During the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government has provided emergency economic stimulus packages and funded vaccine research and development programs. Meanwhile, state governments have borne the responsibility of slowing the spread of the virus, while trying to minimize the economic fallout.
Striking an optimal balance between public health and economic considerations during the pandemic has proven to be a politically fraught task — and one that has often eluded broad consensus. Public opinion polls show that nearly all state governors have paid a political price for their handling of the coronavirus — though some have navigated the crisis more adroitly than others.
Using the Nov. 2, 2020 report “The State of the Nation: A 50-State COVID-19 Survey,” a joint survey from Northeastern University, Harvard University, Rutgers University, and Northwestern University, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the most and least popular governors in America. Governors are ranked based on the share of residents who either approve or strongly approve of their handling the pandemic. All polling data was collected between Oct. 2 and Oct. 25, 2020.
Governor approval ratings vary by state — from as high as 80% to as low as 26%. With only a few exceptions, most governors are less popular now than they were in the early days of the pandemic. Governor approval ratings fell by an average of 16 points between late April and October. In several states, public opinion has dropped by 20 or more points. Vermont Gov. Phil Scott, a Republican, is the only governor more popular now than at the beginning of the pandemic.
Though there are several exceptions, the states where governors have the highest approval ratings tend to be those with lower than average per capita COVID-19 infection rates. Though unemployment rates tend to be slightly lower in states where COVID-19 has infected a larger share of the population, governor approval ratings in these areas still tend to be low. Here is a look at the states where COVID-19 is growing the fastest.
Since these polls were taken, there have been several gubernatorial elections and two governors on our list are no longer serving. Former Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, facing a term limit, left office on Jan. 4, 2021. Additionally, former Utah Gov. Gary R. Herbert did not seek reelection in 2020 and also left office on Jan. 4 2021.
Click here to see the most and least popular governors during the pandemic.
Click here to see our detailed methodology.
1. Gov. Phil Scott (R) of Vermont
> Approve or strongly approve: 80%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 80% – current
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 70% – September
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 3.1% (2nd lowest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 1,432 per 100,000 people — the lowest (total: 8,967)
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2. Gov. Larry Hogan (R) of Maryland
> Approve or strongly approve: 68%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 78% – late April
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 67% – September
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 6.8% (15th highest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 5,075 per 100,000 people — 8th lowest (total: 306,674)
3. Gov. Charlie Baker (R) of Massachusetts
> Approve or strongly approve: 65%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 80% – late April
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 65% – current
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 6.7% (16th highest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 6,270 per 100,000 people — 16th lowest (total: 432,791)
4. Gov. Phil Murphy (D) of New Jersey
> Approve or strongly approve: 65%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 67% – early May
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 58% – late May
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 10.2% (the highest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 6,564 per 100,000 people — 18th lowest (total: 584,765)
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5. Gov. Ned Lamont (D) of Connecticut
> Approve or strongly approve: 62%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 66% – late April
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 57% – September
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 8.2% (6th highest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 5,766 per 100,000 people — 13th lowest (total: 205,994)
6. Gov. Gina Raimondo (D) of Rhode Island
> Approve or strongly approve: 61%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 74% – late April
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 60% – late August
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 7.3% (12th highest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 9,232 per 100,000 people — 6th highest (total: 97,614)
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7. Gov. Mike DeWine (R) of Ohio
> Approve or strongly approve: 59%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 81% – late April
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 56% – September
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 5.7% (24th lowest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 6,648 per 100,000 people — 19th lowest (total: 777,065)
24/7 Wall St.
8. Gov. Jared Polis (D) of Colorado
> Approve or strongly approve: 57%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 64% – late April
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 51% – late July
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 6.4% (18th highest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 6,302 per 100,000 people — 17th lowest (total: 358,947)
9. Gov. Laura Kelly (D) of Kansas
> Approve or strongly approve: 57%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 68% – late April
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 46% – late August
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 5.6% (22nd lowest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 8,323 per 100,000 people — 14th highest (total: 242,322)
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10. Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) of New York
> Approve or strongly approve: 57%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 71% – late July
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 57% – current
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 8.4% (4th highest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 5,764 per 100,000 people — 12th lowest (total: 1,126,442)
11. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) of Michigan
> Approve or strongly approve: 56%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 69% – late June
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 53% – September
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 6.9% (13th highest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 5,628 per 100,000 people — 10th lowest (total: 562,553)
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12. Gov. Chris Sununu (R) of New Hampshire
> Approve or strongly approve: 55%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 74% – late April
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 55% – current
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 3.8% (5th lowest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 3,804 per 100,000 people — 6th lowest (total: 51,600)
24/7 Wall St.
13. Gov. Andy Beshear (D) of Kentucky
> Approve or strongly approve: 54%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 79% – late April
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 54% – current
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 5.6% (22nd lowest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 6,795 per 100,000 people — 22nd lowest (total: 303,625)
14. Gov. Janet Mills (D) of Maine
> Approve or strongly approve: 53%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 67% – late April
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 50% – late May
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 5.0% (17th lowest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 2,188 per 100,000 people — 3rd lowest (total: 29,290)
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15. Gov. Gary R. Herbert (R) of Utah
> Approve or strongly approve: 53%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 60% – late April
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 44% – late July
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 4.3% (6th lowest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 9,680 per 100,000 people — 3rd highest (total: 305,999)
16. Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) of Arkansas
> Approve or strongly approve: 52%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 65% – late April
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 41% – late July
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 6.2% (21st highest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 8,353 per 100,000 people — 13th highest (total: 251,746)
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17. Gov. Jay Inslee (D) of Washington
> Approve or strongly approve: 52%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 70% – late April
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 50% – late August
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 6.0% (24th highest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 3,604 per 100,000 people — 5th lowest (total: 271,595)
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18. Gov. Kay Ivey (R) of Alabama
> Approve or strongly approve: 51%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 60% – late April
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 44% – late August
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 4.4% (10th lowest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 8,222 per 100,000 people — 15th highest (total: 401,900)
19. Gov. Tim Walz (D) of Minnesota
> Approve or strongly approve: 51%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 71% – late April
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 49% – September
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 4.4% (10th lowest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 7,780 per 100,000 people — 21st highest (total: 436,572)
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20. Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) of Indiana
> Approve or strongly approve: 50%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 71% – late April
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 46% – September
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 5.0% (17th lowest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 8,423 per 100,000 people — 11th highest (total: 563,653)
21. Gov. JB Pritzker (D) of Illinois
> Approve or strongly approve: 49%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 63% – late April
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 49% – current
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 6.9% (13th highest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 8,074 per 100,000 people — 19th highest (total: 1,028,750)
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22. Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) of Louisiana
> Approve or strongly approve: 49%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 67% – late April
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 43% – September
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 8.3% (5th highest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 7,443 per 100,000 people — 23rd highest (total: 346,829)
23. Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) of Nevada
> Approve or strongly approve: 49%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 60% – late April
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 41% – late August
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 10.1% (2nd highest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 8,192 per 100,000 people — 16th highest (total: 248,568)
24. Gov. Ralph Northam (D) of Virginia
> Approve or strongly approve: 49%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 59% – late April
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 46% – late August
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 4.9% (14th lowest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 4,683 per 100,000 people — 7th lowest (total: 398,856)
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25. Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) of Alaska
> Approve or strongly approve: 48%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 61% – late April
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 34% – September
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 8.1% (8th highest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 6,810 per 100,000 people — 24th lowest (total: 50,218)
26. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) of California
> Approve or strongly approve: 48%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 70% – late April
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 47% – late August
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 8.2% (6th highest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 6,752 per 100,000 people — 21st lowest (total: 2,670,962)
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27. Gov. Roy Cooper (D) of North Carolina
> Approve or strongly approve: 48%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 60% – late April
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 48% – late July
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 6.2% (21st highest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 6,002 per 100,000 people — 14th lowest (total: 623,188)
28. Gov. Jim Justice (R) of West Virginia
> Approve or strongly approve: 48%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 78% – late April
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 48% – current
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 6.2% (21st highest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 5,605 per 100,000 people — 9th lowest (total: 101,212)
29. Gov. Steve Bullock (D) of Montana
> Approve or strongly approve: 47%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 62% – early May
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 45% – September
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 4.9% (14th lowest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 8,126 per 100,000 people — 17th highest (total: 86,324)
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30. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) of New Mexico
> Approve or strongly approve: 47%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 67% – early May
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 42% – late June
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 7.5% (11th highest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 7,452 per 100,000 people — 22nd highest (total: 156,157)
31. Gov. Doug Burgum (R) of North Dakota
> Approve or strongly approve: 46%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 66% – late April
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 46% – current
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 4.5% (11th lowest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 12,461 per 100,000 people — the highest (total: 94,716)
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32. Gov. Tom Wolf (D) of Pennsylvania
> Approve or strongly approve: 46%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 57% – late April
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 46% – current
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 6.6% (17th highest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 5,628 per 100,000 people — 11th lowest (total: 720,816)
24/7 Wall St.
33. Gov. Mark Gordon (R) of Wyoming
> Approve or strongly approve: 46%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 65% – late April
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 42% – September
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 5.1% (19th lowest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 8,106 per 100,000 people — 18th highest (total: 46,832)
34. Gov. Bill Lee (R) of Tennessee
> Approve or strongly approve: 45%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 62% – late April
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 38% – September
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 5.3% (20th lowest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 9,658 per 100,000 people — 4th highest (total: 653,869)
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35. Gov. John Carney (D) of Delaware
> Approve or strongly approve: 44%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 69% – late April
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 44% – current
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 5.1% (19th lowest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 6,749 per 100,000 people — 20th lowest (total: 65,273)
36. Gov. Kate Brown (D) of Oregon
> Approve or strongly approve: 43%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 61% – late April
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 39% – late August
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 6.0% (24th highest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 2,999 per 100,000 people — 4th lowest (total: 125,683)
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37. Gov. Mike Parson (R) of Missouri
> Approve or strongly approve: 41%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 60% – late April
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 37% – September
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 4.4% (10th lowest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 6,910 per 100,000 people — 25th lowest (total: 423,327)
38. Gov. Greg Abbott (R) of Texas
> Approve or strongly approve: 41%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 61% – late April
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 35% – late August
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 8.1% (8th highest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 6,809 per 100,000 people — 23rd lowest (total: 1,954,406)
39. Gov. Tony Evers (D) of Wisconsin
> Approve or strongly approve: 41%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 56% – late April
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 39% – September
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 5.0% (17th lowest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 8,719 per 100,000 people — 8th highest (total: 506,890)
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40. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) of Florida
> Approve or strongly approve: 40%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 50% – late May
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 29% – late August
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 6.4% (18th highest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 6,935 per 100,000 people — 25th highest (total: 1,477,010)
41. Gov. Brad Little (R) of Idaho
> Approve or strongly approve: 40%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 64% – late April
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 34% – late August
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 4.8% (12th lowest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 8,532 per 100,000 people — 10th highest (total: 149,667)
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42. Gov. Tate Reeves (R) of Mississippi
> Approve or strongly approve: 40%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 56% – late April
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 34% – late August
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 6.4% (18th highest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 8,005 per 100,000 people — 20th highest (total: 239,082)
24/7 Wall St.
43. Gov. Henry McMaster (R) of South Carolina
> Approve or strongly approve: 40%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 51% – late April
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 36% – late August
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 4.4% (10th lowest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 6,973 per 100,000 people — 24th highest (total: 354,525)
44. Gov. Brian Kemp (R) of Georgia
> Approve or strongly approve: 39%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 53% – late April
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 33% – early May
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 5.7% (24th lowest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 6,049 per 100,000 people — 15th lowest (total: 636,373)
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45. Gov. Kristi Noem (R) of South Dakota
> Approve or strongly approve: 39%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 54% – late June
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 39% – current
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 3.5% (3rd lowest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 10,538 per 100,000 people — 2nd highest (total: 92,967)
46. Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) of Oklahoma
> Approve or strongly approve: 38%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 51% – late April
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 34% – late July
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 5.9% (25th lowest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 8,404 per 100,000 people — 12th highest (total: 331,362)
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47. Gov. Doug Ducey (R) of Arizona
> Approve or strongly approve: 36%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 57% – early May
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 30% – late July
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 7.8% (10th highest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 8,625 per 100,000 people — 9th highest (total: 618,546)
48. Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) of Nebraska
> Approve or strongly approve: 36%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 63% – late April
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 36% – current
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 3.1% (2nd lowest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 9,103 per 100,000 people — 7th highest (total: 175,620)
49. Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) of Iowa
> Approve or strongly approve: 27%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 52% – late April
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 26% – late August
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 3.6% (4th lowest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 9,393 per 100,000 people — 5th highest (total: 296,441)
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50. Gov. David Ige (D) of Hawaii
> Approve or strongly approve: 26%
> Highest approval rating during COVID-19: 43% – late June
> Lowest approval rating during COVID-19: 26% – current
> Nov 2020 unemployment: 10.1% (2nd highest)
> COVID-19 infections as of Jan 10, 2021: 1,643 per 100,000 people — 2nd lowest (total: 23,341)
Methodology
To determine the most and least popular state governors during the COVID-19 pandemic, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the share of state residents who either approve or strongly approve of their governor’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak. Governors are ranked on approval ratings based on the polling of 119,755 individuals across all 50 states between Oct. 2 and Oct. 25, 2020.
All polling data is from the Nov. 2 2020 report “The State of the Nation: A 50-State COVID-19 Survey,” a joint report from Northeastern University, Harvard University, Rutgers University, and Northwestern University. Governor approval ratings are as of October 2020. We also reviewed historic approval ratings for the periods of late April, early May, late May, late June, late July, late August, and September 2020.
We also included the most recent monthly seasonally-adjusted unemployment rates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics as well as the cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases from state and local governments in our analysis.
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