A nationwide liberty scorecard just named the best and worst governors for freedom, and the contrasts are stark.
Story Highlights
- A 97-variable, 10-category framework ranks governors on economic and personal freedom.
- Scores track policies actually in force, with separate credit or penalties for a governor’s own actions.
- Montana says Governor Greg Gianforte ranks first overall with A grades in economic and personal freedom.
- The index explains a “10” is the top relative score, not perfection.
What The New Ranking Measures, And Why It Matters
The Cato Institute released a new governor ranking that grades every state leader on 97 policy variables in 10 categories covering fiscal, housing, jobs, technology and consumer rules, education, speech, medicine, firearms, policing, and recreation. The score asks a simple question: do policies let adults act peacefully in their own interest and use their property as they see fit? The result gives readers a clear, comparable picture of which governors grew or shrank freedom during their watch.
The methodology converts each category into a percentage score, maps it to a 0–10 scale, and assigns a letter grade. The scale is curved relative to the best and worst performers, which means a “10” signals the top result among current participants, not total policy perfection. That clarity curbs spin. It reminds readers that some states lead the pack, but all have room to improve. For conservatives, that is a call to keep pushing reforms that cut red tape and taxes.
How Governors Earn Credit Or Blame
The governor grade focuses on the direction a leader personally moved the state, rather than only the baseline they inherited. Governors gain extra credit when they sign bills that expand freedom and lose points when they veto liberty-minded bills or push restrictions that would tighten control. The index measures policies actually in force, and it separates a governor’s role even when courts later strike a rule. That design centers real outcomes while still tracking executive leadership.
This approach also handles the messy split of power with legislatures. Governors often act with lawmakers, but they also propose, bargain, sign, and veto. The index reflects those actions without claiming sole control over every policy. That balance keeps the focus where voters expect it: who led, what changed, and whether citizens ended up more or less free. It also fits a broader rule of thumb for accountability in state policy debates.
Standout Results And Category Signals
Montana reports that Governor Greg Gianforte ranks first overall and first in both economic and personal freedom, earning a perfect “10” on the relative scale and an A in each area. Category pages also show which governors protected core rights like speech and association, with several leaders earning A grades in that vital lane. These outcomes echo a pattern many readers see on the ground: lower taxes, fewer licensing hurdles, and stronger civil liberties attract families, jobs, and investment.
Actually I’m not retarded. Well maybe. But according to the most widely cited index, Cato Institute’s Freedom in the 50 States, which ranks “how free a state is”; It scores states on 230+ policy variables covering fiscal policy (taxes/spending), regulatory policy, and personal…
— Nightcruzer🇺🇸🇩🇪🎚️⚔️🏋️ (@Nightcruzer1) October 21, 2026
Because the index spans ten categories, it also spotlights tradeoffs that some officials hide. A governor might score well on speech but lag on policing reforms or asset forfeiture if property rights are weak. For right-leaning voters, that detail is useful. It flags where to press harder: protect gun rights, rein in seizures of cash and cars without conviction, expand school choice, and cut energy and housing barriers that drive up costs for working families.
What Readers Should Watch Next
Policy changes, court rulings, and new bills can move scores quickly, and the framework accounts for that by focusing on current rules and on a governor’s own proposals and actions. The index is a libertarian policy scorecard, which it states upfront, and it treats all 97 measures within a clear system. That transparency helps citizens judge claims and demand better results. For those who value limited government, this ranking is a toolkit to keep freedom growing, state by state.
