There’s an epic story in how Gov. Scott Walker’s approval rating collapsed after the Act 10 protests and then slowly, like a wounded animal, dragged itself over the finish line to a victory in the 2012 recall. Again, the second-term governor seems to be paying a price for his ambitions: His approval rating has flagged following a failed detour into presidential politics, the 70-day arc that ended in humbling surrender.
But things could be worse. Walker is only the 10th least-popular governor in the country, according to a new national survey by Morning Consult. Rick Snyder, generally on the outs with his state’s electorate over the lead crisis in Flint, ranked as the third least-popular governor, better than the much-maligned Sam Brownback of Kansas and Dan Molloy of Connecticut. Brownback is often accused of being not just a fiscal hawk but something more like a vulture, and his ultraconservative policies tinged with religious zealotry, critics say, have alienated voters.
Walker can also take consolation in outpacing Chris Christie and Illinois’ Bruce Rauner, although Wisconsin has toned down its “better than those [expletive] jerks to the south” rhetoric since the Illinois Republican took office.
America’s least popular governors
Sam Brownback, Kansas, 26% approval
Connecticut, Dan Molly, 29%
Michigan, Rick Snyder, 32%
Kentucky, Matt Bevin, 33%
Illinois, Bruce Rauner, 34%
New Jersey, Chris Christie, 36%
Maine, Paul LePage, 38%
Rhode Island, Gina Raimondo, 41%
Oklahoma, Mary Fallin, 42%
Wisconsin, Scott Walker, 43%
