U.S. governors are the most powerful elected officials in state government. Occupying their state’s most high-profile position and representing constituencies that can include a broad range of public interests and political values, they are subject to regular scrutiny.
As is true for every politician voted into office across all levels of government, approval ratings are very important to governors — both for political clout and, for those who are up for re-election, job security.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed public opinion data from research company Morning Consult to rank America’s governors by popularity. Governor approval ratings are based on survey data collected during the fourth quarter of 2019 and range from 32% to 69%. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves were not included on this list, because they assumed office after the survey was conducted.
Click here to see America’s most popular governors
Click here to read our methodology
Many factors shape public opinion, and no single variable seems to explain a high or low approval rating.
Economic conditions, such as the availability of gainful employment, are often among the most serious concerns for voters. While unemployment rates do not track with governor popularity in all 50 states, seven of the 10 states with the most popular governors have unemployment rates as low or lower than the 3.5% national December jobless rate. Here is a list of states where it is hardest to find full-time work.
Spending priorities are influenced by many state officials and institutions. And while governors often have considerable control over budget considerations, measures of fiscal management do not consistently help explain public approval.
One frequently used indicator of a state’s fiscal management is its rainy day fund — reserve savings that can be drawn from in the event of an economic downturn. The status of the rainy day fund is just one of many measures that can help gauge how well a state is run. Here is a list of the best and worst run states in America.
48. Gov. David Ige (D) of Hawaii
> Approval: 32%
> Disapproval: 58% (the highest)
> Don’t know: 11% (5th lowest)
> In office since: Dec. 1, 2014
> Hawaii could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 53 days (14th most)
> Rainy day fund: $1.13 billion (21st largest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 2.6% (8th lowest)
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47. Gov. Ned Lamont (D) of Connecticut
> Approval: 32%
> Disapproval: 51% (3rd highest)
> Don’t know: 17% (22nd lowest)
> In office since: Jan. 9, 2019
> Connecticut could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 23 days (9th least)
> Rainy day fund: $1.19 billion (20th largest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 3.7% (14th highest)
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46. Gov. Gina Raimondo (D) of Rhode Island
> Approval: 35%
> Disapproval: 55% (2nd highest)
> Don’t know: 10% (2nd lowest)
> In office since: Jan. 6, 2015
> Rhode Island could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 23 days (10th least)
> Rainy day fund: $244 million (8th smallest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 3.5% (20th highest)
45. Gov. Kate Brown (D) of Oregon
> Approval: 37%
> Disapproval: 50% (4th highest)
> Don’t know: 13% (11th lowest)
> In office since: Feb. 18, 2015
> Oregon could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 93 days (4th most)
> Rainy day fund: $2.49 billion (11th largest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 3.7% (14th highest)
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44. Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) of Alaska
> Approval: 42%
> Disapproval: 42% (8th highest)
> Don’t know: 17% (22nd lowest)
> In office since: Dec. 3, 2018
> Alaska could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 208 days (2nd most)
> Rainy day fund: $2.56 billion (9th largest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 6.1% (the highest)
43. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) of Michigan
> Approval: 42%
> Disapproval: 39% (11th highest)
> Don’t know: 19% (21st highest)
> In office since: Jan. 1, 2019
> Michigan could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 40 days (22nd least)
> Rainy day fund: $1.11 billion (23rd largest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 3.9% (10th highest)
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42. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) of California
> Approval: 42%
> Disapproval: 38% (14th highest)
> Don’t know: 20% (16th highest)
> In office since: Jan. 7, 2019
> California could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 51 days (16th most)
> Rainy day fund: $17.89 billion (the largest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 3.9% (10th highest)
41. Gov. Ralph Northam (D) of Virginia
> Approval: 42%
> Disapproval: 36% (17th highest)
> Don’t know: 22% (7th highest)
> In office since: Jan. 13, 2018
> Virginia could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 12 days (5th least)
> Rainy day fund: $651.9 million (14th smallest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 2.6% (8th lowest)
40. Gov. Kristi Noem (R) of South Dakota
> Approval: 43%
> Disapproval: 45% (5th highest)
> Don’t know: 12% (8th lowest)
> In office since: Jan. 5, 2019
> South Dakota could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 40 days (24th least)
> Rainy day fund: $176.4 million (5th smallest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 3.2% (19th lowest)
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39. Gov. Jim Justice (R) of West Virginia
> Approval: 43%
> Disapproval: 44% (7th highest)
> Don’t know: 13% (11th lowest)
> In office since: Jan. 16, 2017
> West Virginia could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 94 days (3rd most)
> Rainy day fund: $1.09 billion (24th largest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 5.0% (2nd highest)
38. Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) of Illinois
> Approval: 43%
> Disapproval: 41% (10th highest)
> Don’t know: 16% (17th lowest)
> In office since: Jan. 14, 2019
> Illinois could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 1 days (2nd least)
> Rainy day fund: $125.1 million (2nd smallest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 3.7% (14th highest)
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37. Gov. Lujan Grisham (D) of New Mexico
> Approval: 44%
> Disapproval: 39% (11th highest)
> Don’t know: 18% (24th highest)
> In office since: Jan. 1, 2019
> New Mexico could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 65 days (9th most)
> Rainy day fund: $1.11 billion (22nd largest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 4.7% (4th highest)
36. Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) of Iowa
> Approval: 44%
> Disapproval: 39% (11th highest)
> Don’t know: 17% (22nd lowest)
> In office since: May 24, 2017
> Iowa could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 38 days (21st least)
> Rainy day fund: $747.6 million (16th smallest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 2.7% (10th lowest)
35. Gov. Jay Inslee (D) of Washington
> Approval: 44%
> Disapproval: 38% (14th highest)
> Don’t know: 19% (21st highest)
> In office since: Jan. 16, 2013
> Washington could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 59 days (12th most)
> Rainy day fund: $3.31 billion (4th largest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 4.3% (7th highest)
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34. Gov. Phil Murphy (D) of New Jersey
> Approval: 46%
> Disapproval: 37% (16th highest)
> Don’t know: 18% (24th highest)
> In office since: Jan. 16, 2018
> New Jersey could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 8 days (3rd least)
> Rainy day fund: $772.2 million (19th smallest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 3.5% (20th highest)
33. Gov. Jared Polis (D) of Colorado
> Approval: 46%
> Disapproval: 34% (20th highest)
> Don’t know: 20% (16th highest)
> In office since: Jan. 8, 2019
> Colorado could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 42 days (22nd most)
> Rainy day fund: $1.27 billion (17th largest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 2.5% (5th lowest)
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32. Gov. Janet Mills (D) of Maine
> Approval: 47%
> Disapproval: 45% (5th highest)
> Don’t know: 8% (the lowest)
> In office since: Jan. 2, 2019
> Maine could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 38 days (20th least)
> Rainy day fund: $362.4 million (10th smallest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 2.9% (13th lowest)
31. Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) of New York
> Approval: 47%
> Disapproval: 42% (8th highest)
> Don’t know: 11% (5th lowest)
> In office since: Jan. 1, 2011
> New York could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 49 days (17th most)
> Rainy day fund: $9.45 billion (3rd largest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 4.0% (9th highest)
30. Gov. Roy Cooper (D) of North Carolina
> Approval: 47%
> Disapproval: 32% (23rd highest)
> Don’t know: 21% (11th highest)
> In office since: Jan. 1, 2011
> North Carolina could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 46 days (20th most)
> Rainy day fund: $2.84 billion (7th largest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 3.7% (14th highest)
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29. Gov. Tony Evers (D) of Wisconsin
> Approval: 48%
> Disapproval: 36% (17th highest)
> Don’t know: 16% (17th lowest)
> In office since: Jan. 7, 2019
> Wisconsin could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 19 days (8th least)
> Rainy day fund: $908.6 million (24th smallest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 3.4% (24th highest)
28. Gov. Mike DeWine (R) of Ohio
> Approval: 49%
> Disapproval: 30% (24th lowest)
> Don’t know: 21% (11th highest)
> In office since: Jan. 14, 2019
> Ohio could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 37 days (19th least)
> Rainy day fund: $3.26 billion (5th largest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 4.2% (8th highest)
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27. Gov. Mike Parson (R) of Missouri
> Approval: 49%
> Disapproval: 24% (14th lowest)
> Don’t know: 27% (the highest)
> In office since: Jun. 1, 2018
> Missouri could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 32 days (15th least)
> Rainy day fund: $799.7 million (21st smallest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 3.3% (22nd lowest)
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26. Gov. Doug Ducey (R) of Arizona
> Approval: 50%
> Disapproval: 29% (22nd lowest)
> Don’t know: 22% (7th highest)
> In office since: Jan. 5, 2015
> Arizona could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 34 days (18th least)
> Rainy day fund: $908.2 million (23rd smallest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 4.6% (5th highest)
25. Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) of Nevada
> Approval: 50%
> Disapproval: 27% (19th lowest)
> Don’t know: 23% (6th highest)
> In office since: Jan. 7, 2019
> Nevada could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 61 days (11th most)
> Rainy day fund: $665.7 million (15th smallest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 3.8% (13th highest)
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24. Gov. Laura Kelly (D) of Kansas
> Approval: 50%
> Disapproval: 24% (14th lowest)
> Don’t know: 26% (3rd highest)
> In office since: Jan. 14, 2019
> Kansas could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 42 days (21st most)
> Rainy day fund: $762.5 million (18th smallest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 3.2% (19th lowest)
23. Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) of Indiana
> Approval: 51%
> Disapproval: 23% (11th lowest)
> Don’t know: 27% (the highest)
> In office since: Jan. 9, 2017
> Indiana could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 41 days (23rd most)
> Rainy day fund: $1.79 billion (13th largest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 3.2% (19th lowest)
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22. Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) of Nebraska
> Approval: 52%
> Disapproval: 34% (20th highest)
> Don’t know: 14% (13th lowest)
> In office since: Jan. 8, 2015
> Nebraska could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 67 days (7th most)
> Rainy day fund: $793.6 million (20th smallest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 3.1% (15th lowest)
21. Gov. Steve Bullock (D) of Montana
> Approval: 52%
> Disapproval: 31% (24th highest)
> Don’t know: 17% (22nd lowest)
> In office since: Jan. 7, 2013
> Montana could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 30 days (12th least)
> Rainy day fund: $185.7 million (6th smallest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 3.4% (24th highest)
20. Gov. Tim Walz (D) of Minnesota
> Approval: 52%
> Disapproval: 27% (19th lowest)
> Don’t know: 21% (11th highest)
> In office since: Jan. 7, 2019
> Minnesota could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 40 days (23rd least)
> Rainy day fund: $2.50 billion (10th largest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 3.3% (22nd lowest)
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19. Gov. Tom Wolf (D) of Pennsylvania
> Approval: 53%
> Disapproval: 33% (22nd highest)
> Don’t know: 14% (13th lowest)
> In office since: Jan. 20, 2015
> Pennsylvania could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 0 days (the least)
> Rainy day fund: $22.8 million (the smallest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 4.5% (6th highest)
18. Gov. Gary R. Herbert (R) of Utah
> Approval: 53%
> Disapproval: 29% (22nd lowest)
> Don’t know: 17% (22nd lowest)
> In office since: Aug. 11, 2009
> Utah could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 47 days (18th most)
> Rainy day fund: $862.4 million (22nd smallest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 2.3% (3rd lowest)
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17. Gov. Brian Kemp (R) of Georgia
> Approval: 53%
> Disapproval: 27% (19th lowest)
> Don’t know: 21% (11th highest)
> In office since: Jan. 14, 2019
> Georgia could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 41 days (24th most)
> Rainy day fund: $2.73 billion (8th largest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 3.2% (19th lowest)
16. Gov. Henry McMaster (R) of South Carolina
> Approval: 53%
> Disapproval: 26% (16th lowest)
> Don’t know: 20% (16th highest)
> In office since: Jan. 24, 2017
> South Carolina could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 55 days (13th most)
> Rainy day fund: $1.19 billion (18th largest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 2.3% (3rd lowest)
15. Gov. John Carney (D) of Delaware
> Approval: 53%
> Disapproval: 26% (16th lowest)
> Don’t know: 21% (11th highest)
> In office since: Jan. 17, 2017
> Delaware could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 66 days (8th most)
> Rainy day fund: $749.9 million (17th smallest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 3.9% (10th highest)
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14. Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) of Louisiana
> Approval: 54%
> Disapproval: 35% (19th highest)
> Don’t know: 11% (5th lowest)
> In office since: Jan. 11, 2016
> Louisiana could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 12 days (6th least)
> Rainy day fund: $321.1 million (9th smallest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 4.9% (3rd highest)
13. Gov. Brad Little (R) of Idaho
> Approval: 55%
> Disapproval: 23% (11th lowest)
> Don’t know: 22% (7th highest)
> In office since: Jan. 7, 2019
> Idaho could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 67 days (6th most)
> Rainy day fund: $632.7 million (13th smallest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 2.9% (13th lowest)
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12. Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) of Oklahoma
> Approval: 56%
> Disapproval: 21% (6th lowest)
> Don’t know: 24% (4th highest)
> In office since: Jan. 14, 2019
> Oklahoma could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 27 days (11th least)
> Rainy day fund: $451.6 million (12th smallest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 3.4% (24th highest)
11. Gov. Bill Lee (R) of Tennessee
> Approval: 57%
> Disapproval: 19% (4th lowest)
> Don’t know: 24% (4th highest)
> In office since: Jan. 19, 2019
> Tennessee could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 34 days (17th least)
> Rainy day fund: $1.33 billion (16th largest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 3.3% (22nd lowest)
10. Gov. Kay Ivey (R) of Alabama
> Approval: 58%
> Disapproval: 28% (20th lowest)
> Don’t know: 15% (15th lowest)
> In office since: April 10, 2017
> Alabama could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 52 days (15th most)
> Rainy day fund: $1.19 billion (19th largest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 2.7% (10th lowest)
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9. Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) of Arkansas
> Approval: 58%
> Disapproval: 24% (14th lowest)
> Don’t know: 19% (21st highest)
> In office since: Jan. 13, 2015
> Arkansas could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 8 days (4th least)
> Rainy day fund: $126.6 million (3rd smallest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 3.6% (19th highest)
8. Gov. Greg Abbott (R) of Texas
> Approval: 58%
> Disapproval: 23% (11th lowest)
> Don’t know: 18% (24th highest)
> In office since: Jan. 20, 2015
> Texas could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 69 days (5th most)
> Rainy day fund: $10.59 billion (2nd largest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 3.5% (20th highest)
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7. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) of Florida
> Approval: 58%
> Disapproval: 22% (8th lowest)
> Don’t know: 20% (16th highest)
> In office since: Jan. 8, 2019
> Florida could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 33 days (16th least)
> Rainy day fund: $2.86 billion (6th largest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 3.0% (14th lowest)
6. Gov. Doug Burgum (R) of North Dakota
> Approval: 58%
> Disapproval: 20% (5th lowest)
> Don’t know: 22% (7th highest)
> In office since: Dec. 15, 2016
> North Dakota could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 62 days (10th most)
> Rainy day fund: $366.7 million (11th smallest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 2.4% (4th lowest)
5. Gov. Chris Sununu (R) of New Hampshire
> Approval: 59%
> Disapproval: 30% (24th lowest)
> Don’t know: 12% (8th lowest)
> In office since: Jan. 5, 2017
> New Hampshire could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 46 days (19th most)
> Rainy day fund: $190.2 million (7th smallest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 2.6% (8th lowest)
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4. Gov. Phil Scott (R) of Vermont
> Approval: 65%
> Disapproval: 22% (8th lowest)
> Don’t know: 13% (11th lowest)
> In office since: Jan. 5, 2017
> Vermont could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 31 days (14th least)
> Rainy day fund: $132.8 million (4th smallest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 2.3% (3rd lowest)
3. Gov. Charlie Baker (R) of Massachusetts
> Approval: 69%
> Disapproval: 19% (4th lowest)
> Don’t know: 12% (8th lowest)
> In office since: Jan. 8, 2015
> Massachusetts could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 19 days (7th least)
> Rainy day fund: $2.28 billion (12th largest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 2.8% (11th lowest)
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2. Gov. Larry Hogan (R) of Maryland
> Approval: 69%
> Disapproval: 16% (2nd lowest)
> Don’t know: 15% (15th lowest)
> In office since: Jan. 21, 2015
> Maryland could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 30 days (13th least)
> Rainy day fund: $1.44 billion (15th largest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 3.5% (20th highest)
1. Gov. Mark Gordon (R) of Wyoming
> Approval: 69%
> Disapproval: 11% (the lowest)
> Don’t know: 20% (16th highest)
> In office since: Jan. 7, 2019
> Wyoming could run on only rainy day funds in FY 2018 for: 367 days (the most)
> Rainy day fund: $1.54 billion (14th largest)
> Dec. 2019 unemployment rate: 3.7% (14th highest)
Methodology
To identify America’s most popular governors, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed research company Morning Consultant’s Governor Approval Ratings. Approval ratings are based on survey data collected during the fourth quarter of 2019. Because the survey was taken before Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear assumed office on Dec. 10, 2019, and before Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves assumed office on Jan. 14, 2020, these two governors were not included on this list.
Unemployment rates came from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and are for December 2019. Data on states’ rainy day funds are for fiscal 2018 and are from non-profit research organization Pew Charitable Trusts’ “States Fiscal Health.”
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