But Still Below 50% Favorability for Both of Them
By Hank Russell
A recent poll shows that President Donald Trump and Governor Kathy Hochul’s favorability ratings went up slightly, but both politicians are still below 50%.
According to the Siena College Research Institute (SCRI), Trump’s favorability rating is now at 40%, while 55% view him unfavorably. That is a slight improvement over last month, when his favorability rating was 39%-57%. His job approval rating is higher, with 42% giving him high marks for his job performance, while 56% disapprove. While his job favorability rating stayed the same, his negative rating was up from 55% in March.
“Although Trump’s favorability and overall job approval ratings barely moved, there was one noticeable demographic that shifted – independents,” SCRI pollster Steven Greenberg said. “While more than three-quarters of Democrats give Trump negative grades on both this month and last, and more than three-quarters of Republicans give him positive grades on both this month and last, a majority of independents gave Trump positive grades on both last month and give him negative grades on both this month.”
When it comes to the issues, a majority are against Trump’s proposals. Tariffs were a big issue, with 51% opposing the 10% tariffs Trump imposed on all countries, and 58% came out against placing a 100% tariff on Chinese imports. Fifty-three percent opposed the investigation of Trump critics by the Justice Department, 62% were against laying off federal workers and 63% opposed cutting federal funding for states, including New York.
“A strong majority of Democrats opposes each proposal, as do a majority or plurality of independents,” SCRI pollster Steven Greenberg said. “A majority of Republicans support both tariff proposals, and a plurality supports DOJ investigations of Trump critics and laying off tens of thousands of workers. However, a plurality of Republicans join 76% of Democrats and 56% of independents in opposing cuts to states, including New York, in federal funding.”
As for Hochul, her favorability rating was at 44%-43%. It was the first time since January 2024 that she had a positive favorability rating. Her job approval rating is at 48%-43%, which is up from 40%-50% in March and the first time since February 2024 that a plurality of voters approve of her job performance.
“On her favorability rating, Hochul improved a little with Democrats and Republicans and the most with independents,” Greenberg said. “On her job approval rating, she lost a few points among Democrats, improved with independents and picked up the most ground with Republicans, with whom she remains strongly underwater. On both ratings, Hochul improved most among upstate and women voters.”
Those who were surveyed supported Hochul’s policies. Sixty-one percent support a cell phone ban in schools, and 64% agree with her proposal to make it a crime to wear a mask while harassing or threatening someone. Only a plurality approved her proposed changes to discovery laws and involuntary commitment of the mentally ill at 43% and 45%, respectively.
“Now, here’s something you don’t see every day in the modern political world,” said Greenberg. “On four policy proposals that Hochul has said must be part of the final budget, there is strong bipartisan agreement, with widespread support among Democrats, Republicans and independents for each. At the same time, half of voters say that they are aware that the state budget has not yet passed and is late. And more than two-thirds of voters say they are very (31%) or somewhat (41%) concerned that the budget has not yet passed.”
However, despite her positive ratings, less than 40% said they would re-elect her. In March, 34% would vote for her while 56% said they would choose someone else.In April, 39% said they would choose Hochul while 48% would vote for someone else.
“While she moved in a positive direction among voters from all parties, only a small majority of Democrats are prepared to re-elect her while two-thirds of Republicans want ‘someone else,’ as do 55% of independents, down from 64%,” Greenberg said.
In other news, 45% say New York is on the wrong track, down from 46% in March, while 41% said the state is heading in the right direction, up from 38% the previous month. Further, 65% say the state’s fiscal condition is either fair or poor — down from 68% — and 30% thought the state’s financial health was good or excellent, up from 27%.