States with Republican governors dominated those with the greatest growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the second quarter of 2023, data released Tuesday by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) reveal.
“Real” (inflation-adjusted) GDP increased in 44 of the 50 states, from the first quarter. Of the top five annualized percentage increases, four have Republican governors:
- Wyoming: +8.7% – Gov. Mark Gordon (R)
- Kansas: +7.4 – Gov. Laura Kelly (D)
- Nebraska: +5.9% – Gov. Jim Pillen (R)
- Texas: +4.9% – Gov. Greg Abbott (R)
- Alaska: +4.8% – Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R)
Of the top ten states, seven are run by Republican governors, including Oklahoma #6 Oklahoma (+4.5%, Gov. Kevin Stitt), #8 North Dakota (+3.7%, Gov. Doug Burgum) and #9 West Virginia (+3.6%, Gov. Jim Justice).
Real GDP increased in 14 of the 23 industry groups for which BEA prepares quarterly state estimates. Utilities; professional, scientific, and technical services; durable-goods manufacturing; and mining were the leading contributors to the increase in real GDP nationally.
Mining increased in 43 states and was the leading contributor to growth in eight states – including Wyoming, the state with the largest percentage increase in real GDP. In the states with the second and third largest GDP growth (Kansas and Nebraska, respectively), the agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting industry group was the leading contributor.
Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting increased in 25 states and was the leading contributor to growth in 6 states, including Kansas and Nebraska, the states with the second- and third-largest increases in real GDP, respectively.
Utilities increased in all 50 states and the District of Columbia and was the leading contributor to growth in 22 states. The professional, scientific, and technical services sector also increased in all 50 states and was the leading contributor to growth in two states. Durable-goods manufacturing increased in 48 states and was the leading contributor to growth in one state.
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