In red states and blue states alike, voters reward results over rhetoric.

The most popular governors in America aren’t necessarily the ones who yell the loudest or cater to their party’s base. In fact, they often do the opposite. 

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Take a look at the six governors with the highest net approval ratings, according to Morning Consult. The pattern is clear: most of them govern swing states, or states that are more likely to elect state and federal leaders from the other party.  

A Republican in deep-blue Vermont. A Democrat in ruby-red Kentucky. Governors like Phil Scott and Andy Beshear didn’t earn those sky-high numbers by being partisan warriors. They did it by being pragmatic, competent, and willing to work across the aisle. 

Crossover governors have to prove to voters that they’ll represent the whole state, not just their own “side.” 

This isn’t a new phenomenon, either. Phil Scott has been the most popular governor in America since 2017. Throughout the 2010s, the other most popular governors were Republicans in blue states: Charlie Baker in Massachusetts, Chris Sununu in New Hampshire, and former No Labels co-chair Larry Hogan in Maryland. 

Before that, Joe Manchin – another former No Labels co-chair – served as governor of West Virginia before becoming one of the most effective Democrats in the Senate. And Bill Clinton was governor of Arkansas for five terms before heading to the White House. 

This is the kind of political success story we don’t hear enough about. In a media environment that rewards conflict, bipartisan leadership doesn’t always get the clicks. But in real life, it’s good politics – and often, the only kind that works. 

The message here is simple: Americans aren’t as divided as their politicians. Voters will reward leaders who are serious about solving problems, no matter what party they’re from.
That’s something both parties should keep in mind.  

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