Office of the Governor
U.S. state government — partisan orientation varies by governor's party
Background
Governors' offices have issued formal press releases since at least the early 20th century, when wire services and newspapers relied on government handouts for official announcements. The format evolved from paper releases mailed to newsrooms into email distributions and dedicated online newsrooms maintained on official .gov websites. Press releases from a governor's office serve a clear institutional purpose: to announce policy decisions, bill signings, appointments, emergency declarations, and the governor's official positions. They are written and approved by the governor's communications staff and carry no independent editorial oversight. Because they originate from an elected partisan official, they invariably reflect that official's political priorities and framing. Democratic governors, for example, have used press releases to criticize Trump-era federal policies on immigration, Medicaid, and tariffs, while Republican governors have used them to signal alignment with the same administration. The content is considered a primary source for journalists but is not itself journalism; readers should treat it as an official government statement rather than a neutral account of events.
Sources
- Partisan composition of governors — Ballotpedia
- 2026 Governors and Legislatures — MultiState
- Press Releases — Governor of California (example of official .gov pressroom)
- Press Releases — Florida Executive Office of the Governor (example)
- Fast Facts About America's Governors — Eagleton Center on the American Governor, Rutgers
Profile compiled 2026-07-08; refreshed when ownership, funding, or the administration changes.