Most Popular Governors: Where North Carolina’s Cooper Ranks

NORTH CAROLINA — When it comes to North Carolina state government, Gov. Roy Cooper is the highest-ranking elected official, and his job is to represent a constituency whose views span a wide range of political values and public interests.

Because of this, his job is often subject to intense scrutiny — scrutiny that comes in the form of approval ratings.

Using approval ratings for governors across the U.S., 24/7 Wall St. this week released its most recent list of Most and Least Popular Governors in America. To identify where governors ranked on the list, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed research company Morning Consult’s Governor Approval Ratings, which are based on survey data collected during the fourth quarter of 2019.

Cooper, who took office in January 2017, was not among the most popular governors, but not considered the worst, according to the list, coming in No. 30 overall. As of December 2019, Cooper’s approval rating was 47 percent. At its highest, Cooper’s disapproval rating was 32 percent.

While many factors shape public opinion, no single variable seems to explain a high or low approval rating, the ranking says. However, 24/7 Wall St. analyzed a few factors that tend to rise and fall in tandem with governor approval ratings. This includes the economic conditions in a state, unemployment rate, and the balance of a state’s rainy day fund — an indicator of a state’s fiscal management abilities.

In North Carolina, the unemployment rate in December 2019 was 3.7 percent. The state also had a rainy day fund of $2.84 billion, the 7th largest in the nation.

The most popular governor in the U.S., according to the rankings, is Republican Gov. Mark Gordon of Wyoming. Gordon’s approval rating is 69 percent and, at its lowest, his disapproval rating was 11 percent.

On the other hand, the least popular governor is Hawaii’s David Ige (D), with an approval rating of 32 percent. At its highest, Ige’s disapproval rating was 58 percent.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves were not included on the list, because they assumed office after the survey was conducted.