24/7 Wall St. Insights
- 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from public opinion research company Morning Consult to identify America’s most and least popular governors.
- Approval ratings for state governors range from 43.5% to 85.6%.
- Out of the 10 most popular governors, four are Democrats and six are Republicans.
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Americans tend to hold high opinions of their state governors. Governors enjoy higher approval ratings than most other politicians. Unlike the politicians in Washington D.C., governors can generally stay above the fray and appear as a moderate voice of reason. The most popular state governor in America, Phil Scott of Vermont, holds an 85.6% approval rating in his state. This is particularly impressive when you consider that Scott is a Republican in a deeply blue state. On the other hand, Democratic Kansas governor, Laura Kelly, has a nearly 60% approval rating in a state that has voted Republican in every presidential election since 1968.
In stark contrast to federal institutions, Americans tend to have higher regard for government leadership within their own state regardless of the governor’s political party. A U.S. governor holds the role of a chief executive which involves balancing the interests, values, and priorities of their constituents. However, unlike recent U.S. presidents, most sitting governors have an average approval rating of 50% or higher.
Using data from public opinion research company Morning Consult, 24/7 Wall St. identified America’s most and least popular governors. We ranked all sitting governors with available data on their net approval rating — the percentage point difference between the share of voters who approve and the share who disapprove. Surveys were conducted between Oct. 1, 2023, and Jan. 1, 2024. Louisiana was excluded from this list, as the Gov. Jeff Landry took office in January 2024. Supplemental data on governor tenure and salaries are from The Council of State Governments and the National Governors Association. State populations and unemployment rates are from the Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Among the 49 governors on this list — 23 Democrats and 26 Republicans — approval ratings range from 43.5% to 85.6%. Of the 10 governors with the highest net approval rating, four are Democrats and six are Republicans.
While there are exceptions, less populous states often have more popular governors. Of the six highest-ranking governors on this list, five were elected in states with populations of less than 1.5 million. Notably, the two most popular governors also lead the two least populous states. In these places, fewer constituents may mean fewer competing interests. (Here is a look at the most important issues to voters for the 2024 election.)
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, is one of the highest-profile politicians on this list. DeSantis announced his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election in May 2023, and after losing key primary races to Donald Trump, he withdrew from the race in January 2024. Running a presidential campaign while serving as governor of one of the most populous states in the country did little to boost his popularity. DeSantis’ approval rating fell from 56.4% in early 2023 to 50.9% by the end of the year. Currently, DeSantis ranks as one of the least popular state governors in the country.
Why We’re Writing About State Governors
Governors play an important role in their state’s economies by recommending tax changes, proposing budgets, and passing or vetoing spending bills. When an economy struggles, governors can propose either trimming spending or raising taxes to cover debt and stimulate the economy. Overall, Americans tend to rate state governors much higher than other politicians. 24/7 Wall St. took a deep dive into which governors are the most and least popular in America today.
These are the most and least popular governors in America.
49. Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R)
- Net approval rating: -4.1 ppt. (43.5% approve; 47.6% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2020, currently serving 1st term
- Governor salary in 2022: $122,160
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 3.2%
- State population: 2,940,057
48. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D)
- Net approval rating: +3.1 ppt. (48.6% approve; 45.5% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2013, currently serving 2nd term
- Governor salary in 2022: $187,353
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 4.1%
- State population: 7,785,786
47. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R)
- Net approval rating: +3.5 ppt. (49.1% approve; 45.5% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2017, currently serving 3rd term
- Governor salary in 2022: $130,000
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 2.9%
- State population: 3,200,517
46. Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek (D)
- Net approval rating: +4.1 ppt. (45.8% approve; 41.7% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2023, currently serving 1st term
- Governor salary in 2022: $98,600
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 3.7%
- State population: 4,240,137
45. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R)
- Net approval rating: +6.0 ppt. (50.9% approve; 44.9% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2019, currently serving 2nd term
- Governor salary in 2022: $134,181
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 2.9%
- State population: 22,244,823
44. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D)
- Net approval rating: +6.0 ppt. (49.4% approve; 43.4% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2019, currently serving 2nd term
- Governor salary in 2022: $110,000
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 3.8%
- State population: 2,113,344
43. Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee (D)
- Net approval rating: +6.1 ppt. (45.1% approve; 39.1% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2021, currently serving 2nd term
- Governor salary in 2022: $145,755
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 3.0%
- State population: 1,093,734
42. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D)
- Net approval rating: +8.7 ppt. (50.7% approve; 42.0% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2019, currently serving 2nd term
- Governor salary in 2022: $152,756
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 3.0%
- State population: 5,892,539
41. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D)
- Net approval rating: +9.6 ppt. (50.3% approve; 40.7% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2021, currently serving 2nd term
- Governor salary in 2022: $250,000
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 4.2%
- State population: 19,677,151
40. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D)
- Net approval rating: +9.7 ppt. (48.8% approve; 39.0% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2023, currently serving 1st term
- Governor salary in 2022: $95,000
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 3.9%
- State population: 7,359,197
39. Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte (R)
- Net approval rating: +11.5 ppt. (49.3% approve; 37.8% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2021, currently serving 1st term
- Governor salary in 2022: $118,397
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 2.9%
- State population: 1,122,867
38. Texas Gov. Gregory Abbott (R)
- Net approval rating: +11.6 ppt. (53.0% approve; 41.4% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2015, currently serving 3rd term
- Governor salary in 2022: $153,750
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 3.9%
- State population: 30,029,572
37. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D)
- Net approval rating: +11.7 ppt. (53.0% approve; 41.3% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2019, currently serving 2nd term
- Governor salary in 2022: $184,758
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 4.5%
- State population: 12,582,032
36. Idaho Gov. Brad Little (R)
- Net approval rating: +12.5 ppt. (50.6% approve; 38.1% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2019, currently serving 2nd term
- Governor salary in 2022: $138,302
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 3.1%
- State population: 1,939,033
35. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R)
- Net approval rating: +13.5 ppt. (52.6% approve; 39.1% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2019, currently serving 2nd term
- Governor salary in 2022: $147,000
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 3.2%
- State population: 4,019,800
34. Missouri Gov. Mike Parson (R)
- Net approval rating: +15.0 ppt. (50.5% approve; 35.5% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2018, currently serving 2nd term
- Governor salary in 2022: $137,167
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 3.0%
- State population: 6,177,957
33. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R)
- Net approval rating: +15.6 ppt. (52.6% approve; 37.0% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2022, currently serving 1st term
- Governor salary in 2022: $175,000
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 2.9%
- State population: 8,683,619
32. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D)
- Net approval rating: +15.8 ppt. (55.3% approve; 39.5% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2019, currently serving 2nd term
- Governor salary in 2022: $127,629
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 2.8%
- State population: 5,717,184
31. New Jersey Gov. Philip Murphy (D)
- Net approval rating: +16.6 ppt. (54.5% approve; 37.8% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2018, currently serving 2nd term
- Governor salary in 2022: $175,000
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 4.4%
- State population: 9,261,699
30. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R)
- Net approval rating: +16.8 ppt. (55.0% approve; 38.2% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2019, currently serving 2nd term
- Governor salary in 2022: $168,106
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 3.5%
- State population: 11,756,058
29. Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D)
- Net approval rating: +17.1 ppt. (56.7% approve; 39.6% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2019, currently serving 2nd term
- Governor salary in 2022: $70,000
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 2.9%
- State population: 1,385,340
28. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D)
- Net approval rating: +18.2 ppt. (56.4% approve; 38.2% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2019, currently serving 2nd term
- Governor salary in 2022: $218,556
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 4.8%
- State population: 39,029,342
27. Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb (R)
- Net approval rating: +18.2 ppt. (52.8% approve; 34.6% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2017, currently serving 2nd term
- Governor salary in 2022: $134,051
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 3.3%
- State population: 6,833,037
26. Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen (R)
- Net approval rating: +18.7 ppt. (51.4% approve; 32.7% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2023, currently serving 1st term
- Governor salary in 2022: $105,000
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 2.3%
- State population: 1,967,923
25. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D)
- Net approval rating: +18.7 ppt. (57.2% approve; 38.5% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2019, currently serving 2nd term
- Governor salary in 2022: $159,300
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 3.9%
- State population: 10,034,118
24. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper III (D)
- Net approval rating: +20.3 ppt. (54.6% approve; 34.3% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2017, currently serving 2nd term
- Governor salary in 2022: $165,750
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 3.5%
- State population: 10,698,973
23. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R)
- Net approval rating: +20.3 ppt. (58.6% approve; 38.3% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2019, currently serving 2nd term
- Governor salary in 2022: $121,578
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 2.0%
- State population: 909,824
22. Delaware Gov. John Carney (D)
- Net approval rating: +21.5 ppt. (53.9% approve; 32.5% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2017, currently serving 2nd term
- Governor salary in 2022: $171,000
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 4.0%
- State population: 1,018,396
21. Alaska Gov. Michael Dunleavy (R)
- Net approval rating: +22.2 ppt. (54.8% approve; 32.6% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2018, currently serving 2nd term
- Governor salary in 2022: $145,000
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 4.2%
- State population: 733,583
20. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R)
- Net approval rating: +23.2 ppt. (56.2% approve; 33.0% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2017, currently serving 3rd term
- Governor salary in 2022: $106,078
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 3.0%
- State population: 5,282,634
19. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R)
- Net approval rating: +24.3 ppt. (57.8% approve; 33.5% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2023, currently serving 1st term
- Governor salary in 2022: $158,739
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 3.3%
- State population: 3,045,637
18. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (D)
- Net approval rating: +26.5 ppt. (59.6% approve; 33.0% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2019, currently serving 2nd term
- Governor salary in 2022: $110,707
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 2.7%
- State population: 2,937,150
17. West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice (R)
- Net approval rating: +27.5 ppt. (60.1% approve; 32.7% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2017, currently serving 2nd term
- Governor salary in 2022: $150,000
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 3.9%
- State population: 1,775,156
16. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D)
- Net approval rating: +27.5 ppt. (56.9% approve; 29.4% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2023, currently serving 1st term
- Governor salary in 2022: $213,026
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 3.4%
- State population: 12,972,008
15. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R)
- Net approval rating: +27.8 ppt. (56.5% approve; 28.8% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2021, currently serving 1st term
- Governor salary in 2022: $165,600
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 2.6%
- State population: 3,380,800
14. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R)
- Net approval rating: +28.0 ppt. (59.1% approve; 31.1% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2019, currently serving 1st term
- Governor salary in 2022: $204,336
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 3.3%
- State population: 7,051,339
13. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R)
- Net approval rating: +28.4 ppt. (60.0% approve; 31.6% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2019, currently serving 2nd term
- Governor salary in 2022: $175,000
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 3.2%
- State population: 10,912,876
12. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D)
- Net approval rating: +29.2 ppt. (62.1% approve; 32.9% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2019, currently serving 2nd term
- Governor salary in 2022: $152,181
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 4.2%
- State population: 4,512,310
11. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D)
- Net approval rating: +29.2 ppt. (60.4% approve; 31.2% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2019, currently serving 2nd term
- Governor salary in 2022: $90,000
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 3.2%
- State population: 5,839,926
10. Nevada Gov. Joseph Lombardo (R)
- Net approval rating: +30.7 ppt. (58.4% approve; 27.7% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2023, currently serving 1st term
- Governor salary in 2022: $163,474
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 5.1%
- State population: 3,177,772
9. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey (D)
- Net approval rating: +31.7 ppt. (60.0% approve; 28.4% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2023, currently serving 1st term
- Governor salary in 2022: $185,000
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 3.4%
- State population: 6,981,974
8. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D)
- Net approval rating: +31.7 ppt. (61.9% approve; 30.3% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2019, currently serving 2nd term
- Governor salary in 2022: $150,000
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 3.8%
- State population: 3,626,205
7. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R)
- Net approval rating: +31.9 ppt. (62.9% approve; 31.0% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2017, currently serving 3rd term
- Governor salary in 2022: $124,563
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 2.5%
- State population: 5,074,296
6. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R)
- Net approval rating: +33.2 ppt. (59.9% approve; 26.8% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2016, currently serving 2nd term
- Governor salary in 2022: $140,830
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 1.9%
- State population: 779,261
5. New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R)
- Net approval rating: +36.6 ppt. (64.9% approve; 28.3% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2017, currently serving 4th term
- Governor salary in 2022: $144,483
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 2.2%
- State population: 1,395,231
4. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D)
- Net approval rating: +38.1 ppt. (60.7% approve; 22.5% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2023, currently serving 1st term
- Governor salary in 2022: $180,000
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 2.1%
- State population: 6,164,660
3. Hawaii Gov. Josh Green (D)
- Net approval rating: +38.4 ppt. (64.5% approve; 26.1% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2022, currently serving 1st term
- Governor salary in 2022: $165,048
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 3.0%
- State population: 1,440,196
2. Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon (R)
- Net approval rating: +55.0 ppt. (70.7% approve; 15.7% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2019, currently serving 2nd term
- Governor salary in 2022: $105,000
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 2.9%
- State population: 581,381
1. Vermont Gov. Phil Scott (R)
- Net approval rating: +71.8 ppt. (85.6% approve; 13.7% disapprove)
- Tenure: Took office in 2017, currently serving 4th term
- Governor salary in 2022: $191,734
- 2023 state unemployment rate: 2.0%
- State population: 647,064
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