A gathering of state governors in Washington this week produced spirited exchanges about federal-state collaboration and the importance of sustained bipartisan dialogue, even as the planned White House meeting under President Donald Trump became embroiled in dispute over guest invitations.

The annual National Governors Association conference — a forum where Republican and Democratic governors traditionally share ideas on pressing policy issues — faced upheaval after the White House initially excluded Democratic Governors Wes Moore of Maryland and Jared Polis of Colorado from an event, drawing criticism and leading the association to withdraw its formal meeting role.

In remarks to fellow state leaders, several governors, including Oklahoma’s Republican chair of the association and Maryland’s Democratic vice chair, emphasized that working across party lines remained essential to addressing shared challenges in areas such as economic development, disaster response and public health, noting informal discussions continued despite the official discord.

Moore, who has championed collaborative state partnerships and been outspoken about local priorities such as infrastructure investment and fiscal management, reiterated his commitment to engaging with colleagues from both parties while urging that differences not derail constructive state-federal cooperation.

Republican governors also weighed in, with some affirming the value of bipartisan exchange as critical to effective governance and reaffirming their readiness to work with federal partners where interests align.

While the controversy over invitations overshadowed parts of the Washington conference, the sustained dialogue among governors on policy best practices and mutual priorities reflected a broader commitment among state executives to bridge divides and focus on delivering results for their constituents.

The episode underscored both the challenges and opportunities inherent in maintaining cross-aisle collaboration in a politically charged environment, and state leaders signaled their intention to continue exchanging ideas on pressing issues regardless of partisan differences.