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Good News/Bad News for the GOP

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Most Popular Governor Charlie Baker (left), and Least Popular Governor Chris Christie

In a survey on Governor Approval Ratings taken by the Republican Governors Association, the 10 most popular governors in the country are from the GOP. That’s the good news.

The bad news for Republicans, however, is that seven of the ten least popular governors are from the GOP. But that’s what happens, as Jim Geraghty points out in NRO, when there are only 16 Democratic governors in the country.

Most Popular GOP Governors (approval ratings between 60% and 71%)

  • Charlie Baker, Massachusetts
  • Larry Hogan, Maryland
  • Matt Mead, Wyoming,
  • Doug Burgum, North Dakota
  • Dennis Daugaard, South Dakota
  • Kay Ivey, Alabama
  • Brian Sandoval, Nevada
  • Phil Scott, Vermont
  • Gary Herbert, Utah
  • Bill Haslam, Tennessee
  • Asa Hutchinson, Arkansas

Least Popular GOP Governors

  • Chris Christie, New Jersey
  • Sam Brownback, Kansas
  • Rick Snyder, Michigan
  • Mary Fallin, Oklahoma
  • Scott Walker, Wisconsin
  • Bruce Rauner, Illinois
  • Paul LePage, Maine

It’s no surprise, writes the Washington Post, when rock-ribbed Republicans get strong approval ratings in deep red states. But what is more interesting and certainly more critical for the GOP’s future is how Republicans fare in states with diverse populations and a history of voting Democratic.

Boston College Law Professor Richard Albert discusses the oddity of, for example, Republican Charlie Baker’s popularity in Massachusetts, one of the bluest of blue states.

He (Baker) has run the commonwealth successfully as a nonpartisan manager. … He has left few traces of an ideologue — something that would not fly for any Republican in this state — and has instead rolled up his sleeves to fix the problems of everyday people.

Given the fiscal tragedy happening in Connecticut, it’s surprising that Democrat Dannel Malloy is only in 3rd place for least popular governor in the country. But N.J.’s Chris Christie has been able to beat out Malloy for that 1st place award.

Read more here.

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Debbie Young

Debbie, editor-in-chief of Richardcyoung.com, has been associate editor of Dick Young’s investment strategy reports for over three decades. When not in Key West, Debbie spends her free time researching and writing in and about Paris and Burgundy, France, cooking on her AGA Cooker, driving her Porsche Boxter S through Vermont and Maine, and practicing yoga.