Republicans Control Best-Run States in America, 24/7 Wall St. Survey Shows | TheBlaze.com

Republicans Control Best-Run States in America, 24/7 Wall St. Survey Shows | TheBlaze.com

Republicans Lead the Best-Run States in America, Democrats Dominate the Worst

• Posted on November 27, 2012 at 6:29pm by Glenn Hall
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The annual Best and Worst Run States in America survey by 24/7 Wall St. came out today, revealing that the top 5 states are led by Republicans while the bottom five are dominated by Democrats.
The list is based on a review of data for financial health, standard of living and government services. While noting that current situations may stem from decisions made years ago and that external factors like weather can be as much to blame as poor governance, 24/7 Wall St. also points out that all of the high-ranking states have “well-managed budgets” and the worst states have “high debt relative to both income and expenditure.”
Here’s how it breaks down at the top and bottom of the list cross-referenced with details on party control based on this map from Americans for Tax Reform:

The Top 5 States:

1.  North Dakota
 Governor: Jack Dalrymple, Republican
State Senate: Republican control
State House of Representatives: Republican control


> Debt per capita: $3,282 (22nd lowest)
> Budget deficit: None
> Unemployment: 3.5% (the lowest)
> Median household income: $51,704 (20th highest)
> Pct. below poverty line: 12.2% (13th lowest)
2. Wyoming
 Governor: Matt Mead, Republican
State Senate: Republican control
State House of Representatives: Republican control

> Debt per capita: $2,694 (18th lowest)
> Budget deficit: 10.3% (32nd largest)
> Unemployment: 6.0% (7th lowest)
> Median household income: $56,322 (13th highest)


3. Nebraska
 Governor: Dave Heineman, Republican

 State Legislature: Republican control



> Debt per capita: $1,279 (2nd lowest)
> Budget deficit: 9.7% (34th largest)
> Unemployment: 4.4% (2nd lowest)
> Median household income: $50,296 (22nd highest)
> Pct. below poverty line: 13.1% (tied-15th lowest)


4. Utah
 Governor: Gary Herbert, Republican
 State Senate: Republican control
 State House of Representatives: Republican control

> Debt per capita: $2,356 (15th lowest)
> Budget deficit: 14.7% (25th largest)
> Unemployment: 6.7% (tied-11th lowest)
> Median household income: $55,869 (14th highest)
> Pct. below poverty line: 13.5% (tied-17th lowest)


5. Iowa
 Governor: Terry Branstad, Republican
 State Senate: Republican control
 State House of Representatives: Republican control


> Debt per capita: $1,690 (7th lowest)
> Budget deficit: 20.3% (18th largest)
> Unemployment: 5.9% (6th lowest)
> Median household income: $49,427 (24th highest)
> Pct. below poverty line: 12.8% (14th lowest)

The Bottom 5 States:

46. New Jersey
 Governor: Chris Christie, Republican
 State Senate: Democrat control
 State House of Representatives: Democrat control


> Debt per capita: $6,944 (5th highest)
> Budget deficit: 38.2% (4th largest)
> Unemployment: 9.3% (14th highest)
> Median household income: $67,458 (3rd highest)
> Pct. below poverty line: 10.4% (3rd lowest)


47. Arizona
 Governor: Jan Brewer, Republican
 State Senate: Republican control
 State House of Representatives: Republican control


> Debt per capita: $2,188 (12th lowest)
> Budget deficit: 39.0% (3rd largest)
> Unemployment: 9.5% (tied-13th highest)
> Median household income: $46,709 (21st lowest)
> Pct. below poverty line: 19.0% (tied-8th highest)


48. Illinois
 Governor: Pat Quinn, Democrat
 State Senate: Democrat control
 State House of Representatives: Democrat control


> Debt per capita: $4,790 (11th highest)
> Budget deficit: 40.2% (2nd largest)
> Unemployment: 9.8% (tied-10th highest)
> Median household income: $53,234 (18th highest)
> Pct. below poverty line: 15.0% (25th highest)


49. Rhode Island
 Governor: Lincoln Chafee, Republican
 State Senate: Democrat control
 State House of Representatives: Democrat control



> Debt per capita: $9,018 (3rd highest)
> Budget deficit: 13.4% (28th largest)
> Unemployment: 11.3% (3rd highest)
> Median household income: $53,636 (17th highest)
> Pct. below poverty line: 14.7% (24th lowest)


50. California
 Governor: Jerry Brown, Democrat
 State Senate: Democrat control
 State House of Representatives: Democrat control


> Debt per capita: $4,008 (18th highest)
> Budget deficit: 20.7% (17th largest)
> Unemployment: 11.7% (2nd highest)
> Median household income: $57,287 (10th highest)
> Pct. below poverty line: 16.6% (18th highest)

Click here to see how all of the states do with 24/7 Wall St.’s new interactive state tool.
More from 24/7 Wall St:

• The Best and Worst Run States in America: A Survey of All 50