Only Black Governor Wes Moore Says White House Uninvited Him From Bipartisan Dinner
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore says he was uninvited from this year’s National Governors Association dinner at the White House, a decades-long bipartisan tradition meant to bring governors and the president together. According to a press release from Moore’s office, the exclusion came even though his fellow governors elected him vice chair of the NGA, raising questions about intent and fairness.
The sudden change has sparked tension between Moore and the White House, with the governor framing it as a snub to bipartisan cooperation and federal-state collaboration. Moore said the decision feels especially significant given his role in the NGA and status as the only Black sitting governor in the nation.
Traditionally, the annual winter conference includes a White House dinner where governors from both parties meet with the president. But this year, Moore and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis were removed from the guest list, while other Democrats reportedly remained invited.
The White House responded that these are presidential events and the administration “reserves the right to invite whomever he wants,” saying invitations for many Democrats were issued.
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Brandon Tatum, acting NGA CEO, said the decision undermines the spirit of unity and federal-state collaboration that the dinner was meant to foster.
Moore’s statement made clear he remains open to cooperation where it benefits Maryland, even as he stands firm on principle.
The incident highlights rising partisan tensions around traditionally bipartisan institutions and could influence how future White House–NGA engagements are structured.
As governors prepare for the NGA summit later this month, Washington will be watching how administration-state relations evolve following this high-profile exclusion.
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