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Our only agenda is to publish the truth so you can be an informed participant in democracy. We need your help. More Info ### I would like to contribute One Time Monthly Yearly Join Now ![](\\" ![](\\" John Kasich stated on April 24, 2016 in comments on \"Face the Nation\": \"After my first year as governor, I was one of the most unpopular governors, maybe the most unpopular governor in the country. ... It changed.\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" true/3d4df195c595a07e3fd69b5e4aab3e3c.jpg.\\") ![\\"true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") * Ohio * Elections * Polls and Public Opinion * John Kasich By Nadia Pflaum May 2, 2016 # Yes, John Kasich is bragging about being unpopular Gov. John Kasich has been repeating an odd talking point lately: He keeps saying how unpopular he was as governor. The Ohio leader and presidential candidate said it in a Republican debate on March 30. On April 24, he repeated it on CBS Face the Nation when host John Dickerson asked if he thought it was possible for a candidate to change negative perceptions about him. \"After my first year as governor, I was one of the most unpopular governors, maybe the most unpopular governor in the country,\" Kasich said. \"It takes a long time to change negatives. People have to see that you\'re actually being fruitful in your work. What happened with me is when people started getting work, and we started balancing budgets and reaching out to people, it changed.\" Is he right about being the least beloved state leader across the land after his first year in office? An August 2011 poll by Public Policy Polling said that with a 36 percent approval rating, he was the second or third least popular governor in the country. That was at least a few points better than in March 2011, when the same pollsters found Kasich’s approval ratings in the basement at 30 percent, and in May 2011 at 33 percent. Where was the love? In April 2011, his third month in office, Kasich made boatloads of enemies with a stroke of his pen. Kasich signed a massive union reform bill that prohibited forced union membership for state employees, mandated merit pay, outlawed strikes and limited collective bargaining rights for public employees. Unlike a similar reform bill in Wisconsin, Ohio’s SB 5 included police and firefighters. The political backlash was immediate, and a repeal effort quickly coalesced and reversed Kasich’s attempt at reform. Vying for the title of most unpopular governor in 2011 was Florida’s Republican Gov. Rick Scott. Public Policy Polling found that Kasich edged out Scott for most unfavorable governor in September 2011 with a 53 percent disapproval rating, compared to Scott’s 52 percent. But Kasich said he was (maybe) the country’s most unpopular governor after his first year. If he took office in January 2011, then we’d need to know his approval rating for the first few months of 2012. PolitiFact’s Louis Jacobson looked at the cast of rookie governors in February 2012, one year into their terms, for Governing magazine. Kasich made Jacobson’s list of the seven rookie governors who were struggling the most. Here they are, by approval rating: Jerry Brown (D-CA): 47 percent Rick Scott (R-FL): 43 percent Neil Abercrombie (D-HI): 39 percent #### Featured Fact-check ![](\\" black/4590875651af69b2c789ceab409664dd.jpg\\") ![](\\" black/72988380e8c8bd188dc360d11552e4a0.jpg\\") X posts stated on August 14, 2024 in a post Photo from an Aug. 14 campaign event in Michigan shows “JD Vance couldn’t fill a small room.” ![\\"true\\"](\\" false/33efdb6633e5e2fdc2d4e2f63383a1e0.jpg.\\") ![\\"false\\"](\\" false.jpg\\") By Sara Swann • August 15, 2024 Scott Walker (R-WI): 38 percent Nikki Haley (R-SC): 35 percent John Kasich (R-OH): 33 percent Lincoln Chafee (I -RI): 22 percent Based on these numbers, Kasich is the second-most unpopular governor after his first year. But Jacobson’s analysis only counted the 26 governors who took office at the start of 2011. Jacobson notes that approval ratings for governors aren’t exactly the holy grail of polling. He had to consult a handful of different polling groups for his comparison. Peter A. Brown, the assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll, concurred. \"Nobody’s done every governor in the country,\" he said. \"There’s no reason to.\" He said Quinnipiac only polls from nine states. \"What you can say is that it’s not possible to determine (whether Kasich was the least popular governor in the country),\" Brown said. \"But in a general sense, he’s probably right. He was certainly close to the bottom.\" Rob Nichols, Kasich’s presidential campaign spokesman who was also the spokesman for the governor’s office in 2011, told us, \"Well yeah, we had just come from the election with $10 million in negative attack ads against us. So the last thing you saw was all this TV, trashing him.\" Nichols also gave us this anecdote: In August 2011, his official email inbox was bombarded with form letters that started out, \"Dear Gov. Kasich staff member, I wanted Gov. Kasich to know that I voted for him in the Worst Governor Ever contest at \"I got so many that I had to get our IT people to route them to a special mailbox so they wouldn’t destroy my inbox,\" Nichols said. Ohioans started to warm to Kasich after the turbulent first year. Later in 2012, his rating bumped up to the 40s, and was up to 53 percent approval in 2013. Quinnipiac University had Kasich polling at 62 percent favorability in October 2015. Our ruling Kasich said, \"After my first year as governor, I was one of the most unpopular governors, maybe the most unpopular governor in the country.\" At its lowest, in March 2011, his favorability among the Ohioans who had just elected him was an abysmal 30 percent. That was bad enough to crown Kasich as the least-popular governor in America for a brief period. We rate this claim True. #### Read About Our Process The Principles of the Truth-O-Meter ### Our Sources Poll, Public Policy Polling, Aug. 18, 2011 Poll, Public Policy Polling, Sept. 30, 2011 Poll, Brown University, Oct. 10, 2012 Interview, Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll, April 28, 2016 Interview, Rob Nichols, spokesman, John Kasich for America, April 28, 2016 Email interview, Louis Jacobson, senior correspondent at PolitiFact, Apr. 27, 2016 Article, \"Rookie Governors: Who’s Struggling?\" Governing, Feb. 23, 2012 Article, \"Ohio governor signs anti-union bill,\" Reuters, Apr. 1, 2011 Article, \"Who’s the most unpopular governor in America?\" Mother Jones, May 31, 2011 Article, \"John Kasich’s remarkable rebound continues in Ohio,\" Washington Post, Feb. 29, 2013 Article, \"John Kasich replaces Rick Scott as most unpopular governor in 2011,\" Huffington Post, Sept. 30, 2011 Article, \"Ohio turns back a law limiting unions’ rights,\" New York Times, Nov. 8, 2011 Article, \"How mean old John Kasich became Mr. Nice,\" Politico Magazine, Feb. 3, 2016 ## Browse the Truth-O-Meter ### More by Nadia Pflaum ![](\\" ![](\\" Ohio Republican Party stated on October 28, 2016 in a campaign mailer: \"Casey Weinstein: No faith in our military\" ... \"When some of our cadets wanted to watch a religious film, Casey Weinstein sued the U.S. military. Sued our soldiers?\" ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Nadia Pflaum • November 7, 2016 ![](\\" ![](\\" Bloggers stated on September 30, 2016 in an online article: \"Tens of thousands of fraudulent Clinton votes found in Ohio warehouse.\" ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Nadia Pflaum • November 1, 2016 ![](\\" ![](\\" Donald Trump stated on October 22, 2016 in a rally outside Cleveland: Says Ohio’s I-X Center \"used to be a great plant,\" but \"thousands of people of worked here, and they left\" when their jobs were moved overseas. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Nadia Pflaum • October 31, 2016 ![](\\" official-portrait/6bf029c158b50f6bf01d20a829d8828c.jpg\\") ![](\\" official-portrait/de43154da15e43e00eea6e32aec9a166.jpg\\") Rob Portman stated on October 20, 2016 in the Ohio Senate debate: Says Ted Strickland \"in this campaign bragged about his A-plus rating with the NRA. ... He has said he has a mixed and spotty record on this issue and that he can be criticized for it. Those are his words, not mine. So I don’t know where he is on this issue.\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" By Nadia Pflaum • October 21, 2016 ![](\\" official-portrait/6bf029c158b50f6bf01d20a829d8828c.jpg\\") ![](\\" official-portrait/de43154da15e43e00eea6e32aec9a166.jpg\\") Rob Portman stated on October 17, 2016 in at a debate in Columbus, Ohio: Says Sen. Rob Portman says Ted Strickland earned $400,000 a year as a lobbyist after leaving Ohio for Washington. ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") By Nadia Pflaum • October 20, 2016 ![](\\" ted-strickland____/81c1b4baa950ba5965a5fdfc754ff5f9.jpg\\") ![](\\" ted-strickland____/786d3a8b57ebc4eca1b06825b7524ad1.jpg\\") Ted Strickland stated on October 14, 2016 in in a Ohio senatorial candidate debate: Says Sen. Rob Portman said, \"It would be irresponsible not to cut Medicare.\" ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") By Nadia Pflaum • October 20, 2016 ![](\\" ![](\\" ClearPath Action Fund stated on September 28, 2016 in a campaign ad: Says \"Rob Portman voted for the bipartisan bill to affirm climate change is real, humans significantly contribute to it and it needs to be addressed.\" ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Nadia Pflaum • October 10, 2016 ![](\\" ted-strickland____/81c1b4baa950ba5965a5fdfc754ff5f9.jpg\\") ![](\\" ted-strickland____/786d3a8b57ebc4eca1b06825b7524ad1.jpg\\") Ted Strickland stated on September 21, 2016 in a campaign ad: Says Rob Portman \"even voted to allow people on the terrorism watch list to buy guns.\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Nadia Pflaum • September 29, 2016 ![](\\" ![](\\" Donald Trump stated on September 8, 2016 in a rally in Cleveland: \"We spend more per student than almost any other major country in the world.\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" By Nadia Pflaum • September 21, 2016 ![](\\" mugs-mug- independentgroup____________________/41dfed38296fe3f48d11ff286b0da1cc.jpg\\") ![](\\" mugs-mug- independentgroup____________________/df4eaf56ef02f0fe8dcb1410d3a2d2a7.jpg\\") American Unity PAC stated on August 30, 2016 in a campaign ad: Says Ted Strickland supported giving $150 billion to Iranian regime that persecutes women, Christians and gays. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Nadia Pflaum • September 15, 2016 ![](\\" ![](\\" U.S. Chamber of Commerce stated on August 12, 2016 in a campaign ad : \"As governor, Ted Strickland left only 89 cents in Ohio’s rainy day fund.\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" By Nadia Pflaum • September 8, 2016 ![](\\" ![](\\" National Republican Senatorial Committee stated on August 18, 2016 in \"Flush,\" a campaign ad : \"And while (Ted) Strickland proposed cuts for services for children, he wasted over $250,000 remodeling his bathrooms at the governor’s mansion.\" ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Nadia Pflaum • September 1, 2016 ![](\\" ![](\\" Viral image stated on August 29, 2016 in an image shared on social media from NaturalNews.com: As the number of vaccines administered to children has increased in the United States, so has the autism rate. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Nadia Pflaum • August 29, 2016 ![](\\" mugs-donkey/ac9cfb0dcf8dcb50888edccc72adfae6.jpg\\") ![](\\" mugs-donkey/1b0a94aa5ab4fad0c38136fe7c2770e3.jpg\\") Ohio Democratic Party stated on August 12, 2016 in an online ad campaign, \"The Portman Files\": \"Who would sign up to speak for a (Haitian) dictator? Rob Portman.\" ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Nadia Pflaum • August 23, 2016 ![](\\" ![](\\" Viral image stated on August 15, 2016 in viral image circulating on the internet: Says there were multiple instances of voter fraud in Wood County, Ohio. ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Nadia Pflaum • August 16, 2016 ### Yes, John Kasich is bragging about being unpopular * ![](\\" ![](\\" Donald Trump stated on September 10, 2024 in at a Sept. 10 presidential debate: \"In Springfield (Ohio), they\'re eating the dogs, the people that came in, they\'re eating the cats. They\'re eating, they\'re eating the pets of the people that live there.” ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Jeff Cercone • September 11, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Social Media stated on September 6, 2024 in in social media posts: Haitian immigrants are eating pets and wildlife in Springfield, Ohio. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Jeff Cercone • September 9, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Social Media stated on September 2, 2024 in social media posts: The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club is on the way to Aurora, Colorado, to confront a Venezuelan gang. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Loreben Tuquero • September 9, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Kamala Harris stated on July 20, 2024 in remarks at a fundraiser in Provincetown, Mass.: Donald Trump “took away protections against discrimination for LGBTQ patients under the Affordable Care Act.” ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" mostly-true.jpg\\") By Grace Abels • September 9, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" One Nation stated on August 23, 2024 in an ad: “Sen. Jacky Rosen voted to increase taxes on families making less than $75,000 a year.” ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Seth A. Richardson • September 9, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on September 3, 2024 in una publicación en Facebook: \"La nueva ley de condonación elimina $15,000 de la deuda de tarjetas de crédito para todos los estadounidenses\". ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Maria Briceño • September 9, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" X posts stated on September 3, 2024 in una publicación en X: “Un grupo de 32 venezolanos armados tomaron esta noche un edificio de apartamentos en Chicago”. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Sofia Ahmed • September 9, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Donald Trump stated on September 7, 2024 in a rally in Mosinee, Wis.: Vice President Kamala Harris “cast the tiebreaking votes that caused the worst inflation in American history, costing a typical American family $28,000.” ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Louis Jacobson • September 8, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" National Republican Senatorial Committee stated on August 28, 2024 in an Instagram ad: Elissa Slotkin “gave your hard-earned tax money to illegal immigrants.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Caleb McCullough • September 6, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Instagram posts stated on September 5, 2024 in a post: Video shows Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz dancing to Beyoncé in a cowboy hat and crop top. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Sara Swann • September 6, 2024 Load more ### Support independent fact-checking. 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After my first year as governor I was one of the most unpopular governors maybe the most unpopular governor in the country It changed