With the 2024 presidential election less than a year and a half away, campaign season is heating up. In recent weeks, the field of Republican contenders vying for the top spot on the party’s ticket next November has grown considerably. Meanwhile, since announcing plans to seek a second term in April 2023, President Joe Biden is the presumptive Democratic nominee – and as the incumbent candidate, voters’ perception of his job performance could be a decisive factor in his bid for reelection.
When it comes to voter sentiment, Biden is facing an uphill battle. According to a nationwide Gallup poll, his job approval rating stands at 39%, only slightly higher than his lowest rating of 37% recorded in April 2023, and well below his all-time high of 57% from early 2021. Public opinion regarding the Biden administration is not uniform across the country, however, and in some states, the president is viewed far more favorably than in others.
Using survey data from Morning Consult, a public opinion research company, 24/7 Wall St. determined Biden’s popularity in each state. States were ranked by the share of surveyed voters who approve of Biden. Ties were broken by disapproval ratings, and in the case when multiple states shared the same approval and disapproval rating, the state with the larger survey sample size ranked higher. All polling data was collected among registered voters in the first quarter of 2023.
Depending on the state, Biden’s approval rating ranges from as low as 25% up to 54%. Perhaps not surprisingly, the states that went to Biden in the 2020 presidential election are also those where his popularity is highest. Of the 25 states where Biden’s approval ratings are highest, Alaska is the only one that went to former President Donald Trump in the 2020 election. (Here is a look at the most, and least, effective presidents in American history.)
While historical voting patterns appear to be the strongest predictor of Biden’s popularity at the state level, the economy is top of mind for the bulk of American voters. According to a recent NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll, 31% of American adults across the political spectrum chose the economy as the top issue facing the country. Nearly every other issue, including health care, immigration, and climate change, was chosen by less than 10% of those surveyed.
Economic concerns have been driven by rising inflation in recent years, but other key measures, such as the job market, are always a factor in Americans’ assessment of the economy. Notably, however, unemployment rates tend to be lower than average in many of the states where Biden’s approval rating is lowest. (Here is a look at the states recovering fastest from high unemployment.)
Click here to see Biden’s approval rating in every state.
Click here to read our detailed methodology.
50. West Virginia
> Biden approval rating: 25% approve, 73% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Trump (29.7% Biden, 68.6% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 61.3% (the lowest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 3.9% (higher than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 1,801,049 (12th smallest)
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49. North Dakota
> Biden approval rating: 25% approve, 71% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Trump (31.8% Biden, 65.1% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 68.9% (6th lowest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 2.1% (lower than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 773,344 (4th smallest)
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48. Wyoming
> Biden approval rating: 27% approve, 71% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Trump (26.6% Biden, 69.9% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 78.1% (18th highest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 3.6% (in line with nat’l avg.)
> Population: 576,641 (the smallest)
47. Arkansas
> Biden approval rating: 29% approve, 67% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Trump (34.8% Biden, 62.4% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 70.7% (13th lowest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 3.3% (lower than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 3,006,309 (18th smallest)
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46. Oklahoma
> Biden approval rating: 30% approve, 67% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Trump (32.3% Biden, 65.4% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 69.0% (7th lowest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 3.0% (lower than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 3,948,136 (23rd smallest)
45. Nebraska
> Biden approval rating: 31% approve, 67% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Trump (39.4% Biden, 58.5% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 70.6% (12th lowest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 2.3% (lower than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 1,951,480 (14th smallest)
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44. Alabama
> Biden approval rating: 31% approve, 66% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Trump (36.6% Biden, 62.0% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 67.5% (5th lowest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 2.6% (lower than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 4,997,675 (24th largest)
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43. Kentucky
> Biden approval rating: 31% approve, 66% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Trump (36.2% Biden, 62.1% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 72.8% (20th lowest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 3.9% (higher than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 4,494,141 (25th smallest)
42. Utah
> Biden approval rating: 32% approve, 65% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Trump (37.6% Biden, 58.1% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 78.4% (15th highest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 2.3% (lower than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 3,231,370 (21st smallest)
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41. South Dakota
> Biden approval rating: 33% approve, 65% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Trump (35.6% Biden, 61.8% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 76.3% (24th highest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 2.1% (lower than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 881,785 (5th smallest)
40. Idaho
> Biden approval rating: 33% approve, 65% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Trump (33.1% Biden, 63.9% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 74.7% (23rd lowest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 2.7% (lower than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 1,811,617 (13th smallest)
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39. Iowa
> Biden approval rating: 33% approve, 64% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Trump (44.9% Biden, 53.1% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 70.2% (10th lowest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 2.7% (lower than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 3,179,090 (20th smallest)
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38. Indiana
> Biden approval rating: 34% approve, 63% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Trump (41.0% Biden, 57.0% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 63.1% (2nd lowest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 3.0% (lower than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 6,751,340 (17th largest)
37. Tennessee
> Biden approval rating: 34% approve, 63% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Trump (37.5% Biden, 60.7% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 66.1% (4th lowest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 3.4% (lower than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 6,859,497 (16th largest)
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36. Missouri
> Biden approval rating: 34% approve, 62% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Trump (41.4% Biden, 56.8% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 69.6% (8th lowest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 2.5% (lower than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 6,141,534 (19th largest)
35. Kansas
> Biden approval rating: 35% approve, 62% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Trump (41.6% Biden, 56.2% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 78.1% (19th highest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 2.7% (lower than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 2,932,099 (16th smallest)
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34. Mississippi
> Biden approval rating: 35% approve, 61% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Trump (41.1% Biden, 57.6% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 63.9% (3rd lowest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 3.9% (higher than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 2,967,023 (17th smallest)
33. South Carolina
> Biden approval rating: 37% approve, 60% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Trump (43.4% Biden, 55.1% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 69.7% (9th lowest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 3.2% (lower than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 5,078,903 (23rd largest)
32. Ohio
> Biden approval rating: 37% approve, 60% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Trump (45.2% Biden, 53.3% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 70.7% (14th lowest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 4.0% (higher than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 11,769,923 (7th largest)
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31. Louisiana
> Biden approval rating: 37% approve, 59% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Trump (39.9% Biden, 58.5% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 71.1% (16th lowest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 3.7% (higher than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 4,657,305 (25th largest)
30. Montana
> Biden approval rating: 38% approve, 59% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Trump (40.5% Biden, 56.9% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 80.9% (11th highest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 2.6% (lower than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 1,077,978 (7th smallest)
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29. Texas
> Biden approval rating: 38% approve, 58% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Trump (46.5% Biden, 52.1% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 72.0% (19th lowest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 3.9% (higher than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 28,862,581 (2nd largest)
28. North Carolina
> Biden approval rating: 39% approve, 58% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Trump (48.6% Biden, 49.9% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 75.0% (24th lowest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 3.7% (higher than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 10,367,022 (9th largest)
27. Florida
> Biden approval rating: 39% approve, 57% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Trump (47.9% Biden, 51.2% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 77.5% (20th highest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 2.9% (lower than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 21,339,762 (3rd largest)
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26. Maine
> Biden approval rating: 40% approve, 57% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Biden (53.1% Biden, 44.0% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 84.3% (3rd highest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 3.0% (lower than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 1,357,046 (9th smallest)
25. Arizona
> Biden approval rating: 40% approve, 57% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Biden (49.4% Biden, 49.1% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 79.9% (12th highest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 3.8% (higher than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 7,079,203 (14th largest)
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24. Michigan
> Biden approval rating: 41% approve, 56% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Biden (50.6% Biden, 47.8% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 82.1% (8th highest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 4.2% (higher than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 10,062,512 (10th largest)
23. Pennsylvania
> Biden approval rating: 41% approve, 56% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Biden (50.0% Biden, 48.8% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 83.4% (5th highest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 4.4% (higher than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 12,970,650 (5th largest)
22. Nevada
> Biden approval rating: 41% approve, 55% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Biden (50.1% Biden, 47.7% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 78.2% (16th highest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 5.4% (higher than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 3,059,238 (19th smallest)
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21. New Hampshire
> Biden approval rating: 42% approve, 57% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Biden (52.7% Biden, 45.4% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 81.3% (10th highest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 2.5% (lower than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 1,372,175 (10th smallest)
20. Wisconsin
> Biden approval rating: 42% approve, 55% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Biden (49.4% Biden, 48.8% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 84.2% (4th highest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 2.9% (lower than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 5,871,661 (20th largest)
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19. Colorado
> Biden approval rating: 43% approve, 54% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Biden (55.4% Biden, 41.9% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 85.0% (the highest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 3.0% (lower than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 5,723,176 (21st largest)
18. Minnesota
> Biden approval rating: 43% approve, 54% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Biden (52.4% Biden, 45.3% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 82.3% (7th highest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 2.7% (lower than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 5,670,472 (22nd largest)
17. Georgia
> Biden approval rating: 43% approve, 54% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Biden (49.5% Biden, 49.3% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 82.0% (9th highest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 3.0% (lower than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 10,625,615 (8th largest)
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16. Alaska
> Biden approval rating: 43% approve, 52% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Trump (42.8% Biden, 52.8% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 75.6% (25th highest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 4.0% (higher than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 735,951 (3rd smallest)
15. Virginia
> Biden approval rating: 44% approve, 53% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Biden (54.1% Biden, 44.0% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 71.7% (18th lowest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 2.9% (lower than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 8,582,479 (12th largest)
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14. New Mexico
> Biden approval rating: 44% approve, 52% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Biden (54.3% Biden, 43.5% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 79.7% (13th highest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 4.0% (higher than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 2,109,366 (15th smallest)
13. New Jersey
> Biden approval rating: 45% approve, 51% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Biden (57.3% Biden, 41.4% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 71.6% (17th lowest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 3.7% (higher than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 9,234,024 (11th largest)
12. Oregon
> Biden approval rating: 46% approve, 51% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Biden (56.5% Biden, 40.4% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 84.7% (2nd highest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 4.2% (higher than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 4,207,177 (24th smallest)
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11. Delaware
> Biden approval rating: 46% approve, 50% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Biden (58.7% Biden, 39.8% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 70.8% (15th lowest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 4.5% (higher than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 981,892 (6th smallest)
10. Rhode Island
> Biden approval rating: 48% approve, 48% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Biden (59.4% Biden, 38.6% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 73.2% (21st lowest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 3.2% (lower than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 1,091,949 (8th smallest)
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9. Connecticut
> Biden approval rating: 49% approve, 48% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Biden (59.3% Biden, 39.2% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 70.5% (11th lowest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 4.2% (higher than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 3,605,330 (22nd smallest)
8. Washington
> Biden approval rating: 49% approve, 48% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Biden (58.0% Biden, 38.8% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 79.5% (14th highest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 4.2% (higher than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 7,617,364 (13th largest)
7. Illinois
> Biden approval rating: 49% approve, 48% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Biden (57.5% Biden, 40.6% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 75.3% (25th lowest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 4.6% (higher than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 12,821,813 (6th largest)
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6. New York
> Biden approval rating: 50% approve, 47% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Biden (60.9% Biden, 37.7% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 74.5% (22nd lowest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 4.3% (higher than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 20,114,745 (4th largest)
5. Massachusetts
> Biden approval rating: 50% approve, 46% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Biden (65.6% Biden, 32.1% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 76.7% (21st highest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 3.8% (higher than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 6,991,852 (15th largest)
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4. Vermont
> Biden approval rating: 51% approve, 44% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Biden (66.1% Biden, 30.7% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 82.4% (6th highest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 2.6% (lower than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 641,637 (2nd smallest)
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3. Maryland
> Biden approval rating: 52% approve, 44% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Biden (65.4% Biden, 32.2% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 76.5% (23rd highest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 3.2% (lower than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 6,148,545 (18th largest)
2. Hawaii
> Biden approval rating: 53% approve, 44% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Biden (63.7% Biden, 34.3% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 78.2% (17th highest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 3.5% (lower than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 1,453,498 (11th smallest)
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1. California
> Biden approval rating: 54% approve, 42% disapprove
> 2020 presidential election winner: Biden (63.5% Biden, 34.3% Trump)
> Registered voters who participated in Nov. 2022 midterm election: 76.6% (22nd highest of 50 states)
> Unemployment, 2022: 4.2% (higher than nat’l avg.)
> Population: 39,455,353 (the largest)
Methodology
To determine President Joe Biden’s popularity in each state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed presidential approval and disapproval ratings at the state level from Morning Consult, a public opinion data research company. States were ranked by their approval rating. Ties were broken by disapproval ratings, and in the case when multiple states shared the same approval and disapproval rating, the state with the larger survey sample size ranked higher. All polling data was collected among registered voters in the first quarter of 2023.
Data on the 2022 presidential election results by state is from The Cook Political Report, an independent, nonpartisan, political analysis newsletter.
We also reviewed the 2022 unemployment rate by state from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the share of registered voters who participated on election day in 2022 from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey. Population data is from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey.
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