New report: Vt. Gov. Scott most popular in US, R.I. Gov. McKee very unpopular

Meanwhile, Gov. Maura Healey did pretty well — but so far, she's no Charlie Baker.

New England is home to some of the country’s most — and least — popular governors.

For the eighth quarter in a row, Vermont’s Phil Scott was found to be the most popular governor in the country, according to a recent report from Morning Consult. Dan McKee of Rhode Island, meanwhile, was found to be the country’s second-most unpopular governor.

Morning Consult surveys thousands of Americans every day, and releases quarterly reports on the popularity of all 50 state governors.

Scott has a whopping 81% approval rating. The second-most popular governor, Kentucky’s Andy Beshear, has a 67% approval rating. A moderate Republican in a deep-blue state, Scott assumed office in early 2017. While his approval rating fell to just 47% the following year, public sentiment skyrocketed in 2020 and has remained high since. He has said that he will run for re-election, and the latest data indicates that he should coast to victory, per the Morning Consult report.

When interviewed by Vermont Public late last year about Scott’s popularity, Middlebury College political science professor Matt Dickinson credited Vermont voters who valued Scott’s perceived ability to pursue progressive policies while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

“The public can very much hold two views simultaneously which is: We appreciate the Democrats’ efforts to increase access to health care, to extend spending on education, but we also want somebody to ensure that it’s done in a fiscally responsible manner,” Dickinson told Vermont Public.

Scott’s popularity echoes that of former Mass. Gov. Charlie Baker, who was found to be the nation’s most popular governor many times over his tenure. Gov. Maura Healey ranked 14th on the most recent list, with a 59% approval rating.

Chris Sununu of New Hampshire is very popular, ranking sixth on the list with a 63% approval rating. Connecticut’s Ned Lamont made the top 10 as well, enjoying a 61% approval rating.

On the other hand, there is McKee. Just 44% of voters approve of him, while 45% do not. Only Kim Reynolds of Iowa is more unpopular. McKee also polled poorly earlier this summer.

He could be taking the blame for the ongoing closure of the Washington Bridge on I-195 West. Its westbound portion has been closed since last December, when officials said they found a “critical failure.” McKee said in March that it would need to be fully rebuilt. A poll from Salve Regina University’s Pell Center in June was among the first to ask a specific question about the bridge. Only 29% of likely voters said in that poll they approved of McKee’s handling of the bridge.

A group of Democratic governors from around the country have been in the spotlight lately amid the turmoil surrounding President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign. Now that Vice President Kamala Harris has solidified her likely place atop the Democratic ticket, some of those governors are reportedly on her shortlist for running mates.

Beshear, a Democrat who won reelection to a second term last November in deep-red Kentucky, is extremely popular in his home state and said he would consider running with Harris. Beshear is the Democratic governor with the highest popularity among Republicans, and the second-most popular with independents.

Maryland’s Wes Moore and Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer are, along with Beshear, popular among young voters and moderate voters.

Pennsylvania’s Josh Shapiro, Illinois’ J.B. Pritzker, and North Carolina’s Roy Cooper have all been floated as potential running mates for Harris. On the overall approval rankings, Moore is third, Whitmer is 18th, Shapiro is 21st, Cooper is 24th, and Pritzker is 40th.