By Hank Russell
The race for governor seems to be tightening, according to a new poll that shows Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman within striking distance of Governor Kathy Hochul.
According to McLaughlin & Associates, Blakeman is trailing Hochul by less than four percentage points, with 49.6% saying they would vote for Hochul and 45.7% saying they would support Blakeman. That means the race is locked within the statistical margin of error. Undecided voters are up for grabs, with 4.7% saying they are unsure of who to vote for, based on poll data.
The poll was conducted between August 27 and August 31 and surveyed 800 likely New York voters.
It also found that 80% of likely voters are familiar with both candidates. Out of that group, 52% are familiar with Blakeman, while 44% know of Hochul.
Hochul’s electability and popularity seem to falter, according to the poll. Fifty-six percent of likely voters said it is time for someone else to be in charge, while less than four in 10 (38%) said Hochul should be re-elected. Further, the governor only has a 42% favorable rating and a 55% unfavorable rating. Although Blakeman’s favorable rating is lower than Hochul’s at 40%, his unfavorable rating is far lower at 30%; another 30% said they do not know enough about him to make that judgment.
Another interesting finding in the poll is the support from each candidate’s base. Nearly nine in ten registered Republicans (87%) said they are supporting Blakeman, while 78% — less than eight in 10 — of registered Democrats said they would support Hochul. The results go on to say that 34% of current Hochul voters and undecideds actively state they are willing to vote for a Republican for governor.
“Kathy Hochul’s New York is a disaster: taxes are up, rents are up, utility bills are up, crime is up, and families are fleeing the state,” Blakeman said in a statement. “The Worst Governor in America is on the ropes, and New Yorkers have had enough. This November, they’re going to fire Kathy Hochul and elect me to make New York affordable again, keep families here, and build a new era where everyone has the opportunity to prosper.”
Hochul campaign spokesperson Ryan Radulovacki responded to the poll results. “Bruce Fakeman is pushing fake AI-generated ads, fake government letters to solicit donations, and fake polls to cover up the fact that nobody in the real world is buying what he’s selling: a ‘100% MAGA’ puppet enabling ICE’s violence, running his own armed militia, and promising to gut Medicaid and raise your costs,” he said.