Stark political divides loom as US governors gather

By ANDREW DeMILLO and DAVID SHARP
Associated Press

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Stark political divides are threatening to overshadow a meeting this week of the nation’s governors. The National Governors Association on Thursday began its summer meeting in person for the first time since 2019 after meeting virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic. The meeting in Maine follows recent high court rulings on abortion and gun rights. Both rulings have heightened divides among red and blue states. But leaders of the group say there’s still common ground to be found on other issues. The group’s chair, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, will hand the reins of the group to Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey.