LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has the lowest approval rating for an Arkansas governor in the last 20 years, according to the 25th annual Arkansas Poll.
The poll, which was released on Oct. 30, asked Arkansas voters not only about the leaders they elect, but what issues have concerned them the most over the last year.
Sanders in her first year on the job has an approval rating of 48% according to voters asked about her performance. This is the lowest in the last 20 years, but higher than U.S. Senators Tom Cotton (42%) and John Boozman (40%) as well as President Joe Biden (33%).
In his last year in office, former Governor Asa Hutchinson garnered a 59% approval rating and never had an approval rating lower than 57%.
And in their first year in office, the three previous governors had an approval rating of at least 57%, with Hutchinson at 57%, Gov. Mike Beebe at 70%, and Gov. Mike Huckabee at 66%.
The last time an Arkansas governor had a lower approval rating was in 2003 when Gov. Huckabee had 47% support. That would jump to 58% one year later.
The biggest concern among voters in the state was the economy despite declining three points over the 2022 poll.
“A volatile economic and political environment is likely influencing some people’s general sense of well-being, in Arkansas and elsewhere,” said Janine Parry, director of the Arkansas Poll.
Most of the respondents said they were either very satisfied or satisfied with services like police, public libraries, and parks and recreation. But people said they were unsatisfied with the topics of K-12 public schools and the public welfare system, which were also ranked the "highest dissatisfaction" 20 years ago.
Other subjects polled include gun control, spanking in schools, and abortion. To read the full summary report, click here.
The poll was conducted between Oct. 4 through Oct. 22 where 801 people were surveyed through telephone.