Methodology
How we score 50 governors across 263 metrics, producing the most transparent governor evaluation ever published.
Framework Overview
Each governor is evaluated across three sections with a combined maximum of 1,653 points. The framework is designed to measure what happened, not what was promised.
Section A: Governance
Max: 300 points
9 subsections (A1-A9) covering executive performance.
Each metric scored 0-3 (0=Failing, 1=Poor, 2=Adequate, 3=Exemplary).
~100 individual metrics per governor.
9 subsections (A1-A9) covering executive performance.
Each metric scored 0-3 (0=Failing, 1=Poor, 2=Adequate, 3=Exemplary).
~100 individual metrics per governor.
Fiscal ResponsibilityLegislative RelationsAppointments & StaffingEmergency ManagementTransparency & EthicsEthics & IntegrityProgram ManagementFederal RelationsConstituent Service
Section B: State Outcomes
Max: 975 points
13 categories (B01-B13) measuring real-world outcomes.
Each category max 75 points. Scored from government data sources (BLS, Census, BEA, FBI UCR).
13 categories (B01-B13) measuring real-world outcomes.
Each category max 75 points. Scored from government data sources (BLS, Census, BEA, FBI UCR).
Economic PerformancePopulation & DemographicsBudget & Fiscal HealthPublic SafetyEducation OutcomesHealthcare AccessInfrastructure QualityCost of LivingTransparency & AccountabilityControversy & ScandalHistorical ContextConstituent VerdictImmigration & Law Compliance
Section C: Oath Fidelity
Range: -378 to +378
4 categories (C1-C4), 126 total items.
Each item scored -3 to +3 based on fidelity to constitutional oath.
Grounded in Supreme Court precedent (19 cases cited).
4 categories (C1-C4), 126 total items.
Each item scored -3 to +3 based on fidelity to constitutional oath.
Grounded in Supreme Court precedent (19 cases cited).
Protection of LifeConstitutional RightsChild Welfare & Parental RightsFaithful Discharge of Duties
Scoring Scales
Sections A & B (0-3)
3 Exemplary — best-in-class performance
2 Adequate — meets expectations
1 Poor — below standard
0 Failing — significant deficiency
Section C (-3 to +3)
+3 Exemplary fidelity
+2 Strong compliance
+1 Adequate
0 Neutral
-1 Concerning
-2 Failing oath
-3 Hostile to oath
Section C: Scoring in Practice
Same constitutional provision, different governors, different scores. Here's what the scoring looks like in practice — comparing Spencer Cox (R-UT, ranked #1) with Gavin Newsom (D-CA, ranked #50).
Sanctity of life legislative framework
Category: Protection of Life
"Declaration of Independence; 5th/14th Amendments"
Spencer Cox (R-UT)
+2
Signed 18-week ban (SB 174) and trigger law (HB 136) banning abortion from conception. Trigger law blocked by court but 18-week ban enforceable. Clinic safety regulations maintained. Informed consent ...
Guttmacher; UT Code; Dobbs
Gavin Newsom (D-CA)
-3
Newsom signed Prop 1 (2022 constitutional amendment) enshrining abortion rights in CA constitution. No gestational limits. No clinic safety regulations. State funds abortion and travel assistance post...
CA Prop 1; Guttmacher; Dobbs v. Jackson (2022); Newsom billboards
Second Amendment — right to carry status
Category: Constitutional Rights
"Bill of Rights (I-X); 14th Amendment"
Spencer Cox (R-UT)
+3
Utah enacted constitutional/permitless carry (HB 60, Feb 2021, signed by Cox). Strong preemption. Civil liability protections for lawful carriers....
HB 60 (2021); UT Code §76-10-523
Gavin Newsom (D-CA)
-3
CA enacted SB 2 (2023) post-Bruen imposing extensive 'sensitive places' restrictions — similar to NY CCIA. Effectively bans carry in most public locations. Federal courts have blocked some provisions....
CA SB 2 (2023); NYSRPA v. Bruen; federal injunctions; May v. Bonta
Second Amendment — semi-automatic rifle restrictions
Category: Constitutional Rights
"Bill of Rights (I-X); 14th Amendment"
Spencer Cox (R-UT)
+3
No restrictions beyond federal law. Utah has 2A sanctuary/protection provisions. No assault weapons ban....
UT Code; NRA-ILA
Gavin Newsom (D-CA)
-3
CA has nation's most comprehensive assault weapons ban. Bans by name, feature, and type. Criminal penalties for possession. Roster of approved handguns severely limits market. Registration required fo...
CA Penal Code 30500 et seq.; Roberti-Roos; CA DOJ roster
Second Amendment — magazine capacity restrictions
Category: Constitutional Rights
"Bill of Rights (I-X); 14th Amendment"
Spencer Cox (R-UT)
+3
No magazine capacity restrictions. Preemption of local magazine laws....
UT Code; NRA-ILA
Gavin Newsom (D-CA)
-3
CA imposed 10-round magazine limit. Confiscation of existing magazines was enjoined by federal courts (Duncan v. Bonta — en banc reversal). Criminal penalties for possession. Among most restrictive....
CA Penal Code 32310; Duncan v. Bonta
Data Sources
Every score links to its source. Primary data sources include:
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)
U.S. Census Bureau
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting
State ACFR/CAFR Documents
Moody's / S&P / Fitch Ratings
State Legislative Records
Federal Register
Supreme Court Decisions (19 cases)
State Budget Documents
Government Accountability Reports
Associated Press / Reuters
IBM Quantum Verification
The scoring methodology and calculations were verified using IBM Quantum computing to ensure mathematical consistency across all 13,150 scored items. This represents the first governor evaluation to use quantum computing as a verification layer.
Timothy E. Parker
Guinness World Records Puzzle Master
Creator of the ALA Governor Rankings methodology. Published in over 200 newspapers, author of more than 40 books. The Guinness World Record for most syndicated puzzle creator in history separates Timothy's analytical approach from everyone else's. His framework treats governance as a measurable system — not an opinion poll.
Metric Glossary
A complete reference for every scoring category across all three sections. Each category contains multiple individually scored metrics that roll up into the section total.
Section A — Governance (9 categories, ~100 metrics, max 300 pts)
A1: Fiscal Responsibility
15 metrics · Max 45 points
Budget execution accuracy, revenue forecasting precision, rainy day fund adequacy, credit ratings from Moody's/S&P/Fitch, and debt management practices including debt-to-GDP ratios and bond issuance discipline.
A2: Legislative Relations
13 metrics · Max 39 points
Bill signing rate, veto strategy and override frequency, bipartisan collaboration on key legislation, effective use of special sessions, and executive-legislative communication quality.
A3: Appointments & Staffing
12 metrics · Max 36 points
Cabinet quality and qualifications, vacancy rates across key agencies, workforce diversity, senate confirmation rates, and retention of senior leadership.
A4: Emergency Management
12 metrics · Max 36 points
Disaster declaration timeliness, FEMA coordination effectiveness, emergency preparedness planning, National Guard deployment decisions, and post-disaster recovery outcomes.
A5: Transparency & Ethics
13 metrics · Max 39 points
FOIA/public records compliance and response times, financial disclosure completeness, open meetings law adherence, ethics commission investigations, and whistleblower protection enforcement.
A6: Ethics & Integrity
13 metrics · Max 39 points
Personal conduct standards, conflicts of interest disclosures, campaign finance compliance, legal compliance track record, and adherence to state ethics codes and gift restrictions.
A7: Program Management
12 metrics · Max 36 points
Infrastructure project delivery and cost control, federal fund utilization rates, program outcome measurements, and interagency coordination effectiveness.
A8: Federal Relations
5 metrics · Max 15 points
Federal funding secured per capita, intergovernmental cooperation on shared priorities, compliance with federal mandates, and effective advocacy for state interests in Washington.
A9: Constituent Service
5 metrics · Max 15 points
Responsiveness to constituent inquiries, frequency and quality of town hall events, constituent satisfaction survey results, and accessibility of governor's office to the public.
Section B — State Outcomes (13 categories, max 975 pts, each ~75 max)
B01: Economic Performance
Max 75 points
GDP growth rate vs. national average, job creation and unemployment trends, business climate rankings, small business formation rates, and wage growth adjusted for inflation.
B02: Population & Demographics
Max 75 points
Population growth or decline trends, domestic migration patterns (in-migration vs. out-migration), demographic shifts, and labor force participation changes.
B03: Budget & Fiscal Health
Max 75 points
Budget balance or surplus/deficit as percentage of revenue, pension funding ratios, unfunded liabilities trajectory, and fiscal stress indicators from state ACFR/CAFR documents.
B04: Public Safety
Max 75 points
Violent and property crime rates per 100K (FBI UCR data), incarceration rates, law enforcement staffing levels, recidivism rates, and crime trend trajectories.
B05: Education Outcomes
Max 75 points
K-12 standardized test performance (NAEP scores), high school graduation rates, college readiness indicators, per-pupil spending efficiency, and teacher retention rates.
B06: Healthcare Access
Max 75 points
Health insurance coverage rates, hospital capacity and rural access, preventable mortality rates, mental health service availability, and overall state health outcome rankings.
B07: Infrastructure Quality
Max 75 points
Road and bridge condition ratings (FHWA data), broadband coverage and speeds, water system compliance, public transit availability, and infrastructure investment as percentage of GDP.
B08: Cost of Living
Max 75 points
Housing affordability index, consumer price trends relative to national CPI, wage-to-cost-of-living ratio, tax burden as percentage of income, and utility costs.
B09: Transparency & Accountability
Max 75 points
Government transparency rankings from independent watchdogs, state audit findings and remediation rates, open data portal quality, and public access to spending information.
B10: Controversy & Scandal
Max 75 points
Active investigations involving the governor or administration, lawsuits against the state, public trust erosion indicators, media scrutiny intensity, and staff turnover due to controversy.
B11: Historical Context
Max 75 points
Inherited fiscal and policy conditions from predecessor, long-term economic and social trends predating the current administration, and contextual factors that affect outcome scores.
B12: Constituent Satisfaction
Max 75 points
Governor approval ratings from reputable polls, constituent polling data on key issues, public sentiment trends, and quality-of-life survey results.
B13: Immigration Compliance
Max 75 points
Constitutional compliance with federal immigration enforcement, cooperation with ICE detainer requests, sanctuary policy impacts, and adherence to the Supremacy Clause regarding immigration law.
Section C — Oath Fidelity (4 categories, 126 items, range -378 to +378, scored -3 to +3)
C1: Protection of Life
Scored -3 to +3 per item
Policy alignment with the Declaration of Independence's life protections. Evaluates executive actions, signed legislation, and administrative policies that affect the fundamental right to life as articulated in founding documents.
C2: Constitutional Rights
Scored -3 to +3 per item
Bill of Rights fidelity across all amendments. Measures whether the governor's actions, executive orders, and supported legislation uphold or undermine individual constitutional rights including speech, religion, arms, due process, and equal protection.
C3: Child Welfare & Parental Rights
Scored -3 to +3 per item
Policies affecting minors and parental authority. Evaluates educational choice support, child protective services effectiveness, parental notification and consent laws, and the balance between state intervention and family sovereignty.
C4: Faithful Discharge of Duties
Scored -3 to +3 per item
Oath compliance measured against the governor's sworn obligation to uphold the Constitution. Evaluates executive overreach, separation of powers respect, federalism adherence, and whether the governor faithfully executes the laws of the state.
All 263 metrics are individually sourced and linked in each governor's detailed scorecard. View all governor rankings →