As the 2022 midterm elections approach, many eyes are on the upcoming U.S. gubernatorial elections. Thirty-six states will elect their governor in November, including the 10 most populous states where more than half of the U.S. population resides. Twenty of these seats are held by Republicans and 16 by Democrats.
To identify the least popular governors, 24/7 Wall St. used public opinion data from research company Morning Consult. States are ranked by the share of respondents who disapproved of the job performance of their sitting governor, from lowest to highest. To break ties, governors with the smaller approval rating ranked as more disliked. All approval ratings are based on data Morning Consult collected between April 1 and June 30, 2022, among a representative sample of at least 431 registered voters in each state.
Seven incumbent governors cannot seek reelection due to term limits. Among them are Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown. While Hogan is one of four governors, all of them Republicans, who enjoy an approval rating of 70% or higher, Brown, a Democrat, is the only governor with a disapproval rating higher than 50%. (Also see, America’s least popular senators.)
Pennsylvania voters will go to the polls to hire a new chief executive as Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, cannot seek reelection because of term limits. Wolf’s high disapproval rating has not bled onto Attorney General Josh Shapiro, his would-be successor, who is described by Politico as a “first-class fundraiser with a record of winning tough statewide races.”Â
Dozens of Republican gubernatorial contenders were endorsed by former President Trump in the August Republican primaries. The list includes Kari Lake, who became Arizona’s Republican gubernatorial candidate in a tight primary race that pitted the former news anchor against land-use consultant Karrin Taylor Robson, who was backed by the state’s Republican movers. Like outgoing Gov. Brown of Oregon, outgoing Arizona Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, who cannot seek reelection due to term limits, has one of the highest disapproval ratings among the country’s 50 governors. (Enjoying name recognition, here are athletes who went on to become politicians.)
Here are America’s least popular governors.
Source: usdagov / Flickr
50. Wyoming
> Governor: Gov. Mark Gordon (R)
> Popularity: 74% approve, 17% disapprove
> In office since: 2019
> Running for office in 2022?: Yes
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
49. Vermont
> Governor: Gov. Phil Scott (R)
> Popularity: 74% approve, 18% disapprove
> In office since: 2017
> Running for office in 2022?: Yes
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Source: Isaac Brekken / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
48. Massachusetts
> Governor: Gov. Charlie Baker (R)
> Popularity: 73% approve, 20% disapprove
> In office since: 2015
> Running for office in 2022?: Not seeking reelection
Source: Scott Eisen / Getty Images News via Getty Images
47. Maryland
> Governor: Gov. Larry Hogan (R)
> Popularity: 70% approve, 22% disapprove
> In office since: 2015
> Running for office in 2022?: No (term limited)
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Source: Justin Merriman / Getty Images News via Getty Images
46. West Virginia
> Governor: Gov. Jim Justice (R)
> Popularity: 66% approve, 28% disapprove
> In office since: 2017
> Running for office in 2022?: No election this year
Source: usdagov / Flickr
45. Utah
> Governor: Gov. Spencer Cox (R)
> Popularity: 56% approve, 30% disapprove
> In office since: 2021
> Running for office in 2022?: No election this year
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Source: Matt Sullivan / Getty Images
44. Arkansas
> Governor: Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R)
> Popularity: 58% approve, 31% disapprove
> In office since: 2015
> Running for office in 2022?: No (term limited)
43. Alaska
> Governor: Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R)
> Popularity: 52% approve, 32% disapprove
> In office since: 2018
> Running for office in 2022?: Yes
Source: Michael Ciaglo / Getty Images News via Getty Images
42. Colorado
> Governor: Gov. Jared Polis (D)
> Popularity: 57% approve, 33% disapprove
> In office since: 2019
> Running for office in 2022?: Yes
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Source: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
41. Tennessee
> Governor: Gov. Bill Lee (R)
> Popularity: 56% approve, 33% disapprove
> In office since: 2019
> Running for office in 2022?: Yes
Source: Maddie Meyer / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
40. New Hampshire
> Governor: Gov. Chris Sununu (R)
> Popularity: 60% approve, 34% disapprove
> In office since: 2017
> Running for office in 2022?: Yes
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Source: Photo by Mark Reinstein / Corbis via Getty Images
38 (tied). Kansas
> Governor: Gov. Laura Kelly (D)
> Popularity: 56% approve, 34% disapprove
> In office since: 2019
> Running for office in 2022?: Yes
Source: Mark Makela / Getty Images News via Getty Images
38 (tied). Delaware
> Governor: Gov. John Carney (D)
> Popularity: 56% approve, 34% disapprove
> In office since: 2017
> Running for office in 2022?: No election this year
Source: Bonnie Biess / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
37. Connecticut
> Governor: Gov. Ned Lamont (D)
> Popularity: 58% approve, 35% disapprove
> In office since: 2019
> Running for office in 2022?: Yes
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Source: Stephen Yang / Getty Images News via Getty Images
36. North Dakota
> Governor: Gov. Doug Burgum (R)
> Popularity: 57% approve, 35% disapprove
> In office since: 2016
> Running for office in 2022?: No election this year
Source: Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images
35. Indiana
> Governor: Gov. Eric Holcomb (R)
> Popularity: 54% approve, 35% disapprove
> In office since: 2017
> Running for office in 2022?: No election this year
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Source: Win McNamee / Getty Images News via Getty Images
34. Virginia
> Governor: Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R)
> Popularity: 53% approve, 35% disapprove
> In office since: 2022
> Running for office in 2022?: No election this year
24/7 Wall St.
32 (tied). Alabama
> Governor: Gov. Kay Ivey (R)
> Popularity: 57% approve, 36% disapprove
> In office since: 2017
> Running for office in 2022?: Yes
Source: Justin Merriman / Getty Images News via Getty Images
32 (tied). Ohio
> Governor: Gov. Mike DeWine (R)
> Popularity: 57% approve, 36% disapprove
> In office since: 2019
> Running for office in 2022?: Yes
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Source: Drew Angerer / Getty Images
31. Montana
> Governor: Gov. Greg Gianforte (R)
> Popularity: 55% approve, 36% disapprove
> In office since: 2021
> Running for office in 2022?: No election this year
30. Idaho
> Governor: Gov. Brad Little (R)
> Popularity: 54% approve, 36% disapprove
> In office since: 2019
> Running for office in 2022?: Yes
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Source: Michael B. Thomas / Getty Images News via Getty Images
29. Missouri
> Governor: Gov. Mike Parson (R)
> Popularity: 48% approve, 36% disapprove
> In office since: 2018
> Running for office in 2022?: No election this year
Source: Sean Rayford / Getty Images
28. South Carolina
> Governor: Gov. Henry McMaster (R)
> Popularity: 53% approve, 37% disapprove
> In office since: 2017
> Running for office in 2022?: Yes
Source: Sara D. Davis / Getty Images News via Getty Images
27. North Carolina
> Governor: Gov. Roy Cooper (D)
> Popularity: 51% approve, 37% disapprove
> In office since: 2017
> Running for office in 2022?: No election this year
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Source: Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images News via Getty Images
26. New York
> Governor: Gov. Kathy Hochul (D)
> Popularity: 49% approve, 38% disapprove
> In office since: 2021
> Running for office in 2022?: Yes
Source: Photo by Drew Angerer / Getty News Images via Getty Images
25. South Dakota
> Governor: Gov. Kristi Noem (R)
> Popularity: 59% approve, 39% disapprove
> In office since: 2019
> Running for office in 2022?: Yes
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Source: Jon Cherry / Getty Images News via Getty Images
24. Kentucky
> Governor: Gov. Andy Beshear (D)
> Popularity: 55% approve, 39% disapprove
> In office since: 2019
> Running for office in 2022?: No election this year
Source: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images News via Getty Images
22 (tied). Georgia
> Governor: Gov. Brian Kemp (R)
> Popularity: 52% approve, 39% disapprove
> In office since: 2019
> Running for office in 2022?: Yes
Source: Eduardo Munoz Alvarez / Getty Images News via Getty Images
22 (tied). New Jersey
> Governor: Gov. Phil Murphy (D)
> Popularity: 52% approve, 39% disapprove
> In office since: 2018
> Running for office in 2022?: No election this year
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21. California
> Governor: Gov. Gavin Newsom (D)
> Popularity: 53% approve, 40% disapprove
> In office since: 2019
> Running for office in 2022?: Yes
20. Nebraska
> Governor: Gov. Pete Ricketts (R)
> Popularity: 51% approve, 40% disapprove
> In office since: 2015
> Running for office in 2022?: No (term limited)
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19. Florida
> Governor: Gov. Ron Desantis (R)
> Popularity: 53% approve, 41% disapprove
> In office since: 2019
> Running for office in 2022?: Yes
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Mark Wallheiser / Getty Images News via Getty Images
18. Louisiana
> Governor: Gov. John Bel Edwards (D)
> Popularity: 50% approve, 41% disapprove
> In office since: 2016
> Running for office in 2022?: No election this year
Source: Kelly White / Public Domain
17. Oklahoma
> Governor: Gov. Kevin Stitt (R)
> Popularity: 48% approve, 41% disapprove
> In office since: 2019
> Running for office in 2022?: Yes
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
16. Maine
> Governor: Gov. Janet Mills (D)
> Popularity: 53% approve, 42% disapprove
> In office since: 2019
> Running for office in 2022?: Yes
Source: Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images
15. Minnesota
> Governor: Gov. Tim Walz (D)
> Popularity: 51% approve, 42% disapprove
> In office since: 2019
> Running for office in 2022?: Yes
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Source: Ethan Miller / Getty Images News via Getty Images
14. Nevada
> Governor: Gov. Steve Sisolak (D)
> Popularity: 50% approve, 42% disapprove
> In office since: 2019
> Running for office in 2022?: Yes
Source: David Ryder / Getty Images News via Getty Images
13. Washington
> Governor: Gov. Jay Inslee (D)
> Popularity: 51% approve, 43% disapprove
> In office since: 2013
> Running for office in 2022?: No election this year
Source: Erich Schlegel / Getty Images News via Getty Images
12. Texas
> Governor: Gov. Greg Abbott (R)
> Popularity: 50% approve, 43% disapprove
> In office since: 2019
> Running for office in 2022?: Yes
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Source: Photo by Alex Wong / Getty Images
11. New Mexico
> Governor: Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D)
> Popularity: 49% approve, 43% disapprove
> In office since: 2019
> Running for office in 2022?: Yes
Source: Pool / Getty Images News via Getty Images
10. Mississippi
> Governor: Gov. Tate Reeves (R)
> Popularity: 47% approve, 43% disapprove
> In office since: 2020
> Running for office in 2022?: No election this year
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Source: Public Domain / White House / Wikimedia Commons
9. Rhode Island
> Governor: Gov. Dan McKee (D)
> Popularity: 38% approve, 43% disapprove
> In office since: 2021
> Running for office in 2022?: Yes
Source: Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images
8. Illinois
> Governor: Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D)
> Popularity: 51% approve, 44% disapprove
> In office since: 2019
> Running for office in 2022?: Yes
Source: Bill Pugliano / Getty Images News via Getty Images
7. Michigan
> Governor: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D)
> Popularity: 50% approve, 45% disapprove
> In office since: 2019
> Running for office in 2022?: Yes
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6. Iowa
> Governor: Gov. Kim Reynolds (R)
> Popularity: 47% approve, 45% disapprove
> In office since: 2017
> Running for office in 2022?: Yes
Source: Mark Makela / Getty Images News via Getty Images
5. Pennsylvania
> Governor: Gov. Tom Wolf (D)
> Popularity: 47% approve, 46% disapprove
> In office since: 2015
> Running for office in 2022?: No (term limited)
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Source: Pool / Getty Images News via Getty Images
4. Wisconsin
> Governor: Gov. Tony Evers (D)
> Popularity: 46% approve, 47% disapprove
> In office since: 2019
> Running for office in 2022?: Yes
Source: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images News via Getty Images
3. Arizona
> Governor: Gov. Doug Ducey (R)
> Popularity: 44% approve, 47% disapprove
> In office since: 2015
> Running for office in 2022?: No (term limited)
Source: Mario Tama / Getty Images News via Getty Images
2. Hawaii
> Governor: Gov. David Ige (D)
> Popularity: 44% approve, 49% disapprove
> In office since: 2014
> Running for office in 2022?: No (term limited)
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Source: Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images
1. Oregon
> Governor: Gov. Kate Brown (D)
> Popularity: 40% approve, 55% disapprove
> In office since: 2015
> Running for office in 2022?: No (term limited)
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