Incoming National Governors Association (NGA) chair Gov. Kevin Stitt spoke to Fox News Digital during the NGA summer meeting in Colorado Springs, Colo. (Deirdre Heavey/Fox News Digital)
The Democratic discontent comes as Democratic Gov. Jared Polis of Colorado prepares to cede his chairmanship to Stitt, a Republican, at this weekend's summer meeting. Gov. Wes Moore, D-Md., is set to become vice chair.
DEMOCRATS FORGE STRANGE BEDFELLOWS AS PARTY FLOUNDERS IN TRUMP'S 2ND TERM
"I would tell anybody, listen, do you want your leaders to take their ball and go home just because they get mad at something? That's not the way to solve problems," Stitt said, adding that he likes both Walz and Kelly.
"Listen, this isn't the time to take our ball and go home. Let's sit down and debate what the best policies [are] going forward," Stitt added.
The Oklahoma governor said it can be "frustrating" when Democrats are constantly targeting Trump, but as a business leader, he said there are plenty of instances in which governors can find common ground, including a reduction of the United States' more than $36 trillion in debt.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, vice chair of the NGA, speaks as chair Gov. Jared Polis of Colorado listens at the National Governors Association (NGA) winter meeting in Washington, D.C. (Fox News/Charlie Creitz)
A source familiar with the situation blamed the controversy on "Democratic infighting, unspoken campaign jockeying and a few anonymous voices looking to reshape a nonpartisan institution into a political one."
The source added that "no governors are on the record expressing discontent with the NGA. No allegations of misconduct, governance failure or mismanagement have been raised."
And without addressing the controversy directly, Conor Cahill, a spokesperson for Polis, told Fox News Digital the governor "has been honored" to lead the NGA and to "work across the aisle with governors on education, permitting reform, standing up to federal efforts to strip away gubernatorial authority around the National Guard and elevating the priorities of states."
He added that "during this polarizing time, bipartisan organizations are needed more than ever, and NGA must continue to demonstrate value to all governors and effectively communicate governors' opinions on various matters with the public and the federal government."
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Abegail Cave, a spokesperson for Stitt, told Fox News Digital ahead of the NGA that "people seem to forget NGA is a bipartisan organization, not a political one."
Fox News Digital reached out to Walz and Kelly for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Deirdre Heavey is a politics writer for Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/incoming-nga-chair-disappointed-dem-governors-playing-politics-bipartisan-group