Losses aside, Pence sees ‘real momentum’ in GOP
AUSTIN, Texas — Vice President Mike Pence told a gathering of Republican governors Wednesday “we’ve got real momentum,” despite stinging electoral defeats last week in Virginia and New Jersey and a Gopled Congress that has failed to pass any major legislation this year.
Pence’s party currently controls a record-tying 34 U.S. governorships, and part of a two-day annual Republican Governors Association meeting in the capital of Texas, the country’s largest red state, was spent discussing how to continue that dominance.
A former governor of Indiana, Pence offered a pep talk, ignoring potential negatives while bragging that the economy is growing, the stock market booming and “we’re just getting started.”
“In a word, we’ve got real momentum,” Pence said, vowing that Congress will pass “historic” tax cuts before the end of the year.
“We’re pretty fond of governors,” Pence said, later adding, “Our administration and President Trump know that governors understand their states’ unique needs better than anyone ever could in Washington.”
Republicans will still hold a 33-16 advantage in governorships nationwide after January. Alaska Gov. Bill Walker is an independent now up for re-election.
Republican Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, the governors association’s chairman and one of those seeking re-election, said examining the factors driving turnout will be important for next year.
“Every state is different,” Walker told reporters.