The Office of the Governor of the State of Idaho

10/22/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/22/2026 16:04

Gov. Little dominates in best Governor rankings

Gov. Little dominates in best Governor rankings

Thursday October 22, 2026

Boise, Idaho - Governor Brad Little is ranked one of the best Governors in the nation in two new reports.

Morning Consult's latest poll ranking the approval ratings of all governors seeking re-election this year has Governor Little with a +28 approval rating, making him the second most popular Republican Governor seeking reelection and the fifth most popular Governor seeking reelection.

The Cato Institute released its "Freedom in the 50 States" report today, placing Governor Little sixth among the nation's governors.

Idaho ranked fifth overall in our broad public-policy freedom index.

Other highlights from the report include:

  • Idaho ranks FIRST for firearm freedom
  • Idaho ranks FIRST for housing freedom because of our reforms to housing laws
  • Idaho ranks SECOND for occupational freedom
  • Idaho ranks SECOND for economic freedom
  • Idaho ranks in the top 10 states for freedom of speech, medical freedom, education freedom, and lowest fiscal burden

The report ranks all 50 states on economic and personal freedom and, for the first time, grades governors on their records across 97 policy variables, according to Cato.

"Idaho's success reflects the people who make this state such a great place to live, work, and raise a family. I'm grateful for the trust Idahoans have placed in me and proud of what we've accomplished together by staying true to our values, keeping government accountable, and protecting our freedoms. These rankings are encouraging, and our focus remains on delivering results for Idahoans!" Governor Little said.

The Office of the Governor of the State of Idaho published this content on October 22, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 22, 2026 at 22:04 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]