This Republican Is the Most Popular State Governor

Politics

Published: August 15, 2024 8:50 am

24/7 Wall St. Insights

State governors tend to be evaluated more favorably by their constituents than most other high-profile government officials.
In most states, a majority of registered voters approve of the job their governor is doing in office.
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As the head of their respective state’s executive branch, state governors are among the most powerful elected officials in American government. While each of the 50 sitting state governors has no authority outside of their state’s borders, their role within their home state is similar to that of the U.S. president’s with respect to the nation as a whole.

As is the case with virtually all other elected officials, governors are subject to near constant public scrutiny. However, unlike most other high-profile politicians in office today, state governors are generally well regarded by their constituents.

According to the latest Gallup survey data, only 36% of American adults approve of the way President Joe Biden is handling his job, and only 16% approve of congress. Meanwhile, in every state, governor approval ratings exceed 40% and are higher than 50% in the vast majority of states.

Using data from public opinion research company Morning Consult, 24/7 Wall St. identified America’s most and least popular governors. We ranked all 50 state governors on their net-approval rating — the percentage point difference between the share of registered voters who approve of their work as governor, and the share who disapprove. Surveys were conducted between April 1, 2024 and July 1, 2024. Supplemental data on governors salaries are from The Council of State Governments and state populations are from the Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey

Across the 50 states, governor approval ratings range from 43.5% to 80.9% — and only four sitting governors have a disapproval rating that exceeds their approval rating. Currently, Republican governors hold office in 27 states and Democratic governors control 23 states. Of the 10 most popular governors in the country, seven are Republicans and three are Democrats.

Notably, party affiliation appears to be less influential in state-level politics than on the national stage. For example, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott, a Republican, is the most popular governor in the country — even though a Democratic candidate has won the state of Vermont in every presidential election since 1992. Similarly, Republicans have won Kentucky in each of the last six presidential races, yet Andy Beshear, the state’s Democratic governor, is one of only three governors with an approval rating above 65%.

The relative popularity of American governors is reflected, in part, by their consideration for the role of Vice President by the two major party candidates in the 2024 presidential race. Although Republican candidate Donald Trump selected Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance as a running mate, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum was reportedly on Trump’s shortlist. Burgum is currently one of the most popular governors in the country, with a 58.8% approval rating. (Here is a look at the U.S. Senators doing the least in office.)

Meanwhile, Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as a running mate. Walz was one of several governors on Harris’ roster of potential VP picks, a list that included Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Each of these Democratic governors have an approval rating of over 50%. (Here is a look at the most important issues in the 2024 election.)

Why It Matters

Virtually every elected official in American government must balance the interests, values, and priorities of their constituents. The 50 sitting U.S. governors are no exception. Acting as their state’s chief executive, governors are the highest-ranking, and highest-profile, state government officials, and as such, they are subject to near-constant public scrutiny. And some governors appear to be doing a better job than others.