A new research has ranked the greatest states for “freedom,” in phrases of tax coverage, schooling choices, and other private and fiscal liberties — and the outcomes aren’t sort to California or its governor.The Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, ranked states and their leaders primarily based on their support for private and financial liberties in its “Freedom in the 50 States” report, revealed Monday.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom holds fingers with his spouse, California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, at a information convention where he announced his proposal to construct 1,200 small properties across the state to cut back homelessness, during the first of a four-day tour of the state in Sacramento, Calif., Thursday, March 16, 2023. In lieu of a conventional State of the State, the Democratic governor, who just started his second time period, has deliberate 4 days of coverage speeches around the state. AP

The institute assigned numerical rankings and letter grades primarily based on authorities spending and taxes, enterprise laws, and restrictions on constructing. In the private freedom class, the research weighed insurance policies like college alternative, the proper to bear arms, the freedom to make one’s own medical selections, and adherence to the First Amendment.

California was close to the backside — forty fourth — receiving an “F” grade, or 1.95/10, in the group’s total freedom rating. It was forty eighth in “economic freedom,” according to the institute, though it fared considerably higher on the private freedom entrance, rating thirty fourth.

Gavin Newsom, governor of California, speaks during a marketing campaign occasion in the Mission District of San Francisco, California, on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. Bloomberg via Getty Images

Gov. Gavin Newsom himself ranked an abysmal third-to-last, or forty eighth complete, for pushing insurance policies that make the state less free, in the eyes of Cato Institute.“The governor scores might also be best thought of as gauging the direction they are taking their state,” wrote Cato analyst Stephen Slivinski, who authored the research, in a weblog submit.

“If the status quo of a state is already generally pro-liberty and a governor hasn’t done anything to change or damage that, they will receive the same score as the state,” he defined. “But if a governor is pushing reforms that make the state freer on net—and especially if they are the reason the state is in good shape—they will receive a higher score than the state.” 

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte arrives before President Donald Trump at a marketing campaign rally at Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell, Mont., Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026. AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

Colorado incumbent Democratic Gov. Jared Polis gestures during an election evening watch social gathering in downtown Denver, Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022. AP

Newsom’s workplace was contacted for remark. The California governor has been knocked for approving tax hikes, which embrace two new not too long ago enacted levies on well being care and software program that were collectively dubbed the “largest tax hike in state history” by one anti-tax group. The Cato Institute has also cited California’s employment laws, which embrace a statewide minimal wage of $17.40 beginning next 12 months, onerous licensing necessities, and lack of a “right to work” regulation as impediments to entrepreneurship.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and his spouse, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, go to Palisades Charter High School in Los Angeles, California, on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. Office of Governor Gavin Newsom

California has also been dinged for onerous zoning and environmental legal guidelines that critics say have slowed down housing, contributing to skyrocketing house prices.

The Cato Institute’s top-ranking governor was Gov. Greg Gianforte of Montana, who acquired an “A” from the group.

The second runner-up was Democratic Gov. Jared Polis of Colorado, who acquired excessive marks for increasing the state’s medical marijuana program and other well being care choices, alongside support for the First Amendment after he vetoed legal guidelines that could have restricted social media use. He also got props for decreasing regulation enforcement overreach by narrowing cops’ capacity to use a “qualified immunity” protection in civil claims.

The third- and fourth-place governors were Ron DeSantis of Florida and Greg Abbott of Texas.

The freest states, according to Cato Institute, were Arizona, Montana, Nevada, Florida and Idaho. The worst-performing governors were New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Hawaii Gov. Josh Green adopted by Newsom, Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee and Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey.