New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is facing scrutiny over her administration’s policies after the Cato Institute’s 2026 Freedom in the 50 States report evaluated how state laws and gubernatorial actions affect economic and personal freedom. The study assigned Hochul an “F” grade, placing her at the bottom of its newly introduced governor rankings.
According to the report, Hochul received a score of 18.02% based on the study’s assessment of policies affecting individual freedom. New York also ranked near the bottom of the overall state rankings, with a score of 31.9%, ahead of Hawaii, which received 29.24%.
The annual report examines a range of state policies, including taxation, housing, occupational regulations, education, firearms, freedom of speech and medical regulations. Its findings reflect the Cato Institute’s framework for evaluating how state laws and government policies affect personal and economic liberty.
Cato Institute Introduces Rankings for Governors
The 2026 edition marked the first time the Cato Institute evaluated individual governors alongside its state-level freedom rankings. The governor assessments focused on how executive actions and policies contributed to or restricted freedom within each state.
The results showed differences across party lines, although Republican governors were more heavily represented among the higher-ranked officials, while Democratic governors appeared more frequently toward the bottom of the list.
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte received an “A” grade and a reported score of 62.31%. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott also appeared among the higher-ranked Republican governors.
However, the broader state rankings did not follow a strict partisan divide. Arizona, led by Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, ranked first in the overall state freedom assessment, according to the report. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, also a Democrat, performed well in the governor evaluation.
The report also included several Republican-led states among those with lower overall freedom rankings, illustrating that the findings reflected the institute’s assessment of state policies rather than party affiliation alone.
New York’s Policy Record Under Scrutiny
New York’s results highlight continuing debates over regulation, taxation, housing affordability and individual liberties. The Cato Institute evaluates policies across multiple categories, applying its own methodology to determine how state governments affect economic activity and personal choices.
The organization’s findings represent its assessment of freedom under a specific set of policy criteria. Other research organizations may use different definitions of freedom, assign different weights to policy categories or reach different conclusions about the effects of state laws.
Hochul’s administration has defended its approach, arguing that policies criticized by the institute are intended to promote economic fairness and public safety.
A spokesperson for the governor disputed the report’s interpretation of freedom in comments to the New York Post.
“Cato’s idea of freedom means lower wages for hard working Americans, carrying guns without permits, AI chatbots running unchecked and social media giants gaining unfettered access to our kids,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added that the state’s policies prioritize economic fairness and safety, arguing that the report’s grading system does not adequately reflect those objectives.
The response underscores the disagreement between the institute’s emphasis on limiting government restrictions and the administration’s defense of regulations intended to address public concerns.
Governor’s Race Adds Political Context
The study’s findings emerged as Hochul campaigns for reelection against Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman ahead of New York’s November 3, 2026, election.
The Cato Institute report adds another point of debate to the campaign, particularly around the role of government regulation, public safety and individual freedoms. However, the study evaluates policy choices through the institute’s own framework and does not independently determine how voters will assess the governor’s record.
Polling cited in reports published before the election placed Hochul ahead of Blakeman. Those measurements reflect voter preferences at the time of polling and may change as the campaign continues.
The competing views on New York’s policies are likely to remain part of the broader discussion about the state’s economic priorities, regulatory approach and approach to personal liberties.
What the Study Measures
The Freedom in the 50 States report evaluates state policies across several areas of economic and personal freedom. These include fiscal policy, housing regulations, occupational licensing, education, firearms laws, speech and medical policy.
The report’s scores are intended to compare state policy environments using a consistent framework. They should be understood as the Cato Institute’s research-based assessment rather than a universally accepted measure of freedom.
For New York, the findings provide a basis for examining how state policies compare under that framework. The governor’s office, meanwhile, maintains that regulations criticized in the report serve broader goals related to economic fairness and public safety.
The disagreement illustrates a central policy question facing state governments: how to balance individual liberty and limited regulation with public protections and economic objectives.
