Morning Consult Q1 2023 Governor Approval Ratings

[wbrocks67]

Thought this was interesting, given a lot of newbies on here with their first approval ratings:

Phil Scott was #1, with 78/14 (+64)

Other notables:

Wes Moore (D-MD): 55/16 (+39)
Chris Sununu (R-NH): 66/29 (+37)
Jim Justice (R-WV): 66/31 (+35)
Maura Healey (D-MA): 55/21 (+34)
Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R-AR): 61/27 (+34)
Andy Beshear (D-KY): 63/32 (+31)
Josh Shapiro (D-PA): 53/26 (+27)
Ned Lamont (D-CT): 61/34 (+27)
Brian Kemp (R-GA): 60/33 (+27)
Laura Kelly (D-KS): 58/34 (+24)
Joe Lombardo (R-NV): 49/25 (+24)
Jared Polis (D-CO): 58/35 (+23)
Ron DeSantis (R-FL): 56/38 (+18)
Gavin Newsom (D-CA): 56/38 (+18)
Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI): 56/40 (+16)
Roy Cooper (D-NC): 52/37 (+15)
Tim Walz (D-MN): 54/41 (+13)
Katie Hobbs (D-AZ): 47/36 (+11)
John Bel Edwards (D-LA): 51/41 (+10)
Kathy Hochul (D-NY): 51/41 (+10)
Tony Evers (D-WI): 52/43 (+9)
JB Pritzker (D-IL): 52/43 (+9)
Tate Reeves (R-MS): 48/42 (+6)
Tina Kotek (D-OR): 42/39 (+3)

https://morningconsult.com/2023/04/19/joe-manchin-jon-tester-approval-rating/

[wbrocks67]

Poor Kotek, it's probably gonna take a while for her to make her own way and not be compared to Brown.

[Spectator]

She’ll be 76 in 2026, but Laura Kelly’s popularity could be enough to put the KS-Sen seat in 2026 on the board in a Republican midterm.

[Sir Mohamed]

Solid start for Hobbs. Beshar's approvals are encouraging for his reelection bid. Imho, very much possible he wins by 4-5 pts., which would be stunning for KY.

She’ll be 76 in 2026, but Laura Kelly’s popularity could be enough to put the KS-Sen seat in 2026 on the board in a Republican midterm.

Senator Steve Bullock agrees.

[Lambsbread]

I found it pretty notable that not a single Governor is underwater. Seems like people trust their Governors more than their federal representatives, which isn't new or surprising but could make for some interesting decisions as far as future Senate recruits go.

[Podgy the Bear]

Good to see Beshear at 63/32--hope this forecasts a good outcome for November.

[Spectator]

Solid start for Hobbs. Beshar's approvals are encouraging for his reelection bid. Imho, very much possible he wins by 4-5 pts., which would be stunning for KY.

She’ll be 76 in 2026, but Laura Kelly’s popularity could be enough to put the KS-Sen seat in 2026 on the board in a Republican midterm.

Senator Steve Bullock agrees.

People bring this up all the time, but Bredesen, Bullock, Lingle, and Weld all did much better than the partisan baseline. If it was a Republican midterm (especially Trump for some reason), underestimate that seat being competitive at your own peril.

[Oryxslayer]

I found it pretty notable that not a single Governor is underwater. Seems like people trust their Governors more than their federal representatives, which isn't new or surprising but could make for some interesting decisions as far as future Senate recruits go.

It's harder for governors to go underwater traditionally than federal representatives for whatever reason, so usually when they do the red flashing lights start blaring. I think in this case all the governors who were underwater or close to it like Brown, Sisolak, Ducey, Ige, and the like all are out of office in one way or another. So the list right now is all positive.

Also, the fact that Reeves is 48/42 might suggest everything that has happened down there in the past year and could actually make one of the primary or general interesting and its not just smoke and mirrors.

[oldtimer]

Poor Kotek, it's probably gonna take a while for her to make her own way and not be compared to Brown.

Governors are usually the most popular local partisans in a state, if they have unusually low approvals numbers that's a problem for state parties since they can't rely on their help.

And I spy quite a few in that list that are lower than they should be.

[Sir Mohamed]

Solid start for Hobbs. Beshar's approvals are encouraging for his reelection bid. Imho, very much possible he wins by 4-5 pts., which would be stunning for KY.

She’ll be 76 in 2026, but Laura Kelly’s popularity could be enough to put the KS-Sen seat in 2026 on the board in a Republican midterm.

Senator Steve Bullock agrees.

People bring this up all the time, but Bredesen, Bullock, Lingle, and Weld all did much better than the partisan baseline. If it was a Republican midterm (especially Trump for some reason), underestimate that seat being competitive at your own peril.

I have my doubts. It's still KS after all. The state is little D-trending, but I can't see it being there in 2026. Best case, imho, is a mid to high single digit loss here.

[Person Man]

Solid start for Hobbs. Beshar's approvals are encouraging for his reelection bid. Imho, very much possible he wins by 4-5 pts., which would be stunning for KY.

She’ll be 76 in 2026, but Laura Kelly’s popularity could be enough to put the KS-Sen seat in 2026 on the board in a Republican midterm.

Senator Steve Bullock agrees.

People bring this up all the time, but Bredesen, Bullock, Lingle, and Weld all did much better than the partisan baseline. If it was a Republican midterm (especially Trump for some reason), underestimate that seat being competitive at your own peril.

I have my doubts. It's still KS after all. The state is little D-trending, but I can't see it being there in 2026. Best case, imho, is a mid to high single digit loss here.

As things are going now? Sure. Maybe Republicans can reconsolidate their control but just as likely, Democrats will gain a more solid foothold there. If Kansas City was actually in Kansas, Kansas would probably already be a purple state.

[Spectator]

Solid start for Hobbs. Beshar's approvals are encouraging for his reelection bid. Imho, very much possible he wins by 4-5 pts., which would be stunning for KY.

She’ll be 76 in 2026, but Laura Kelly’s popularity could be enough to put the KS-Sen seat in 2026 on the board in a Republican midterm.

Senator Steve Bullock agrees.

People bring this up all the time, but Bredesen, Bullock, Lingle, and Weld all did much better than the partisan baseline. If it was a Republican midterm (especially Trump for some reason), underestimate that seat being competitive at your own peril.

I have my doubts. It's still KS after all. The state is little D-trending, but I can't see it being there in 2026. Best case, imho, is a mid to high single digit loss here.

Kansas in 2018 was only R+10 at the House level. Don’t see why 8 more years of generally Dem-favorable trends in the state plus a hypothetical popular outgoing Governor in a Trump midterm wouldn’t be able to make it a tossup. To each their own.

[President Johnson]

Phil Scott is the literally the god of Vermont at this point.

Also insane how Lamont has improved. I remember he was unpopular prior to Covid and never lost his pandemic bump. Beshear's numbers are also insane.

[KaiserDave]

Phil Scott is the literally the god of Vermont at this point.

Also insane how Lamont has improved. I remember he was unpopular prior to Covid and never lost his pandemic bump. Beshear's numbers are also insane.

[Mexican Wolf]

So are Josh Green's high approvals due to popular policy proposals/actions, or mostly due to him not being Ige?

[Lemmiwinks]

Pritzker is about as popular as I can see a Democratic governor getting in Illinois.

[EastwoodS]

Solid start for Hobbs. Beshar's approvals are encouraging for his reelection bid. Imho, very much possible he wins by 4-5 pts., which would be stunning for KY.

She’ll be 76 in 2026, but Laura Kelly’s popularity could be enough to put the KS-Sen seat in 2026 on the board in a Republican midterm.

Senator Steve Bullock agrees.

not really

[Progressive Pessimist]

I guess it just goes to show why incumbent Governors are so difficult to dislodge.

[Sir Mohamed]

Solid start for Hobbs. Beshar's approvals are encouraging for his reelection bid. Imho, very much possible he wins by 4-5 pts., which would be stunning for KY.

She’ll be 76 in 2026, but Laura Kelly’s popularity could be enough to put the KS-Sen seat in 2026 on the board in a Republican midterm.

Senator Steve Bullock agrees.

not really

By today's standards? I think so. I'm aware of the fact his father did better in 2007 and 2011, but that was a very different political era.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Reeves like Cruz and Hawley are stuck at 45 percent an upset is probable, and Beshear whom was the most endangered species is gonna cruise to reelection, he can be Harris Veep or serve in RFK cabinet in 28 if RFK doesn't run Newsom is the alternative to Harris

[Gracile]

Pritzker is about as popular as I can see a Democratic governor getting in Illinois.

Yeah, Pritzker's approvals compare quite strongly to his predecessors, even if they are more modest when looking at governors in other states. The negative perception of the IL state government will probably prevent him from reaching higher highs.

[Burke Bro]

Jim Justice is above water among Republicans, Indepdents, and Democrats. His approval among democrats is actually better than Manchin’s. Could this be due to ancestral democrats?

[Kahane's Grave Is A Gender-Neutral Bathroom]

Jim Justice is above water among Republicans, Indepdents, and Democrats. His approval among democrats is actually better than Manchin’s. Could this be due to ancestral democrats?

Probably more due to the fact that most liberal Democrats hate Joe Manchin.

[Hope For A New Era]

Poor Kotek, it's probably gonna take a while for her to make her own way and not be compared to Brown.

Lamont did it, so hopefully she can too.
Or maybe not. It did take a pandemic for him. It is interesting how he seems to be the only governor to have never lost the pandemic bump, though. Maybe Beshear counts too.

She’ll be 76 in 2026, but Laura Kelly’s popularity could be enough to put the KS-Sen seat in 2026 on the board in a Republican midterm.

It's possible. I really wish Sebelius hadn't left. If she hadn't resigned to be at the center of the ACA mess, I think she could have won that Senate seat in 2014, and maybe even carried Davis (gov candidate against Brownback) over the line too.

People bring this up all the time, but Bredesen, Bullock, Lingle, and Weld all did much better than the partisan baseline. If it was a Republican midterm (especially Trump for some reason), underestimate that seat being competitive at your own peril.

The reason is that Trump is equated with the extreme wing of the Kansas Republican Party.

[Mr. Smith]

A bit surprised JBE is so low. Wonder what happened.

Solid start for Hobbs. Beshar's approvals are encouraging for his reelection bid. Imho, very much possible he wins by 4-5 pts., which would be stunning for KY.

She’ll be 76 in 2026, but Laura Kelly’s popularity could be enough to put the KS-Sen seat in 2026 on the board in a Republican midterm.

Senator Steve Bullock agrees.

Bullock didn't run in a midterm and incessantly whined about running for the position and ran against Daines. All bad combos.  Try again.