More Than Half of Respondents Say They Want Someone Else for Governor Next Term
By Hank Russell
Although her favorability and job approval ratings went up, it didn’t make a dent as more than half of New Yorkers still do not view the governor favorably and do not approve of her job performance, according to a new poll.
According to a poll recently released by the Siena College Research Institute (SCRI), Hochul’s favorability rating went up from 36% in October to 39% this month, while her unfavorable rating declined over the same two months from 51% to 49%. Despite the negative numbers, it was the first time since June 2024 that she had a higher favorable rating than President-elect Donald Trump, whose rating slid from 38% in October to 37% in December.
When broken down by party, 55% of Democrats, only 14% of Republicans and 29% of independents and those registered with other parties looked at Hochul favorably, while 32% of Democrats, 79% of Republicans and 58% of independents and third-party voters did not.
“There’s some good news for the Governor. Her favorability rating improved for the second consecutive poll, going from net -20 points in September, to now net -10 points, 39-49%. Her job approval rating is also up, now near breakeven, 46-49%, up net seven points since the last poll in October,” SCRI pollster Steven Greenberg said. “The bad news is that both ratings remain stubbornly underwater. Hochul has not had a positive favorability rating since January of this year and she has never had 50% or more voters view her favorably.”
While it was not part of the poll, part of the reason for her unpopularity was her announcement that she was bringing back congestion pricing. Although she proposed reducing the fee from $15 to $9, New Yorkers were not buying it. According to the SCRI, 51% were against the plan, while 29% supported it.
“There is essentially no group of New Yorkers that support the Governor’s reinstituted $9 congestion pricing plan for Manhattan. Democrats come close to break even, with opponents edging out supporters 42-40%. It’s opposed by City voters nearly two-to-one and downstate suburbanites better than two-to-one,” Greenberg said. “There is very little racial or gender divide on congestion pricing.
As for her job performance, 46% approved; that included 65% of Democrats, 19% of Republicans and 35% of independents and registered third-party voters. Forty-nine percent of those surveyed said she is not doing a good job. That comes from 31% of Democrats, 79% of Republicans and 58% of self-described independent and third-party voters.
When asked who they would vote for governor if the election were held today, only 33% said they would re-elect Hochul while 57% said they would vote for someone else. Among Democrats, 48% would choose Hochul, while 40% would not. Only 12% of Republicans would vote for Hochul while 85% said they would vote for someone else. Independent voters and third-party voters said someone else by a 65%-22% margin.
“As we now enter the 2026 gubernatorial election cycle, Hochul starts with less than an enthusiastic welcome from the voters,” Greenberg said.
In addition, 50% of those surveyed said the state is heading in the wrong direction, compared to 36% saying it’s on the right track. Despite the respondents’ feelings on Hochul’s re-election and the state, 49% of respondents said Hochul should be the Democratic Party’s gubernatorial nominee, as opposed to 32% opting for someone else. When asked which party should assume the governor’s role starting in 2027, 52% wanted a Democrat and 34% wanted a Republican.
As the state Legislature prepares for its upcoming session, SCRI asked respondents what issue matters most to them. Across party lines, the No. 1 issue was the cost of living at 43%, followed by the recent influx of migrants and affordable housing (19% each) and crime (15%). When asked if any of these problems have gotten better, 54% said crime has gotten worse, as well as the migrant crisis (54%), affordable housing (68%) and crime (54%).
“Elected officials might want to listen when more than two-thirds of voters – including 77% of Democrats, 72% of independents and 60% of Republicans – tell them that the cost of living is one of their top two priorities for the coming legislative session,” Greenberg said.