Dunleavy is least popular governor in the US, with sharp drop in approval since fall, poll finds
- Mark Sabbatini
- 21 hours ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 21 hours ago
Two-term Republican in final year has 37%-49% favorable-unfavorable rating; only one other governor has a net-negative rating at 43%-49%
By Mark Sabbatini
Juneau Independent
Gov. Mike Dunleavy ranks at the bottom of the favorability scale among U.S. governors, with a 37% approval and 49% disapproval rating among respondents, according to a poll released last week.
The results are a huge drop from the 50% postive and 36% negative ratings reported in the fall of 2025 by Morning Consult. They are also the first time Dunleavy has been "underwater" with a net negative rating during his two terms in office, although he did have a 42%-42% rating during the fall of 2019 amidst controversies that spurred an unsuccessful recall attempt.
Dunleavy’s minus 12% net approval rating compares to minus 6% for the governor with the second-lowest approval score, Kim Reynolds, R-Iowa, whose positive-negative ratings were 43%-49%. Those two governors are the only ones with net negative scores — next on the list are Tim Walz, D-Minn., at 50%-43% and Janet Mills, D-Maine, at 51-43%.
The most popular governors were Phil Scott, R-Vermont, at 74%-19% and Mark Gordon, R-Wyoming, at 58%-25%.
Inquiries by the Juneau Independent to Dunleavy’s office on Monday morning did not receive a response as of mid-afternoon.
The surveys were conducted between October and December of 2025, according to Morning Consult. That means the results don’t include reactions to residents of the six-year fiscal plan he introduced in January that includes components such as a statewide sales tax that have been met with an overwhelmingly negative response from legislators, municipal leaders and residents offering public testimony.
Numerous adverse situations were affecting Alaskans during the final three months of 2025, including Typhoon Halong, a record-length federal government shutdown, a gloomy state revenue forecast and a $1,000 Permanent Fund Dividend that was the lowest in state history when adjusted for inflation. Dunleavy had also suffered recent legislative defeats, including lawmakers overriding his veto to a portion of an education funding increase during a special session in August.
Legislators in the bipartisan majorities have strongly criticized Dunleavy for actions — and inactions — during the past couple of years on matters such as education funding and proposing state budgets with massive deficits due to insisting on "full" PFDs. The governor has also been increasingly criticized during the past year for limiting his involvement and that of top administration officials on some matters legislative leaders say are high priorities.
Senate Minority Leader Mike Cronk, R-Tok, said Monday he doesn’t know why Dunleavy’s rating has dropped in the most recent Morning Consult poll since "I don't think the governor has done anything really different over the last seven years."
"Did they respond to the typhoon? Yeah, they did an amazing job out there, so how do you fault him for that?" Cronk said. He also noted "the PFD is not his fault" since the Legislature every year has reduced the dividend from the amount proposed by Dunleavy.
One other potential factor that’s picked up speed in recent months is the 2026 election in which a new governor will be elected. A total of 16 candidates are running so far and plenty are asserting what they will do better than Dunleavy, including many of the 12 Republicans seeking to replace him.
Dunleavy, elected in 2018, is set to depart office in December since he cannot run for a third consecutive term. He is not currently running for any other office in the November election and has previously declined to comment on his plans upon departing.
His initial rating in Morning Consult’s tracking poll at the beginning of 2019 was 42% approval and 29% disapproval. That narrowed quickly during his first year as a recall petition was launched in July 2019 due to major proposed budget cuts and other actions. The effort failed to get the necessary signatures to be placed on the ballot.
Dunleavy’s ratings saw a quick turnaround at 63%-27% during the second quarter of 2020 — the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic — and peaked again during the third quarter of 2023 at 63%-25%. Morning Consult ranked him the fifth most-popular governor in that survey.
• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.
