Cato Institute ranks US states and governors on freedom

The Cato Institute has released its 2026 “Freedom in the 50 States” report, evaluating how well each state protects economic and personal freedoms. The study utilizes 97 policy indicators across 10 categories, including taxation, housing, education, gun rights, and speech.

Arizona ranked first in overall state freedom, followed by Montana, Nevada, Florida, and Idaho. At the bottom of the rankings were Hawaii, New York, Massachusetts, Alaska, and South Carolina.

For the first time, the report includes a ranking of sitting governors based on their policy records, such as legislation signed or vetoed. Montana Governor Greg Gianforte took the top spot among governors, while New York Governor Kathy Hochul ranked last, receiving an F grade with a score of 18.02%. Other low-ranking governors included California's Gavin Newsom and Rhode Island's Dan McKee. A spokesperson for Governor Hochul stated that the Cato Institute's definition of freedom “reflects the position of the scorers, rather than the governor's performance.”