Issue Watch

About Angus Reid Global Monitor

The definitive online source for examining worldwide public opinion and democratic processes.

The Global Monitor is a vital source of timely political intelligence for journalists, students, policy makers, and citizens. By merging academic expertise with the highest journalistic standards, we seek to advance research, improve information exchange, and enhance understanding of the changing dynamic of public opinion and democracy.
Read More

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

All fields are required.

Connecticut’s Rell Tops All U.S. Governors

December 27, 2005

(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Connecticut Republican Jodi Rell is still the most popular governor in the United States, according to a 50-state poll conducted by SurveyUSA. 77 per cent of respondents in the Constitution State approve of their governor's performance.

North Dakota Republican John Hoeven is next on the list with 76 per cent, followed by Republican Mike Rounds of South Dakota with 73 per cent, and Republican Jon Huntsman of Utah with 70 per cent.

The average approval rating for U.S. governors is 48 per cent. The lowest-ranked politicians are Republicans Ernie Fletcher of Kentucky with 31 per cent, Frank Murkowski of Alaska with 27 per cent, and Bob Taft of Ohio with 17 per cent.

Polling Data

Do you approve or disapprove of your governor's performance?

State

Name

Party

Approve

Disapprove

Connecticut

Rell, Jodi

R

77%

16%

North Dakota

Hoeven, John

R

76%

19%

South Dakota

Rounds, Mike

R

73%

19%

Utah

Huntsman, Jon

R

70%

21%

New Hampshire

Lynch, John

D

69%

21%

West Virginia

Manchin, Joe

D

67%

26%

Virginia

Warner, Mark

D

66%

26%

Montana

Schweitzer, Brian

D

65%

26%

Vermont

Douglas, Jim

R

65%

26%

Wyoming

Freudenthal, Dave

D

65%

27%

Arizona

Napolitano, Janet

D

64%

33%

New Jersey

Codey, Richard

D

64%

27%

New Mexico

Richardson, Bill

D

64%

33%

Nebraska

Heineman, Dave

R

63%

24%

Hawaii

Lingle, Linda

R

62%

32%

Kansas

Sebelius, Kathleen

D

62%

33%

Oklahoma

Henry, Brad

D

62%

31%

Arkansas

Huckabee, Mike

R

60%

37%

Georgia

Perdue, Sonny

R

60%

33%

Nevada

Guinn, Kenny

R

60%

30%

Idaho

Kempthorne, Dirk

R

59%

32%

Minnesota

Pawlenty, Tim

R

59%

35%

North Carolina

Easley, Michael

D

59%

32%

Florida

Bush, Jeb

R

58%

39%

Tennessee

Bredesen, Phil

D

57%

37%

Rhode Island

Carcieri, Don

R

56%

39%

Mississippi

Barbour, Haley

R

55%

38%

Colorado

Owens, Bill

R

53%

40%

Iowa

Vilsack, Tom

D

53%

39%

Alabama

Riley, Bob

R

52%

41%

Maryland

Ehrlich, Robert

R

49%

43%

Massachusetts

Romney, Mitt

R

49%

45%

Pennsylvania

Rendell, Edward

D

49%

46%

New York

Pataki, George

R

48%

46%

Wisconsin

Doyle, Jim

D

48%

44%

South Carolina

Sanford, Mark

R

47%

44%

Texas

Perry, Rick

R

46%

48%

Oregon

Kulongoski, Ted

D

43%

48%

Washington

Gregoire, Christine

D

43%

50%

Indiana

Daniels, Mitch

R

42%

51%

Delaware

Minner, Ruth

D

41%

53%

Illinois

Blagojevich, Rod

D

41%

53%

Michigan

Granholm, Jennifer

D

41%

54%

Maine

Baldacci, John

D

36%

59%

Missouri

Blunt, Matt

R

36%

59%

California

Schwarzenegger, Arnold

R

34%

63%

Louisiana

Blanco, Kathleen

D

33%

63%

Kentucky

Fletcher, Ernie

R

31%

63%

Alaska

Murkowski, Frank

R

27%

69%

Ohio

Taft, Bob

R

17%

80%

U.S. Average

48%

46%

Source: SurveyUSA
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 600 adult residents of each of the country's 50 states, conducted from Dec. 9 to Dec. 11, 2005. Margins of error for each state range from 3.8 to 4.1 per cent.