Kathy Hochul Ranked Dead Last Among All 50 Governors

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has received a humiliating grade in a new national study, ranking dead last among all 50 governors for her record on protecting economic and personal freedoms.

The Democratic governor earned a failing grade of F and a score of just 18.02% in the Cato Institute’s 2026 “Freedom in the 50 States” report, placing her behind every other governor in the country as she fights to secure another term in office.

The findings also delivered troubling news for New York residents. The Empire State ranked 49th nationwide for overall freedom, scoring just 31.9% and finishing ahead of only Hawaii.

Released October 22, the report examined 97 policy measures across 10 categories, including taxation, government spending, housing regulations, business restrictions, education, gun rights, free speech and medical freedom.

For the first time, the libertarian-leaning research organization also evaluated individual governors, looking beyond existing state laws to examine how their decisions have expanded or restricted personal liberties.

Governors received credit for signing legislation that increased freedom under Cato’s criteria, while actions that imposed additional restrictions or blocked certain reforms could hurt their scores.

The results were particularly striking for Hochul, whose administration has faced ongoing political debates over affordability, government spending, public safety and the growing cost of living in New York.

The disappointing grade also follows an earlier rebuke from the same organization. In 2024, Cato gave Hochul another F in its separate fiscal policy report card, which evaluated governors on their records of taxation and spending.

While Hochul found herself at the bottom of the latest rankings, several prominent Republican governors performed considerably better.

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte claimed the top spot with a score of 62.31%, earning the only overall A awarded to a governor. Researchers praised his efforts to expand housing opportunities, reduce regulatory barriers and increase medical freedom.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis finished third with 52.61%, while Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ranked fourth with 50.67%. Both received recognition for policies that Cato viewed as promoting greater individual choice and economic freedom.

Colorado’s Democratic Gov. Jared Polis was a notable exception to the broader partisan pattern, finishing second overall. Arizona, also led by a Democratic governor, claimed the top spot among states, demonstrating that the rankings were not determined strictly by political party.

Still, Republican governors dominated much of the upper tier, while several Democratic governors occupied the lowest positions.

Cato’s evaluation reflects its limited-government philosophy and is not a measurement of overall job approval or every aspect of a governor’s performance. The organization considers policies that expand individual choice and reduce government restrictions more favorable to freedom.

The timing could hardly be more uncomfortable for Hochul, who is seeking reelection against Republican Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman in the November 3 election.

A Quinnipiac University poll released October 21 showed Hochul leading Blakeman 55% to 41% among likely voters, although her advantage had narrowed from 19 points in September to 14 points.

The same survey found that the cost of living and the economy were the leading concerns for voters, highlighting the financial pressures facing New Yorkers as the campaign enters its final days.

Hochul’s office, however, pushed back strongly against Cato’s conclusions.

In a statement to the New York Post, a spokesperson argued that the organization’s definition of freedom favors policies that could undermine wages, weaken gun restrictions and reduce safeguards involving artificial intelligence and children’s access to social media.

The administration defended its focus on economic fairness and public safety, arguing that receiving a failing grade under Cato’s standards reflected a disagreement over what government should prioritize.

But the new findings have added another point of contention to an already heated governor’s race, raising questions about how much power state governments should exercise over businesses, families and individual decisions.

With Election Day rapidly approaching, Hochul now faces the unusual distinction of campaigning for another four years while carrying the lowest freedom score of any sitting governor in the nation under Cato’s latest rankings.