Obama to welcome new governors at WH

President Obama will welcome a group of newly elected governors to the White House on Friday, in a gathering that will underscore some of the stinging defeats sustained by Democrats in last month’s elections.

Those invited to the meeting include three Republican governors-elect who either Obama or first lady Michelle Obama campaigned against in the weeks before the elections: Bruce Rauner of Illinois, Larry Hogan of Maryland, and Charlie Baker of Massachusetts. 

{mosads}Texas governor-elect Greg Abbott, who has threatened to sue the administration over its recent immigration executive action, is also among those expected to attend. The first lady cut an ad for Wendy Davis, the Democrat trounced by Abbott, during the midterm final sretch.

Only one Democrat — Pennsylvania governor-elect Tom Wolf — will be at the event; and independent Gov. Bill Walker of Alaska will round out the group. 

“The president and the incoming governors will discuss how we can build on our growing economy by creating more jobs and ensuring that every American who works hard has an opportunity to succeed,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest said.

Before the election, Obama focused his campaign activities almost exclusively on gubernatorial races, visiting Illinois, Wisconsin, Maine, Michigan, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Only Wolf prevailed for the Democrats, despite many of those states voting with Obama during his presidential elections.

“The stakes are high in these governor’s races,” Earnest said at the time, adding the outcomes had “significant consequences for the successful implementation of policies that the president has worked very hard to pass.”