HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, the chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, says he will attend next week's presidential inauguration even though his ``first inclination was to decline'' the invitation.

An active surrogate for Democrat Hillary Clinton during the campaign, Malloy noted Friday how President-Elect Donald Trump was not his preferred candidate or that of most Connecticut voters.

And while Malloy says Trump's recent conduct hasn't ``assuaged my grave concern that he intends to fundamentally lead this nation in the wrong direction,'' the Democrat contends ``compassionate and reasoned voices'' shouldn't shrink away ``be they Democrat, Republican or independent.''

Malloy was an outspoken Trump critic during the campaign, describing him as having ``fascist tendencies.'' Trump took political shots at Malloy during a Connecticut rally, calling him a ``bad governor.''