BOSTON (State House News Service) — Gov. Maura Healey broke into the top 10 of Morning Consult's quarterly ranking of the nation's most popular governors this month, ascending in the popularity poll with a 59% approval rating.
The survey research firm's latest release shows Healey as the tenth-most popular governor, the fifth-most popular Democrat state executive and the second-most popular female governor. Though her approval rating has not changed, Healey climbed to the tenth spot from number 16 on Morning Consult's last list in July.
Healey is seeking a second term as governor next year and a field of three Republicans is vying to oppose her on the ballot next November. Along with the 59% of respondents who said they approve of the job Healey is doing as governor, 29% disapproved and 12% said they have no opinion of the governor's performance.
Healey has led against Republican challengers statewide in early polling, but trailed among independent voters in the most recent snapshot of the contest.
An online survey conducted in August by The MassINC Polling Group and sponsored by CommonWealth Beacon found that 55% of residents here approve of Healey's job performance (20% "strongly" approve and 35% "somewhat" approve). Another 18% of people polled "strongly disapprove" of Healey and 15% said they "somewhat disapprove" of her job performance (33% total disapprove). Eleven percent of respondents were unsure about Healey.
With a 75% approval rating, the nation's most popular governor lives just north of Massachusetts, Republican Phil Scott of Vermont, Morning Consult said. He's held the top spot for more than three years. And for the seventh consecutive quarterly ranking, Republican Kim Reynolds of Iowa is the nation's least popular governor and the only governor who a majority of respondents (53%) disapprove of.
New England governors generally find themselves near the top or bottom of the 50-state ranking. (New Hampshire Republican Kelly Ayotte was almost right in the middle in the 27th spot).
Democrat Ned Lamont of Connecticut ranked sixth this quarter (63% approval). Maine Democrat Janet Mills is ranked as the second-least popular governor (45% disapproval) with Rhode Island Democrat Dan McKee right behind her as third-least popular (44% disapproval).
Written by Colin A. Young/ State House News Service