By Keila Szpaller DAILY MONTANAN
Gov. Greg Gianforte, elected this month to a second term in the office, will serve as vice chairperson of the Republican Governors Association.
The association, which helps elect Republicans to governorships in the U.S., announced the election of Gianforte and incoming Chairperson Brian Kemp, governor of Georgia, in a news release Wednesday.
“I’m honored to serve as RGA vice chair and continue to work with my colleagues to elect strong, Republican governors across the nation,” said Gianforte in a statement from the association. “Republican governors are cutting taxes, investing in infrastructure and our workforce, putting parents, students, and teachers first, and helping secure the border.
“But, we have even more work to do. I look forward to working with Governor Kemp, my fellow Republican governors, and President (Donald) Trump to build a safer, more prosperous future for all Americans.”
Gianforte previously was elected to represent Montana in the U.S. House of Representatives before winning his first term as governor in 2020.
His office announced this week the state had reached its 40th consecutive month of unemployment at or below 3.4% and in October, the rate was 3.3% compared to the national rate of 4.1%.
The Republican Governors Association said both governors will assume their leadership posts immediately and serve for one term. It notes on its website that a majority of states are led by Republican governors.
In a statement, Gov. Kemp said he too looks forward to working with Trump.
“Republican governors are making commonsense, conservative policies a reality, putting families and children first, and making our states the best places to run a business and raise a family,” Kemp said in a statement from the association.
The Republican Governors Association said other governors who will serve on the executive committee are the following: Arkansas’ Sarah Huckabee Sanders; Iowa’s Kim Reynolds; Mississippi’s Tate Reeves; Missouri’s Gov.-elect Mike Kehoe; Oklahoma’s Kevin Stitt; Tennessee’s Bill Lee; and Virginia’s Glenn Youngkin.
It said South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster will serve as policy chair.
