Republican Governors Criticize CNBC’s Quality-of-Life Rankings

Republican governors are criticizing CNBC after the financial news outlet published its annual quality-of-life rankings, placing conservative red states in the bottom ten spots. Despite official U.S. Census data indicating these states are leading in population growth, CNBC has faced online mockery and backlash for the 2026 “America’s Top States for Business” study.

Critics have accused CNBC of liberal bias, evident in its ranking criteria which heavily penalize conservative legislation. Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders commented on CNBC’s report, highlighting the state’s population growth and conservative leadership.

“Somebody must have forgotten to tell the tens of thousands of new Arkansans who have moved to our state in the last few years about this CNBC report, because they’re voting with their feet and voting overwhelmingly for the commonsense, conservative leadership Arkansas offers,” Sanders stated.

The bottom ten states ranked by CNBC as having the worst quality of life include Arkansas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Missouri, Utah, Georgia, Louisiana, Indiana, Texas, and Tennessee. All are Republican-led and voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 election.

CNBC’s ranking is part of a broader business study, emphasizing quality of life. They claim to use “hard data” on crime rates, air quality, and healthcare, while factoring in ideological policies, penalizing states lacking discrimination protections and with restrictive abortion laws.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s office dismissed CNBC’s list, stating it “does not reflect reality.” His press secretary Andrew Mahaleris emphasized Texas’ low taxes, strong economy, abundant energy, and commitment to freedom.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp’s office also criticized the rankings as “baseless” and politically motivated, advocating for common sense and fiscal responsibility over trendy politics.

“Instead of publishing these laughable rankings that no one believes, CNBC should talk to any of the more than 500,000 Americans who have moved to Georgia in the last five years — many of them no doubt fleeing Democrat-run states like New York and California,” a spokesperson from Kemp’s office remarked.

While regions across the South and Sun Belt enjoy economic and population growth, major progressive areas like California are losing residents. Texas has gained over 67,000 residents through domestic migration, Tennessee more than 42,000, and Alabama over 23,000 from mid-2024 to mid-2025.

Conversely, Los Angeles County saw a decline of over 53,000 residents in the same period. A study by the Citizens Budget Commission reported New York City lost a net of 114,000 residents.

Fox News Digital has reached out to CNBC for comment but has yet to receive a reply.