Public opinion is harsher on second-term governors

Visual form

Line Chart: multi-line second-term governor approval paths with an average trajectory.

Layout / body structure

The chart uses one time-series panel running from reelection through the later years of a governor’s second term. Thin lines show individual governors, and a heavier line shows the average path.

What is being compared

It compares changes in net public-approval ratings across governors serving second terms, while also showing the average movement for the group.

Measurement system

The vertical scale is change in net approval rating, measured in percentage points relative to reelection. The horizontal axis tracks the year of the second term.

Visible structure inside the graphic

Many individual lines slope downward as the term progresses, and the average line follows the same direction. The spread of thin lines shows that some governors decline much more sharply than others.

Main takeaway from the visual

The chart shows that public approval tends to erode over second terms, with the average governor finishing materially below the reelection starting point.

Key standout values or extremes

The headline decline is 13.4 percentage points by the end of second terms. The article text contrasts that with a smaller four-point average decline during first terms.

Controls / sequence, when applicable

This is a static multi-line chart; there are no in-chart controls to operate.

Companion media, when applicable

There is no separate companion audio or video; the governor-approval line chart is the full visual on this page.