A report released today by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a D.C.-based nonprofit government watchdog group, names North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory as one of the “Worst Governors in America.” He is joined by 17 other governors on the list including Texas Gov. Rick Perry.

“Gov. McCrory likes to keep his friends close and his campaign donors closer, doling out plum appointments to his wealthy backers,” reads McCrory’s listing on the nonprofit’s website.

A full link to CREW’s thoughts about McCrory can be found here.

Last week, McCrory was criticized for breaking a campaign promise he made last October that he would not sign any further abortion restrictions into law. In response to McCrory’s statement, Sen. Martin Nesbitt, who represents Buncombe County and who serves as the Senate Democratic Leader, released a statement of his own saying, “I think we’ve learned that Pat McCrory will say anything to make folks like him, but the people of North Carolina don’t need empty promises. We need someone who will stand up and lead.”

The full report can be found here.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) describes itself as, “an organization dedicated to promoting ethics and accountability in government and public life by targeting government officials who sacrifice the common good to special interests.” This is the organization’s second “Worst Governors in America” report.

The press release can be found below.

Press release

From Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW):