by blaming him for a sewage
spill involving a federally regulated pipeline.
The break with tradition reflects Trump’s broader approach to his second
term. He has taken a confrontational stance toward some states,
withholding federal funds or deploying troops over the objections of
local officials.
With the Republican-controlled Congress unwilling to limit Trump's
ambitions, several governors have increasingly cast themselves as a
counterweight to the White House.
“Presidents aren’t supposed to do this stuff,” Utah Gov. Spencer Cox
said about the expansion of executive power in recent administrations.
“Congress needs to get their act together. And stop performing for
TikTok and actually start doing stuff. That’s the flaw we’re dealing
with right now.”
Cox, a Republican, said "it is up to the states to hold the line.”
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Gov. Wes Moore, D-Md., vice chair of the National Governors
Association, responds to a question by Economic Club of Washington
Chairman David Rubenstein during a conference at the Economic Club
of Washington Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Tom
Brenner)
Moore echoed that sentiment in an interview with The Associated
Press.
“People are paying attention to how governors are moving, because I
think governors have a unique way to move in this moment that other
people just don’t,” he said.
Still, governors struck an optimistic tone in panels and interviews
Wednesday. Stitt said the conference is “bigger than one dinner at
the White House.” Moore predicted “this is going to be a very
productive three days for the governors.”
“Here’s a Republican and Democrat governor from different states
that literally agree on probably 80% of the things. And the things
we disagree on we can have honest conversations on,” Stitt said
while sitting beside Moore.
Tensions over the guest list for White House events underscored the
uncertainty surrounding the week. During the back-and-forth, Trump
feuded with Stitt and said Moore and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis were
not invited because they “are not worthy of being there.”
Whether the bipartisan tone struck Wednesday evening can endure
through the week — and beyond — remains an open question.
“We can have disagreements. In business, I always want people around
me arguing with me and pushing me because that's where the best
ideas come from,” said Stitt. “We need to all have these exchange of
ideas.”
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