By Hank Russell
Despite leading both GOP gubernatorial candidates by double digits, Governor Kathy Hochul has still yet to see her favorability rating climb above 50%.
According to a recent poll released by Siena University Research Institute (SURI), Hochul leads U.S. Representative Elise Stefanik (R-Plattsburgh), 49%-30%. Twenty percent of those polled were undecided.
As Stefanik continues to tour the state trying to garner support for her campaign, her popularity has waned. Only 22% found her favorable, while 33% did not. Last month, her favorable/unfavorable rating was 28%-36%, according to the poll.
This does not mean that Hochul fares any better. As the incumbent governor, she has a 43% favorable rating, which is higher than her 41% unfavorable rating, but still below 50% — an important benchmark for re-election. In fact, her highest favorable rating was 48% in January 2023.
The only bright spot for Hochul is that her job approval rating is above 50%. According to SURI, Hochul has a 52% job approval rating, while 39% disapprove of her job performance. That is up from 52%-43% in November.
In addition, he leads Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman by a two-to-one margin, 50%-25% with 21% undecided. Blakeman also trails Stefanik, 48%-17%.
Blakeman responded to the poll. “Four years ago, I started a campaign 24 points behind against a well-funded, popular incumbent in a county with 110,000 more Democrats, and I won,” he said in a statement. “I was re-elected this year in a landslide. I will get the Republican nomination and I will be elected Governor.”
Blakeman also noted that the poll was conducted as he announced his candidacy for governor of New York, capturing voter sentiment at the outset of the race before his campaign had the opportunity to fully introduce his record and agenda to voters statewide.
In other results, Blakeman’s ally, President Donald Trump, has seen his favorability rating take a hit. He went from being viewed favorably by 35% of respondents in November to 32% this month; his unfavorable rating went up slightly from 61% to 62%. Additionally, the president’s job approval rating is 34%-62%, down from 37%-61%.
Trump’s favorability ratings are setting up to be a major headwind going into the important midterm elections next year, when not only the governor, but also members of the state Legislature will be running for reelection, as well as members of Congress and the U.S. Senate.
During this past election season, affordability was the theme. Here in New York, the concept of universal child care was touted, with funding coming from additional taxes on those earning more than $1 million a year. According to the poll, two-thirds support this. A majority of those in support were Democrats, independent and third-party voters.