Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association’s first chairman, said the 2016 election created a “great sense of urgency” among Democrats to ratchet up their campaign operations in the states. | Steve Helber/AP Photo Dems launch lieutenant governors group to compete with GOP

Democratic lieutenant governors are forming a campaign group to rival the Republican Lieutenant Governors Association, the latest bid by Democrats to catch up to Republicans in down-ballot fundraising.

The Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association, announced Tuesday, will raise money for lieutenant governor candidates ahead of the November elections, though the group said it does not have a benchmark for how much it might raise and spend.


Democrats are badly outnumbered by Republican governors and lieutenant governors, and the Republican Governors Association routinely outraises its Democratic counterpart.

Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association’s first chairman, told POLITICO that the 2016 election created a “great sense of urgency” among Democrats to ratchet up their campaign operations in the states.

The creation of the DLGA is the latest effort by Democrats to level the playing field with Republicans in down-ticket races that often serve as a farm system for the parties. The Democratic Attorneys General Association has recently ramped up its activity to counter the Republican Attorneys General Association.

But like the Republican Governors Association and the Democratic Governors Association, the Democratic attorneys general group has struggled to raise money competitively. That's an ominous sign for a lieutenant governors group focused on a post that is more obscure and less powerful than attorney general.

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Democrats hold only 15 lieutenant governorships throughout the United States and its territories. The position has traditionally been one of the least consequential in American politics, with few official duties in most states.

But Fairfax said “states are now playing an ever more prominent role” in national politics, citing his record of casting of votes to break ties in Virginia’s divided legislature.

“Particularly since 2016, people have really been looking for leadership and hope from the states to advance progressive public policy,” he said.

The office can also launch careers. Fairfax has developed a relatively high profile in Virginia, while California Democrat Gavin Newsom used the office to prepare for his run for California governor, which he is widely favored to win in November. In Minnesota, Gov. Mark Dayton picked Lt. Gov. Tina Smith to succeed Sen. Al Franken after he stepped down.

The office is also a favored launching pad for Republicans. Georgia Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle almost won his state’s Republican primary for governor, losing in a runoff to Secretary of State Brian Kemp. In Mississippi, Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves is often mentioned as a strong candidate for governor in 2019.

Executive committee members of the new Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association include Delaware Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long, Montana Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney and Washington Lt. Gov. Cyrus Habib.

Roshan Patel, former finance director of the Democratic Governors Association, will serve as executive director.

