Republican governors have criticized CNBC's annual "America's Top States for Business" study, which placed several conservative-led states in the bottom 10 for quality of life. Critics argue the rankings exhibit liberal bias by penalizing states for policies favored by Republican leadership, while U.S. Census data indicates these same states are experiencing significant population booms.
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders stated that the influx of residents into her state demonstrates a preference for "commonsense, conservative leadership." CNBC's 2026 study ranked Arkansas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Missouri, Utah, Georgia, Louisiana, Indiana, Texas, and Tennessee in its bottom 10. All these states voted for former President Donald Trump in the 2024 election.
CNBC's methodology for the "Life, Health and Inclusion" category, which constitutes 11.6% of a state's overall score, has drawn particular scrutiny. According to the outlet, this category uses "hard data on factors like crime rates, air quality and healthcare," but also incorporates ideological policies, specifically penalizing states for lacking certain protections against discrimination and for having restrictive abortion laws.
"CNBC’s ranking is flawed and does not reflect reality," said Andrew Mahaleris, press secretary for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. "Texas’ low taxes, strong economy, abundant energy, and commitment to freedom deliver the quality of life and opportunity that millions of Americans choose every year." Similarly, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp's office dismissed the rankings as "baseless" and politically motivated, asserting that CNBC should instead consider the hundreds of thousands of Americans moving to Georgia annually, many from Democrat-run states.
The CNBC report specifically called out policies in some of the ranked states. Tennessee, labeled the worst state to live in, was criticized for its "bathroom law" and a law preventing local anti-discrimination ordinances, as well as Governor Bill Lee's designation of June as "Nuclear Family Month." Utah was noted for its minimum wage, childcare availability, and air quality, while Georgia faced criticism for "few protections for LGBTQ+ people."
In contrast to CNBC's findings, U.S. Census Bureau data shows a clear trend of domestic migration toward red states. Between mid-2024 and mid-2025, Texas saw a net gain of over 67,000 residents through domestic migration, Tennessee added more than 42,000, and Alabama gained over 23,000. This population shift contrasts with declines reported in some major progressive hubs, such as Los Angeles County, which lost over 53,000 residents during the same period, and New York City, which experienced a net loss of 114,000 residents to domestic outmigration.