Kathy Hochul Ranked Worst Governor in America as New Study Gives New York a Failing Grade on Freedom

New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul has been placed at the bottom of a new national assessment of governors, receiving an F grade in a study examining how state policies affect economic opportunity and individual freedom.

The Cato Institute’s 2026 Freedom in the 50 States report gave Hochul a score of just 18.02%, placing her last among the governors evaluated. New York itself finished 49th out of 50 states for overall freedom, ahead of only Hawaii.

The findings arrive as Hochul seeks another term in office and faces Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman in the November 3 gubernatorial election.

The report examines government policies across a wide range of categories, including taxation, spending, housing regulations, employment restrictions, education, firearms, healthcare and freedom of speech.

Researchers evaluated 97 policy variables across 10 major categories to determine how government decisions affect the ability of residents to make economic and personal choices.

The Cato Institute, a libertarian research organization that advocates limited government and individual liberty, has published state freedom rankings for years. The 2026 edition is the first to include a separate assessment of individual governors.

Hochul’s performance was particularly poor under the institute’s methodology, which penalizes policies that impose higher taxes, expand government regulation or restrict activities the researchers consider matters of personal choice.

New York received an overall freedom score of 31.9%, placing it near the bottom of the national standings.

Montana Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte received the highest gubernatorial score at 62.31%, earning an A grade.

Colorado Democratic Gov. Jared Polis finished second, demonstrating that the rankings were not determined solely by political party.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott also appeared near the top of the assessment.

The state rankings produced a somewhat different result, with Arizona taking first place for overall freedom, followed by Montana, Nevada, Florida and Idaho.

New York’s low placement reflected the institute’s assessment of the state’s extensive tax structure, regulatory requirements and restrictions affecting economic and personal activity.

The findings place renewed attention on the policy decisions made under Hochul’s administration since she became governor in August 2021.

New York has long faced complaints about its high cost of living, particularly in New York City and surrounding suburban communities.

Housing affordability remains a significant concern, with expensive real estate, limited housing availability and development restrictions contributing to financial pressure on residents.

The state also imposes relatively high taxes on individuals and businesses compared with many other parts of the country.

New York’s tax structure includes state income taxes, sales taxes, property taxes and additional local levies, depending on where residents live.

The Cato Institute’s methodology treats higher taxation and government spending as restrictions on economic freedom because they reduce the amount of income individuals and businesses can independently control.

The report also evaluates occupational licensing requirements, which can determine whether workers must obtain government permission before entering certain professions.

Housing regulations are another major component of the study.

Researchers examine restrictions on construction, land use and property development, including rules that can affect housing supply and affordability.

New York has faced years of debate over zoning restrictions and the difficulty of expanding housing construction in high-demand communities.

Hochul has proposed measures intended to encourage housing development, but disagreements with local governments and state lawmakers have complicated efforts to increase supply.

The governor has also supported regulations involving firearms, environmental policy and workplace protections, many of which the Cato Institute evaluates through its individual-liberty framework.

The rankings do not establish that every restriction is harmful or that lower taxes necessarily produce better outcomes in all circumstances. Instead, they reflect the institute’s particular definition of freedom.

That distinction became central to the Hochul administration’s response.

The governor’s office dismissed the study and challenged the standards used to evaluate states.

A spokesperson argued that the institute’s approach places greater value on policies such as lower wages, looser firearms restrictions and fewer safeguards involving artificial intelligence and children’s social media use.

The administration maintained that Hochul’s policies are designed to protect public safety, strengthen economic fairness and improve conditions for working families.

The response reflects a fundamental disagreement about the role of government.

The Cato Institute places substantial emphasis on reducing government intervention, while Hochul’s administration has defended regulations and public programs intended to address social and economic concerns.

Those competing priorities can produce sharply different evaluations of the same policy.

For example, a regulation intended to protect workers may receive a negative score under a framework emphasizing employers’ economic freedom, even when its advocates consider it beneficial to employees.

Likewise, restrictions on firearms may be viewed as limitations on personal liberty by the institute while being defended by state officials as public safety measures.

Nevertheless, the report gives New York residents another point of comparison when evaluating the state’s economic and regulatory environment.

The findings are especially relevant as Hochul campaigns for reelection against Blakeman, the Republican Nassau County executive.

Blakeman has emphasized affordability, taxes and public safety during his campaign, presenting himself as an alternative to the Democratic leadership that has controlled state government for years.

Hochul has defended her administration’s record and emphasized efforts to address housing costs, support working families and fund public services.

The governor has also promoted initiatives involving child care, education and transportation as part of her broader economic agenda.

The Cato Institute report does not measure voter approval or predict election results. Its rankings are based on the organization’s policy criteria rather than public opinion surveys.

That means Hochul’s last-place finish should not be confused with being the least popular governor in the country.

The distinction is important because different national assessments use different standards and can produce substantially different results.

Some studies emphasize economic performance, others examine public satisfaction, and the Cato Institute concentrates on economic and personal freedom.

Under Cato’s framework, however, Hochul finished at the bottom of the gubernatorial assessment.

Other Democratic governors also appeared among the lowest-ranked officials, including Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee and Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill were also among those receiving low scores.

Alabama Republican Gov. Kay Ivey was an exception to the largely Democratic group near the bottom of the rankings.

The results illustrate how the institute’s criteria can produce evaluations that cross party lines, even though Republican governors generally performed better.

The report also placed several Republican-led states relatively low in the overall freedom standings, including Alaska, South Carolina and Alabama.

The assessment comes amid continuing concerns about whether New York’s tax and regulatory environment makes it more difficult for families and businesses to remain in the state.

Questions surrounding housing affordability, government spending and the cost of doing business have remained prominent in state political debates.

New York’s population trends and the movement of residents to lower-cost states have also generated discussion about the long-term effects of state policy.

Those issues involve numerous economic and demographic factors, and the Cato Institute’s rankings alone cannot establish why individuals or businesses decide to relocate.

Still, the report offers a detailed assessment of the state’s policy environment compared with other parts of the country.

For Hochul, the timing places additional attention on her administration’s record during the final days of the gubernatorial campaign.

For Blakeman, the findings provide material for criticism of New York’s taxation and regulatory policies.

The study’s most striking conclusion remains the contrast between New York and states receiving substantially higher scores for economic and personal freedom.

While Montana’s governor earned more than 62% under the institute’s methodology, Hochul received just over 18%.

New York also remained near the bottom of the state rankings, finishing 49th nationally.

The governor’s office disputes the values underlying the assessment, but the findings place Hochul’s administration last among governors in the Cato Institute’s inaugural gubernatorial freedom rankings.

With the election approaching, the report adds another dimension to the ongoing debate over taxation, regulation, affordability and the direction of New York state government.