Democrats select governors association leadership

(CNN) - Democratic governors on Tuesday selected new leadership for the Democratic Governors Association. Gov. Peter Shumlin of Vermont will succeed Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley as chairman of the organization, while O'Malley becomes the group's finance chairman, the DGA announced.

Those selections and others were expected by Democratic insiders. The DGA works to recruit and support Democratic candidates for governor and assists Democratic incumbents running for re-election.

- Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker

Gov. John Hickenlooper of Colorado will become vice chairman of the group.

O'Malley, who may be considering a possible bid for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination, lands a spot that will keep him in contact with key Democratic donors.

"He is very popular with his peers. They look to him for strong leadership," Colm O'Comartun, executive director of the Democratic Governors Association, told CNN.

O'Malley said after the selection that he is honored "to be able to continue helping elect Democratic governors focused on creating jobs and expanding opportunity."

"Democratic governors across the country are working to create jobs, expand opportunity and take the balanced approach critical to continue moving our economy forward and boosting job growth," Shumlin said in a statement. "I am honored to have been elected by my colleagues to serve the Democratic Governors Association as chair for 2013, and look forward to helping elect strong Democratic leaders in our races."

Although Republicans lost the race for the White House and lost seats in the Senate and House of Representatives, they increased the number of governorships they control by one, for a total of 30. But with Democrats defending eight of the 11 states holding gubernatorial contests, their losses to the GOP could have been higher. North Carolina flipped to Republican control, but the Democrats won three other toss-up states: New Hampshire, Montana and Washington.

New Jersey and Virginia, both currently controlled by the GOP, will hold gubernatorial contests in 2013, and 37 states will be up for grabs in 2014.