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Arkansas•In office since 2023•Party: R

Sarah Huckabee Sanders

Serving as Governor of Arkansas since 2023. Evaluation based on verified public data.

Overall GradeD-
31.9 / 100
Ranked #48 of 50 nationally
At a glanceComputed from the data below — no opinions.
  • An overall grade of D- places this governor in the below the national average — ranked #48 of 50.
  • In office 3 years — most current trends meaningfully reflect this administration.
  • Since taking office, this governor has outpaced the national trend on 7 of 20 tracked metrics, lagged on 8, and moved with the country on 5.
  • Strongest area: Economy (B-). Weakest: Opportunity (F).
Category

Economy

100
60.0 / 100B-
Unemployment Rate
B-
3.2%
National avg 3.9%
improving faster than US
Rank 18 of 5066 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 3.4%
Category

Fiscal Health

211
55.9 / 100C+
State Debt per Capita
D+
$2,200
National avg $3,580
improving slower than US
Rank 22 of 5058 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom $2,350
Rainy Day Fund
A-
17.0%
National avg 14.0%
improving faster than US
Rank 21 of 5059 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 14.0%
State & Local Tax Burden
B-
10.2%
National avg 11.2%
improving faster than US
Rank 25 of 5052 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 10.5%
Credit Rating
C-
85
National avg 90
on pace with US
Rank 39 of 5023 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 85
Category

Education

010
48.1 / 100C
High School Graduation Rate
C
87.6%
National avg 87.0%
declining with US
Rank 23 of 5055 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 88.2%
Category

Health

323
42.3 / 100C-
Age-Adjusted Mortality
F
552 / 100k
National avg 407 / 100k
declining faster than US
Rank 44 of 5012 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 478 / 100k
Infant Mortality
D-
7.783
National avg 5.628
declining faster than US
Rank 49 of 502 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 7.647
Adult Obesity
C-
37.9%
National avg 33.5%
declining slower than US
Rank 39 of 5022 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 37.2%
Adult Smoking
F
19.9%
National avg 13.2%
improving slower than US
Rank 49 of 502 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 21.6%
Suicide Rate
C-
19 / 100k
National avg 14 / 100k
on pace with US
Rank 35 of 5031 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 19 / 100k
Life Expectancy
D
73.8 yrs
National avg 77.5 yrs
declining with US
Rank 46 of 508 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 74.5 yrs
Uninsured Rate (Under 65)
C
9.8%
National avg 8.6%
improving faster than US
Rank 34 of 5033 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 11.4%
Drug Overdose Death Rate
A-
25 / 100k
National avg 34 / 100k
declining slower than US
Rank 15 of 5072 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 16 / 100k
Category

Infrastructure

100
52.4 / 100C+
Bridges in Poor Condition
C+
5.9%
National avg 6.6%
improving faster than US
Rank 29 of 5043 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 6.2%
Category

Opportunity

003
20.1 / 100F
Food Insecurity
F
18.6%
National avg 13.5%
declining faster than US
Rank 49 of 502 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 14.7%
Poverty Rate
D
15.7%
National avg 11.5%
improving slower than US
Rank 45 of 5011 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 16.2%
Median Household Income
F
$56,335
National avg $74,580
improving slower than US
Rank 48 of 504 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom $49,475
Category

Public Safety

010
40.1 / 100D+
Violent Crime Rate
D+
671 / 100k
National avg 380 / 100k
on pace with US
Rank 47 of 506 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 672 / 100k
Category

Environment

001
20.3 / 100F
Drinking Water Violations
F
46.7%
National avg 44.9%
declining faster than US
Rank 28 of 4944 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 33.3%

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 →