A new report released this week has named New York Governor Kathy Hochul the worst leader in the nation for personal and economic freedom. The libertarian Cato Institute dropped its 2026 “Freedom in the 50 States” report on Monday, according to RedState. The findings are harsh for high-tax states and their leaders.
Hochul received an F grade. Her specific score was 18.02%. This places her at the very bottom of the list of all US governors. Hawaii Governor Josh Green sits just above her in second-to-last place. California Governor Gavin Newsom ranks 48th out of 50, per the New York Post. These three states now hold the lowest spots for liberty in America.
How The Scores Are Calculated
The Cato Institute looked at specific areas to build these numbers. They weighed government spending, taxes, and business rules. They also checked restrictions on building new homes. The personal freedom category included school choice and the right to bear arms. It also measured medical choices and adherence to the First Amendment. California failed hard in these areas. The state got an F overall with a score of 1.95 out of 10. It ranked 44th in total freedom. The state placed 48th in economic freedom and 34th in personal freedom, according to the New York Post.
Stephen Slivinski wrote the study for the think tank. He explained the method in a blog post. “The governor scores might also be best thought of as gauging the direction they are taking their state,” he wrote. The logic is simple. If a leader does nothing to hurt freedom, they get the same score as the state. But if a governor pushes reforms that make things freer, they get a higher score. The report notes that Newsom pushed policies that made California less free in the eyes of the institute.
The Tax Burden In California
High taxes are a major reason for these low marks. New York faces heavy criticism for its spending and rules. California has been hit hard for tax hikes too. One anti-tax group called the recent levies the “largest tax hike in state history.” These new taxes hit healthcare and software sectors. The Cato report cites these financial moves as key reasons for the low rankings. The data shows that heavy government intervention correlates with lower freedom scores.
The report was published on October 26, 2026, per RedState. It covers the full year of 2026. The rankings reflect the current policies in each state. Slivinski noted that the scores show the path a governor is choosing. This is not just about the past. It is about the future direction of the state. The numbers suggest a clear trend in these three states.
