Washington (CNN) -- Since Barack Obama was first elected president in 2008, the word "change" was popular with Democrats who were seeking to win elected office. Obama effectively used it to tap into voters' disenchantment with President George W. Bush, and he ultimately swept into the White House in a watershed year for Democrats. But with the 2014 election on the horizon, Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin, chair of the Democratic Governors Association, said this year's gubernatorial contests won't be about that operative word. Key gubernatorial races in 2014 "I am not so sure that this is the change election," Shumlin said Tuesday during an editorial board meeting with CNN.
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Leading Democratic governor: Middle class voters in 2014 care about economic opportunity
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Shumlin: "I am not so sure that this is the change election"
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According to CNN's initial analysis, roughly half of this year's 36 races for governor could be competitive
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GOP group: Democratic governors continue to raise taxes and increase spending
The other seven Democratic seats and 13 @placeholder seats are considered safe.