Population during each governor's tenure
51 governors, ranked by how population changed from their first day in office, next to the United States over the same months. Politare shows what happened during a tenure; it does not claim the office-holder caused it.
| # | Governor | State | In office | Total | vs US | Per year | Chart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | R Gary Herbert | Utah | 11 Aug 2009 – 4 Jan 2021 | +20.6% 2009 → 2020 | +12.6 pts US +8.0% | +1.7%/yr | |
| 2 | R Butch Otter | Idaho | 1 Jan 2007 – 7 Jan 2019 | +19.3% 2006 → 2018 | +9.3 pts US +10.0% | +1.5%/yr | |
| 3 | R Greg Abbott | Texas | 20 Jan 2015 – now | +17.6% 2014 → 2025 | +10.6 pts US +7.0% | +1.5%/yr | |
| 4 | R Brad Little | Idaho | 7 Jan 2019 – now | +15.8% 2018 → 2025 | +11.8 pts US +4.0% | +2.1%/yr | |
| 5 | D Jay Inslee | Washington | 16 Jan 2013 – 15 Jan 2025 | +14.9% 2012 → 2024 | +6.8 pts US +8.1% | +1.2%/yr | |
| 6 | D John Hickenlooper | Colorado | 11 Jan 2011 – 8 Jan 2019 | +12.9% 2010 → 2018 | +6.8 pts US +6.1% | +1.5%/yr | |
| 7 | R Rick Scott | Florida | 4 Jan 2011 – 8 Jan 2019 | +12.8% 2010 → 2018 | +6.7 pts US +6.1% | +1.5%/yr | |
| 8 | R Henry McMaster | South Carolina | 24 Jan 2017 – now | +12.2% 2016 → 2025 | +6.9 pts US +5.4% | +1.3%/yr | |
| 9 | R Brian Sandoval | Nevada | 3 Jan 2011 – 7 Jan 2019 | +12.1% 2010 → 2018 | +6.0 pts US +6.1% | +1.4%/yr | |
| 10 | R Jack Dalrymple | North Dakota | 7 Dec 2010 – 15 Dec 2016 | +12.1% 2010 → 2016 | +7.3 pts US +4.8% | +1.9%/yr |
Showing 10 of 125 tenures.
Sorted by total, highest first. Every row is indexed to the last count complete before the first day in office ("from" marks a start that had to move because that count had no data, or because the period cut it); the United States is measured over the same months. Levels are per cent changes, rates are differences in %; "per year" compounds levels and divides rates. Tenures with under 12 months, or under three observations, are left out. thousands, July 1 estimate · Census Population Estimates via FRED · state data · as of Aug 2026.