U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico promise to serve all in El Paso
U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico discusses key public points in Texas throughout the first cease of his Frontera Tour July 11, 2026 in El Paso.
A CNBC study ranking Texas among the many worst states is sparking reactions throughout social media.
Several lawmakers reacted to CNBC’s 2026 list of the worst states to live in, with Republicans blasting the study and Democrats blaming the state’s Republican management for the low ranking.
Texas was second on the listing, behind solely Tennessee.
CNBC cited well being care, crime, inclusiveness, employee protections and reproductive rights as components, noting that the Lone Star State has America’s highest price of individuals with out medical insurance at 16.7%, greater than twice the nationwide common. Texas additionally finishes useless final in main care physicians per capita, in accordance with CNBC.
The state finally earned an “F” for high quality of life, although the report cited childcare and air high quality as strengths.
Tennessee was the state on the high of the ranking due to legal guidelines concentrating on the LGBTQ+ neighborhood, together with a so-called “bathroom law” and a legislation that explicitly bars localities from adopting their very own antidiscrimination ordinances.
Here is the complete listing of CNBC’s Worst states to stay in America in 2026:
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Indiana
- Louisiana
- Georgia
- Utah
- Missouri
- Alabama
- Oklahoma
- Arkansas
Texas lawmakers on either side of the aisle weighed in on the ranking on social media.
Rep. Chip Roy shares meme
Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) shared a meme on X, saying, “Airdrop this into every failing blue state,” in reference to the listing.
Congressman Lance Gooden calls listing ‘rubbish’
Congressman Lance Gooden known as the study one other “garbage list from the mainstream media.”
“If you hate not paying income taxes, law and order, parental rights, smaller government, school choice, the Second Amendment, and criminal illegal aliens being arrested…,” Gooden mentioned, mocking the listing.
Rep. Gina Hinojosa blames ranking on Gov. Abbott
State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, who’s running for governor towards Gov. Greg Abbott, issued a news release responding to the CNBC study. She mentioned whereas campaigning, Texans often increase issues about rising prices, neighborhood college closures and foreign-owned knowledge facilities transferring into their communities.
“This ranking change is a direct result of Greg Abbott’s failed policies that put his billionaire donors before working Texans: siphoning $1 billion from Texas’ public schools into an unaccountable voucher program, raising electricity costs for millions of households, and handing data centers the most generous tax dollar giveaway in the country,” Hinojosa said.
Escobar says Republican control led to Texas’ low ranking
U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar shared a Texas Democratic Party post featuring Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and Attorney General Ken Paxton, with the caption, “30 years of Republican control.”
“Brought to us by decades of total Republican control of state government,” Escobar wrote.
Natassia Paloma may be reached at [email protected], @NatassiaPaloma on X, natassia_paloma on Instagram, and Natassia Paloma on Facebook.