By Hank Russell
Despite an improvement in her favorability and job approval ratings, Governor Kathy Hochul is still underwater in those two departments, according to a poll that was released on March 10 by the Siena College Research Institute.
Hochul’s favorability rating went up from 38% to 40%, but her unfavorable rating is at 50%, according to SCRI. While 46% of those polled say she is doing a good job, 48% say otherwise. “Although Hochul’s favorability rating continues to remain in stubbornly negative territory, where it has been since February last year, her overall job approval rating is close to the breakeven mark,” Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg said. “Two-thirds of Democrats approve of the job Hochul is doing as Governor, however, 79% of Republicans and 59% of independents disapprove.”
Among Democrats, in the primary for governor, 46% would re-elect Hochul, while 11% would vote for Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado and 10% for U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres. However, among all those polled, only 34% would vote for Hochul again, while 56% said they would want “someone else.”
On many issues affecting New Yorkers, such as protection of constitutional rights, access to healthcare and public safety, a majority or plurality of those who were polled approved of the job she is doing. However, SCRI data showed that 52% said she is not doing enough to make the state more affordable, compared to 41%, while 46% believe she should work more with President Donald Trump to benefit New York (38% said she is doing a good job on that). She also received poor marks on the handling of the correction officers strike, 42%-33%.
SCRI also asked respondents about the direction the state is heading. Thirty-eight percent say New York is on the right track, but 46% say the state is heading in the wrong direction.
As for Trump, his favorability and job approval ratings are no better. While 42% approved of the job he has done so far, 55% disagreed. Thirty-nine percent see Trump favorably, compared to 57%. However, there are some positions the president holds that many agreed with:
- 57% approve of making English the official language of the United States
- 54% approve of Trump’s handling of his efforts to stop the flow of fentanyl into the country
- Voters were split (48%-48%) on how he intends to fix the immigration system
- 40% agree with Trump that the congestion pricing program should be scrapped, compared to 32%
“A plurality of voters wants to see congestion pricing eliminated, as Trump has called for. Pluralities of New York City voters and Democrats want congestion pricing to remain, Hochul’s position,” Greenberg said. “In June 2024, voters approved of Hochul’s temporary halt of congestion pricing 45-23%. In December, voters opposed Hochul’s announced reimposition of the congestion pricing tolls, 51-29%. Having one-third of voters statewide supporting the continuation of congestion pricing is the best congestion pricing has done in a Siena College poll.”