Gov. Phil Murphy will become chairman of the Democratic Governors Association in 2020, assuming a key national role for his party the same year it will try to derail President Donald Trump’s re-election.

The job also likely assures that Murphy won’t run for president himself that year. And it could keep him out of New Jersey for stretches just a year before he vies for a second term as governor.

Murphy was named the DGA’s vice chairman for 2019 as the group gathered for its annual meeting in New Orleans on Saturday.

The rookie governor was also named chair-elect for 2020, meaning he’ll take charge of the group that year.

The DGA is a national organization that helps raise money and campaigns to get Democratic candidates elected in governor races across America.

Murphy’s post will come a few years after New Jersey’s previous governor, Chris Christie, served as chairman of the Republican Governors Association — the GOP version of the group — in 2014.

“I’m honored to take on this new role with my fellow Democratic governors," Murphy said in a statement Saturday. “We’re showing in New Jersey how Democratic leadership can bring real change on the state level, despite the mistaken priorities of Washington, D.C.”

Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo was named the DGA chair for 2019.

Murphy will succeed her the following year, when he’ll be tasked with helping Democratic candidates in the 11 states that have governor elections in 2020.

Another focal point for the party will be energizing voters to help unseat Trump, a Republican that Murphy often criticizes.

Murphy never held elected office before he succeeded Christie as New Jersey’s governor in January. But he’s been a prominent member of the Democratic Party for years, having served as the fundraising chair for the Democratic National Committee and then U.S. ambassador to Germany under President Barack Obama.

Serving as RGA chair helped Christie raise his profile en route to launching his unsuccessful bid for the party’s 2016 presidential nomination.

That likely won’t be the case for Murphy. The 61-year-old has repeatedly said he isn’t planning to run for president, and serving as DGA chair in 2020 would make a presidential bid the same year highly unlikely.

It could, however, elevate Murphy’s chances of a cabinet post should a Democrat win the White House.

While Christie’s time as RGA chair helped his national credentials, it hurt him at home. He spent 148 days on the road as part of that job — a possible factor in why his approval rating in New Jersey dropped.

Murphy is also likely to travel a lot in the unpaid DGA post, making campaign appearances for Democratic governor candidates throughout the U.S.

He’ll be up for re-election as governor in 2021.

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.