Republican Governors Association Taps Baker for Key Panel

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker has been elected to the executive committee of the Republican Governors Association.

Baker joins fellow Republican governors Doug Ducey of Arizona and Pete Ricketts of Nebraska on the committee. Both are newly elected GOP governors.

The three replace New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jingle and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker who all resigned their executive committee positions to run for president.

Baker is one of the rising stars in the party.

The Republican Governors Association spent more than $10 million to help Baker defeat his Democratic rival, former state Attorney General Martha Coakley.

Baker has been attending a meeting of the Republican Governors Association in Colorado since Sunday.

Baker and his wife Lauren plan to spend some time in Aspen before returning to Massachusetts on Friday.