4 Hard Realities Behind Tim Walz’s Approval Rating Decline
Even leaders carry the weight of public opinion. Here’s where Tim Walz stands, and what the numbers quietly reveal.
November 29, 2025
1. Why is Tim Walz’s approval rating slipping?
Because numbers don’t just measure performance; they measure trust.
Walz’s approval has edged down from 56% to 53% over the year, just enough to feel like a slow-moving storm he can see but can’t quite outrun. Ranking 33rd among all U.S. governors, he finds himself in the quiet middle; neither celebrated nor condemned outright, but suspended in a space where every percentage point feels like a judgment on his journey.
2. Who else walks the difficult road of high public scrutiny alongside Governor Walz?
He is not alone in carrying the cross of high disapproval. His 41% rating places him in a difficult fraternity, tied with Texas's Greg Abbott. Only three others bear heavier burdens, notably Iowa's Kim Reynolds at a sobering 53%. It's a painful reminder that the weight of leadership is often met with profound division and public heartache.
3. who are the governors feeling the love of their constituents?
While Governor Walz labors in the middle ground, others bask in glorious adoration. Governor Phil Scott (R-VT) leads the nation with a stunning 75% approval, alongside Governor Mark Gordon (R-WY) at 71%. They stand as shining beacons of trust and unity, a stark and inspiring contrast to the profound challenges Walz currently faces.
4. What’s at stake as Walz seeks a historic third term?
Everything! And maybe more than he expected.
Walz’s decision to run for a third term is more than political strategy; it’s an emotional wager. If he wins, he becomes the first Minnesota governor in modern history to serve three straight terms. But to get there, he must campaign with approval numbers that whisper uncertainty and disapproval numbers that shout criticism.
For Walz, 2025 isn’t just another chapter. It’s his reckoning. His chance to prove that polls reflect a moment, not a destiny, and that a leader’s heart can outlast a headline.