Plurality Rejects Redistricting Amendment
By Hank Russell
Despite the fact that he is still trailing in the race for governor, his favorability rating has improved, according to the latest poll.
The Siena University Research Institute (SURI) found that Governor Kathy Hochul has increased her lead over challenger Bruce Blakeman to 20 percentage points last month to 53%-33% from 49%-33% in April. The good news for Blakeman is that his favorability rating is now in positive territory; in April, it was 17%-19%, but in May, it increased by eight percentage points t o 21%-21%. In addition, the percentage of people who were unfamiliar with, or had no opinion of, the county executive dropped last month to 54% from 64% in April.
After her favorability rating hit a record low of 42% two months ago and her unfavorability rating was at 46%, as reported in Long Island Life & Politics, Hochul saw her favorability rating increase slightly, but still underwater. In May, it was 43%, while her unfavorable rating was at 44%, down two percentage points from the previous month, according to SURI.
Despite her low favorability rating, Hochul has received high marks in her job performance. Fifty-three percent said they “strongly approve” or “somewhat approve” of the job the governor is doing, while 42% “somewhat disapprove” or “strongly disapprove” of her performance.
SURI also asked respondents what the single most important issue is that is affecting New Yorkers. Fifty-three percent said it was the cost of living, followed by affordable housing (13%), crime (11%), immigration (9%) and Iran and the Middle East (6%).
LILP also reported on a resolution passed by the Democrat-controlled state Legislature that would allow state residents to vote on a constitutional amendment allowing the governor and the Legislature to redraw congressional districts mid-decade and along party lines. When asked by SURI if this was good for New York, only 21% said it was, while 44% said it wasn’t. Even Democratic voters were against this, with 38% disapproving of the proposed amendment, while only 26% supported it.
Those who were polled seemed to have a more optimistic view of where the state is headed. Based on SURI data, 44% said the state is headed in the right direction — up from 38% in April — and 41% said it is going in the wrong direction; that is down from 48% in April.