The polling group, Morning Consult, has released its first-quarter 2019 results for the approval and disapproval rates of governors across the United States.  Glancing at the feature at the top, showing the 10 most popular governors, an obvious fact might jump out at those who pay attention to politics:  They’re all Republicans.

In fact, of the 22 governors with at least 50% approval, only four are Democrats.  That means 19 Democrat governors are leading states in which fewer than half of people are willing to say they approve of  them.  That contrasts with just nine Republicans of whom the same could be said.

Rhode Island’s Democrat offering on the list, Gina Raimondo, ties with two other Democrats for third-lowest approval rating.  The tie goes away, however, when one notes that Raimondo’s disapproval rate of 50%.  Only Republican Matt Bevin, of Kentucky, outdoes that, with 52% disapproval.

That means Rhode Islanders have more reason than most to solve a mystery inherent in the numbers:  How are Democrats able to secure and hold governorships despite their unpopularity while governing?