By a wide margin, Illinois residents have less trust in their state government than residents in any state in the nation, according to results of a Gallup politics poll released Friday.

Just 28 percent of residents polled said they trust Illinois state government “a great deal” or “a fair amount”, according to Gallup. That put Illinois 50th in terms of trusting their state government, with the next closest Rhode Island and Maine with 40 percent.

Illinois’ “exceptionally low trust level” and dead-last spot isn’t surprising, Gallup said, considering two of its last three governors – Rod Blagojevich and George Ryan – were sent to prison for crimes committed while in office.

“Additionally, the Illinois economy remains shaky and the state government continues to struggle to balance the budget, even after a significant income tax increase a few years ago,” the polling agency said.

The highest trust in state government belonged to residents in North Dakota, with 77 percent, followed closely by Wyoming, Utah, South Dakota and Nebraska.

Gallup said its results are based on a 50-state poll conducted from June to December of last year, which included interviews with a random sample of 600 residents in each state.

In addition to Illinois, Rhode Island and Maine, less than 50 percent of residents expressed trust in state government in, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, California and Maryland.

“Many of these less-trusting states have had poor economies in recent years,” Gallup said. “Louisiana, like Illinois, has a history of corruption among its elected leaders.”

jjperez@tribune.com