Transition is a crisis you can plan for

Government is rigid most of the time, by design, and two things make it fluid: crisis and transition. 

Thirty-six states hold gubernatorial elections this November. At least 18 will have new governors in January 2027. During transition and in the first 100 days, these new administrations will set the people, priorities, and systems that determine what governors can deliver for state residents.

Nine Playbooks: Preview Draft 

Governors will take office as budgets continue to tighten, federal funding shifts, and AI creates both opportunities and risks administrations must manage, all at a pace faster than most can absorb.

Tech Talent Project has partnered with the American Enterprise Institute, the Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation at Georgetown University, and New America to create a rich set of best practices that administrations can use as a roadmap for achieving success and avoiding unnecessary failures.

The project brought together 150 government, industry, and nonprofit leaders around the tech opportunities ahead of states in 2027. Together, we’ve written nine memos capturing best practices and concrete first 100 day actions for transition and administration teams.

The playbooks span foundational topics (Tech Talent, Data, Procurement, Customer Experience), AI strategy and governance, and four program areas (Benefits, Permitting, Emergency Response, Child Welfare). Each includes concrete first-100-day actions. Thirty state spotlights show how other administrations implemented these practices.