Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy is officially taking the reins as chairman of the Democratic Governors Association.
Malloy was elected chairman during a meeting in Washington, D.C. on Monday. It's a one-year term.
Washington Governor Jay Inslee will serve as vice chairman of the organization, which supports the election and re-election of Democratic candidates for governor throughout the country.
DGA Executive Director Elisabeth Pearson credited Malloy with being "an innovative policy leader and strong campaigner who won hard-fought races" in 2010 and 2014.
Malloy's Republican counterparts criticized his selection, claiming he's a liability to the Democrats because of his low public approval numbers, as well as his record on taxes.
Republican Governors Association spokesman Jon Thompson said that will hurt the Democratic Party, which will control 18 governorships in 2016.
