NM Gov. Martinez elected as Chair of Republican Governors Association

New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez was elected as the Chair of the Republican Governors Association (RGA) for 2016 Thursday at the RGA’s annual conference in Las Vegas.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker was elected as Vice Chairman.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam was the previous Chair of the RGA. He had replaced New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

“As this year’s gubernatorial elections proved, the RGA is the most effective political organization in the country and it is my honor to serve as RGA Chair for 2016,” said Governor Martinez in a news release from the RGA. “I am eager to build upon the RGA’s 2015 momentum with the 12 gubernatorial elections we have in 2016, each of which presents a real opportunity to elect or re-elect a Republican governor. All across America, Republican chief executives are solving the problems that Americans need fixed and I am proud to serve in this role to help elect more of these outstanding leaders.”

Republican governors from across the country meet at the conference each year to discuss policy and ways to establish more success for the party for the year.

“Governor Susana Martinez is one of the Republican Party’s best leaders and she is an outstanding choice to lead the RGA for the next year,” said Haslam. “She has made the tough decisions necessary to move New Mexico forward and knows what it takes to win in a blue state, a skill that will be vital to ensuring our governors and candidates have the resources they need to win in 2016. It has been an honor to serve with her as my Vice Chair for this past year and I look forward to the success she will achieve as the RGA’s Chair for 2016.”

Gov. Martinez spoke at a session moderated by Fox News anchor Bret Baier Wednesday, where she reaffirmed her stance that she will not seek a vice presidential nomination and talked briefly about a possible federal investigation to her top adviser, Jay McCleskey.

She has told KOB McCleskey has “done nothing wrong.”

The Democratic Governors Association was quick to rebuke the RGA on Gov. Martinez’s new role.

“It’s shocking the RGA would nominate a chair just weeks after learning about an ongoing FBI investigation into her political operation,” said Jared Leopold, DGA communications director, in a news release. “Susana Martinez campaigned on creating jobs and ending corruption, yet she has driven New Mexico’s economy into the ditch and is now linked to a federal investigation. We welcome Governor Martinez into this new role, and look forward to discussing the FBI investigation everywhere she campaigns in 2016.”

This story was originally published at KOB.com