The state governor is chosen by which of the following?

The state governor is typically chosen through a popular vote, meaning that the citizens of the state directly vote for their preferred candidate in an election. This process reflects the democratic principle of allowing the electorate to have a say in who governs them at the state level. The popular vote system ensures that the elected governor has received a mandate from the people, promoting accountability and representation in government.

In contrast, the other options involve processes that do not align with the typical methods of selecting a governor. For instance, Supreme Court justices do not have a role in choosing state governors. Similarly, governors are not appointed by the president; such appointments are reserved for federal positions. Lastly, the selection of a governor through election by the state legislature would concentrate power in the legislative body, undermining direct democratic participation by the voters. Thus, the method involving popular vote stands out as the most common and representative process for selecting a state governor.