Jeff Fusco / AP for Hard Rock International
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is the least popular governor in America according to Morning Consult's Governor Approval Rankings, adding insult to injury after a brutal 2016 that included a failed presidential run and subsequent brushoff from the incoming Trump administration.
Winning trends: Two of the most popular governors — Charlie Baker of Massachusetts and Larry Hogan of Maryland — are Republicans in blue states known for their willingness to enact bipartisan measures, showing that reaching across the aisle still can have a positive resonance with voters.
Losing trends: Two of the least popular governors — Republican Sam Brownback of Kansas and Democrat Dannel Malloy of Connecticut — have found their states facing revenue shortfalls after they enacted sweeping and controversial economic policies from their respective ends of the political spectrum.
Most popular governors:
- Charlie Baker (MA): +58%
- Larry Hogan (MD): +57%
- Doug Burgum (ND): +53%
Least popular governors:
- Chris Christie (NJ): -46%
- Sam Brownback (KS): -39%
- Dannel Malloy (CT): -37%
Other big names:
- Jerry Brown (CA): +24%
- Rick Scott (FL): +21%
- Andrew Cuomo (NY): +31%
- John Kasich (OH): +26%
- Terry McAuliffe (VA): +21%
- Scott Walker (WI): -5%