Who’s leading the country’s most progressive states? From California to Maryland, these ten governors are—for better or worse—pushing bold agendas on climate, labor, abortion, and education. The list, as with any like this, is a bit subjective but we analyzed each sitting governor’s recent policy output, public messaging, and how frequently they’re targeted by conservatives for being “too liberal.” We alo reviewed 2024–2025 news coverage, signed legislation, speeches, and executive orders to assess who’s governing farthest to the left.
Whether they’re raising the minimum wage or clashing with the president and the federal government, these governors are setting the pace for blue-state governance —and in some cases, influencing the national Democratic agenda heading into 2026 and beyond.
Gavin Newsom (California)
California’s Gavin Newsom easily tops the list. In just the past year, he signed a nation-leading $20 minimum wage for fast-food workers, expanded free school meals to all public-school students, and led multistate lawsuits on climate and gun control. Nationally, Newsom is often the face of liberal governance, drawing constant fire from conservatives. He’s currently the favorite to be the Democratic presidential nominee in 2028.
Tim Walz (Minnesota)
After winning full Democratic control in 2022, Tim Walz unleashed one of the most liberal agendas (again, for better or worse) in Minnesota history. He passed universal school meals, a nation-leading 100% clean electricity law, a red-flag gun law, and a generous paid family and medical leave program. His “One Minnesota” message may sound moderate, but Walz is governing as one of the most progressive executives in the country—especially outside the coasts.
Maura Healey (Massachusetts)
Governor Maura Healey has been quietly transforming Massachusetts’ policy landscape with a focus on equity, affordability, and progressive taxation. In 2025, she unveiled an $8 billion rescue plan for the MBTA, funded by the state’s millionaires tax, and proposed banning broker fees paid by renters—a move cheered by housing advocates. Healey’s also leading efforts to overhaul the state’s graduation testing system with an eye toward educational equity. Her style is low-drama, but her policies are unmistakably left-of-center.
Bob Ferguson (Washington)
A newcomer to the governor’s mansion, Bob Ferguson has wasted no time solidifying his liberal credentials. The former state attorney general made national headlines for suing the Trump administration more than 100 times—and his gubernatorial agenda picks up right where his legal battles left off. He’s pledged to expand abortion access, protect LGBTQ+ rights, and fast-track housing development across the state. With strong support from the state’s progressive base, Ferguson is positioning Washington as a bulwark against national conservative trends.
Josh Green (Hawai‘i)
Josh Green, a physician by training, is combining public health values with an aggressive climate agenda. In the wake of Maui’s deadly wildfires, Green signed a “green fee” for tourists to fund climate resilience projects, and he pushed a new lodging tax to support wildfire recovery and coastal adaptation. As the climate crisis intensifies, Green has turned Hawai‘i into a laboratory for progressive environmental policy that blends tourism, equity, and long-term sustainability.
Phil Murphy (New Jersey)
Now in his final term, Phil Murphy is doubling down on his progressive legacy. His administration has expanded paid parental leave, eliminated out-of-pocket abortion costs, and set a 100% clean energy target by 2035. He’s also taken a national stance, stockpiling abortion pills and preparing for possible federal rollbacks. While business-friendly in tone, Murphy has consistently governed from the left on reproductive rights, education, and climate action.
Wes Moore (Maryland)
Wes Moore may be a relative newcomer, but he’s already gaining a national reputation as one of the Democratic Party’s most ambitious young leaders. His administration raised the minimum wage to $15 an hour, launched a year-of-service program for high school graduates, and introduced a bold plan to end child poverty in Maryland. Moore has framed his agenda as a “moon-shot,” blending moral clarity with policy ambition—and putting Maryland in the vanguard of progressive governance.
Gretchen Whitmer (Michigan)
After restoring abortion rights, repealing right-to-work laws, and passing red-flag gun legislation, Gretchen Whitmer has solidified her place among America’s most liberal governors. Her recent push to offer tuition-free community college to all Michigan high school grads is a signature achievement, and she’s also investing in clean energy and electric vehicle manufacturing. Whitmer governs a purple state, but her record is consistently blue—and she’s shown a knack for turning progressive priorities into law.
Michelle Lujan Grisham (New Mexico)
Now deep into her second term, Michelle Lujan Grisham is quietly one of the most progressive governors in the country. She’s expanded free college programs, increased funding for adult education, and signed a suite of labor and gun-safety bills in early 2025. From Medicaid expansion to paid sick leave, Lujan Grisham has turned New Mexico into a model of blue-state governance in the Southwest—often under the national radar.
Katie Hobbs (Arizona)
Katie Hobbs is governing a deeply divided state, but she’s emerged as one of the most aggressive liberal veto pens in the nation. In 2025 alone, she blocked more than 130 GOP-backed bills, including legislation targeting classroom speech, LGBTQ+ rights, and voting access. At the same time, she’s championing clean energy tax credits and child-care subsidies. Hobbs may not have the same legislative firepower as some of her blue-state peers, but her consistent resistance to right-wing culture wars earns her a spot on this list.
