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Kentucky•In office since 2019•Party: D

Andy Beshear

Serving as Governor of Kentucky since 2019. Evaluation based on verified public data.

Overall GradeC+
56.8 / 100
Ranked #29 of 50 nationally
At a glanceComputed from the data below — no opinions.
  • An overall grade of C+ places this governor in the middle of the pack nationally — ranked #29 of 50.
  • In office 6 years — current results are fully attributable to this administration.
  • Since taking office, this governor has outpaced the national trend on 6 of 20 tracked metrics, lagged on 7, and moved with the country on 7.
  • Strongest area: Environment (A+). Weakest: Economy (F).
Category

Economy

001
24.9 / 100F
Unemployment Rate
F
4.7%
National avg 3.9%
declining faster than US
Rank 46 of 508 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 4.4%
Category

Fiscal Health

211
59.1 / 100B-
State Debt per Capita
D+
$3,700
National avg $3,580
improving slower than US
Rank 37 of 5027 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom $4,100
Rainy Day Fund
A+
28.0%
National avg 14.0%
improving faster than US
Rank 6 of 5090 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 12.0%
State & Local Tax Burden
B-
9.6%
National avg 11.2%
declining slower than US
Rank 16 of 5069 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 9.5%
Credit Rating
D+
78
National avg 90
on pace with US
Rank 48 of 505 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 78
Category

Education

010
62.3 / 100B
High School Graduation Rate
B
91.6%
National avg 87.0%
improving with US
Rank 3 of 5096 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 91.0%
Category

Health

233
38.9 / 100D+
Age-Adjusted Mortality
F
565 / 100k
National avg 407 / 100k
declining faster than US
Rank 47 of 506 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 475 / 100k
Infant Mortality
C+
6.053
National avg 5.628
improving faster than US
Rank 32 of 5037 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 6.694
Adult Obesity
D+
38.1%
National avg 33.5%
declining with US
Rank 42 of 5017 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 33.8%
Adult Smoking
B
17.6%
National avg 13.2%
improving faster than US
Rank 44 of 5012 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 24.6%
Suicide Rate
C-
18 / 100k
National avg 14 / 100k
declining with US
Rank 31 of 5039 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 17 / 100k
Life Expectancy
D+
74.4 yrs
National avg 77.5 yrs
declining with US
Rank 44 of 5013 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 75.4 yrs
Uninsured Rate (Under 65)
D+
7.2%
National avg 8.6%
improving slower than US
Rank 19 of 5064 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 7.6%
Drug Overdose Death Rate
F
55 / 100k
National avg 34 / 100k
declining faster than US
Rank 49 of 502 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 31 / 100k
Category

Infrastructure

100
56.0 / 100C+
Bridges in Poor Condition
C+
5.6%
National avg 6.6%
improving faster than US
Rank 27 of 5048 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 6.0%
Category

Opportunity

021
37.4 / 100D+
Food Insecurity
D+
15.7%
National avg 13.5%
declining with US
Rank 44 of 5012 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 14.9%
Poverty Rate
D+
15.3%
National avg 11.5%
improving with US
Rank 43 of 5014 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 16.3%
Median Household Income
D
$60,187
National avg $74,580
improving slower than US
Rank 44 of 5012 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom $48,375
Category

Public Safety

001
43.2 / 100C-
Violent Crime Rate
C-
259 / 100k
National avg 380 / 100k
declining faster than US
Rank 13 of 5077 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 212 / 100k
Category

Environment

100
95.3 / 100A+
Drinking Water Violations
A+
20.0%
National avg 44.9%
improving faster than US
Rank 9 of 4984 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 32.5%

How this grade is built

Each metric gets two scores: where the state ranks among all 50 states (30%) and how its pace compared to the national trend during this governor's tenure (70%). Metric scores are averaged within eight equally-weighted pillars — Economy, Fiscal Health, Education, Health, Infrastructure, Opportunity, Public Safety, Environment — then the composite is curved across the cohort so grades spread A–F.

Full methodology →