Charlie Baker Isn’t the Most Popular Governor in America Anymore

Photo via Governor’s Office/Sam Berube

“Third-Most Popular Governor in America” doesn’t quite have the same ring to it.

Gov. Charlie Baker, a moderate Republican in a solid blue state, was twice named the country’s best-liked governor in the past year. But a new poll from Morning Consult, a D.C.-based polling firm, has Baker falling to third, behind South Dakota’s Gov. Dennis Daugaard and Maryland’s Larry Hogan, both Republicans as well.

Despite the dip, Baker’s 70-percent approval rating is still exceptional, especially compared to his New England peers. Connecticut’s Gov. Dan Malloy was ranked the second-least popular governor in America with a 70-percent disapproval rating, while Maine’s Gov. Paul LePage and Rhode Island’s Gina Raimondo ranked fifth and seventh-least popular.

Coincidentally, some of the governors residing in the basement of Morning Consult’s ranking have thrown their support behind GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, like LePage and New Jersey’s Gov. Chris Christie, ranked third-least popular and sinking fast. Kansas’ Gov. Sam Brownback, Trump’s agricultural advisor with a nifty 23-percent approval rating back home, owns the odious distinction of most loathed governor in America. Others, like Michigan’s Gov. Rick Snyder and Gov. Bruce Rauner of Illinois, have refused to endorse their party’s candidate.

You can check out Morning Consult’s full ranking here.