By Michael Malkowski
The turn of the decade has been marked with crisis. COVID-19, first identified in Wuhan, China, has swept across the world. Now, having reached America and already killing thousands, the outbreak has left millions feeling afraid, confused, and powerless. However, as the situation has progressed, greater understanding of COVID-19 and potential means of combating the virus have been developed. At the forefront of implementing these strategies are our state governments, headed by their respective governors. With COVID-19 dominating news headlines and lifestyles, large swathes of Americans are going out of their way to keep up with any recent developments regarding their state’s actions to combat the virus. The news they hear and the action they see typically comes directly from their governors, and as recent polling across the nation as shown, the more action people see, the better they tend to view their governors. Whether monumental or minute, perceived action taken to combat the coronavirus has led to higher approval ratings for U.S governors within their respective states.
Those most vocal on the statewide actions being taken to combat COVID-19 are often the biggest winners in the polls. Most notable is Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) of New York. With his state among the hardest hit by the virus and currently leading the nation in the number of COVID-related deaths, active and vocal efforts to alleviate this situation have been a must for Cuomo. The New York governor has taken to social media, hosting live briefings regarding the coronavirus as well as tweeting out recent updates regarding his state’s situation on a regular basis. Despite the hardships his state has faced, a recent Siena College poll found that 87 percent of state voters say they approve of the job their governor is doing to combat COVID-19. Cuomo is also a frequent guest on his younger brother Chris Cuomo’s CNN show, “Cuomo Prime Time,” and through this other venue, has reached not only his constituents, but also millions of other Americans across the nation.
Such national interest in the governor has even generated talk of Andrew Cuomo throwing his hat into the 2020 Presidential election. During a March 30th segment, when pressed by his younger brother on whether Cuomo would consider a Presidential run, the New York governor simply responded with “no, no,” declining to elaborate any further. Whether he has his eyes on the White House or not, saying he’s focused only on the issue at hand seems to be the correct answer, as it has boded well for himself and others.
California’s governor Gavin Newsome (D) has also seen noticable gains, and his 79 percent approval rating from a recent Microsoft News survey regarding his response to COVID-19 is among the highest in the nation. Newsome’s state was the first to issue a stay at home order, which has been in effect since March 19th, and the governor has committed to increasing COVID-19 testing through recent actions such as launching a task force dedicated to increasing the number of testing sites and tests within the state. Health officials such as the CEO of Blueshield, Paul Marcovitch, have commended the governor’s aggressive actions, stating “there’s no question in my mind from what I’m seeing in the data… it is making a difference.”
Being proactive has helped governors Larry Hogan (R) of Maryland and governor Mike DeWine (R) of Ohio boast the highest and second highest approval ratings in the nation for their position, at 85 percent and 84 percent respectively as of April 11th. Both states have issued stay-at-home orders, closed schools, and taken significant steps to limit large meetings. Similarly, both governors have been active in voicing the potential dangers of the virus.
No matter how small, people seem to appreciate action in times of crisis, as Governor Andy Bershear (D) of Kentucky has come to realize. Despite winning the state’s governor position by an extremely slim margin only a few months ago, Bershear has already seen his approval rating for COVID-19 reach 83 percent, at time of writing. A large portion of this is attributed to his daily updates, done through his social media accounts. His highly accessible and uplifting briefings via social media have made him extremely popular on sites such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, strengthening his future within the state.
Typically, a politician’s approval ratings always increase during times of war or crisis. However, where COVID-19 has distinguished itself from similar historical instances of turmoil has been in the constinguents’ response to a perceived lack of action from their state leaders. U.S governors who were among the last to react to the virus were often shown polling the lowest in Microsoft’s survey, resulting in miniscule gains or even drops in approval rating. The three lowest polling governors, from the states of Arizona, Missouri, and Florida, have been among the last to issue stay at home orders or guidelines to their citizens. Governor Ron DeSantis (R) of Florida, who months ago polled as one of the nation’s most popular governors, has taken a notable drop in popularity due to his stance on combating COVID-19.
People turn to their leaders in times of crisis, and the state governors that have acted in prompt fashion seem to have given their constituents the feeling that they are on top of the situation, as reflected in significant jumps to their approval rating. However, this is not to say that lack of immediate action means lack of a plan. There is no universally agreed-upon way of dealing with this pandemic. COVID-19 is unlike anything the modern world has ever dealt with before, and it will have untold social, economic, and political ramifications for years to come. Marquette Law School Poll Director, Charles Franklin argues that “the situation will change as the economic fallout from the catastrophic pandemic becomes clear…” Perhaps as time goes on, current and future action in other areas, such as steps taken to protect in-state economies or maintain daily life may resonate stronger with a governor’s constituents.