Republican Governors Respond to CNBC’s Rankings
Republican governors are expressing disagreement with CNBC following the publication of its annual quality-of-life rankings. These rankings placed conservative states at the bottom, despite data from the U.S. Census indicating these states lead the nation in population growth.
CNBC faced ridicule online and backlash from conservatives after releasing its 2026 “America’s Top States for Business” report. Observers criticized the outlet for perceived liberal bias in its ranking criteria, which penalize conservative legislation.
“Somebody must have forgotten to inform the tens of thousands of new Arkansans about this CNBC report because they are overwhelmingly choosing the conservative leadership Arkansas offers,” stated Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
States Ranked in CNBC’s Analysis
The survey ranked states with the poorest quality of life as Arkansas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Missouri, Utah, Georgia, Louisiana, Indiana, Texas, and Tennessee. Each state is Republican-led and supported President Donald Trump in 2024.
The rankings are part of CNBC’s larger study, now in its 20th year, emphasizing quality of life as a competitive category. This category contributes 11.6% to a state’s overall score, slightly up from the previous year.
CNBC’s methodology utilizes “hard data on factors like crime rates, air quality, and healthcare,” but also leans on ideological policies penalizing states lacking protections against discrimination and restrictive abortion laws.
Governor Responses on State Quality of Life
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s representative disagreed with CNBC’s assessment.
“CNBC’s ranking does not reflect reality. Texas offers low taxes, a strong economy, abundant energy, and a commitment to freedom that attracts Americans,” said Andrew Mahaleris, Abbott’s press secretary.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s office criticized the rankings as “baseless” and driven by politics.
“CNBC prioritized trendy politics over affordability and impactful issues,” Kemp’s spokesperson asserted.
The spokesperson suggested CNBC should engage with the over 500,000 Americans who have moved to Georgia recently.
Population Growth in Red States
Between mid-2024 and mid-2025, Texas gained over 67,000 residents through domestic migration, Tennessee added over 42,000, and Alabama gained more than 23,000. In contrast, Los Angeles County saw a decline of over 53,000 residents, marking the largest numeric decrease nationwide.
Population data highlights a shift from traditionally blue regions to red states noted in the CNBC assessment.
Media and Cultural Coverage
Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s press office commented on the partisan split evident in the rankings, pointing out Republican leadership in the criticized states.
Fox News Digital reached out to CNBC for comments but did not receive an immediate response. Joshua Q. Nelson, a reporter focusing on cultural trends, education, and public policy, covered the developments extensively.
Nelson joined Fox News Digital in 2019, holds credentials from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School and the Wharton Public Policy Certificate from the University of Pennsylvania.
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