Republican governors are firing back at CNBC after the financial outlet's annual quality-of-life rankings placed conservative red states in all the bottom-10 spots, even as official U.S. Census data shows those states are leading in population growth. CNBC faced online mockery and conservative backlash for its 2026 "America's Top States for Business" study, with critics alleging liberal bias in ranking criteria that penalize conservative legislation. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said tens of thousands of new Arkansans are "voting with their feet" for conservative leadership. The bottom ten states were Arkansas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Missouri, Utah, Georgia, Louisiana, Indiana, Texas, and Tennessee, all Republican-led and voting for Trump in 2024. CNBC's "Life, Health and Inclusion" category makes up 11.6% of a state's overall score, using data on crime, air quality, and healthcare, but also penalizing states for lack of anti-discrimination protections and restrictive abortion laws. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's spokesperson called the ranking flawed, citing Texas' low taxes, strong economy, and freedom. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp's office dismissed the rankings as baseless and...
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