Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner was voted one of the nation’s least popular governors, according to a Morning Consult poll released Thursday.
Rauner ranked sixth on the list of America’s least popular governors, garnering a 54 percent disapproval rating and a 34 percent approval rating.
After being asked about being voted one of the least popular governors in the country, Rauner said he didn't focus on polls.
"Polls go up and down and they're mostly media entertainment and I don't spend any time really focused on those," Rauner said.
Since taking office at the beginning of 2015, Rauner’s first term as governor has been marred by a lingering budget stalemate. The state has been without a budget since July of last year.
The impasse has hinged on a battle between Rauner and the Democrat-controlled legislature over the governor’s pro-business, union-weakening Turnaround Agenda. The state’s social services and public colleges and universities have suffered from a lack of funding resulting from the stalemate.
Only Paul LePage of Maine, Chris Christie of New Jersey, Rick Snyder of Michigan, Dan Malloy of Connecticut and Sam Brownback of Kansas received lower marks than Rauner.
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Brownback was named the nation's least popular governor after implementing controversial budget cuts that led to Kansas' ongoing budget crisis. Snyder, who ranked third on the list, is at the center of the Flint water crisis.
