A recent Siena College poll shows that New York Governor Kathy Hochul has a lower favorability rating than former President Donald Trump among likely Empire State voters. Only 34% of voters view Hochul favorably, compared to 39% for Trump. Hochul’s unfavorability rating is at 54%, its highest ever, resulting in a net favorability of -20%, while Trump’s net favorability sits at -18%. Despite Hochul’s efforts to boost Democrats and scrap congestion pricing, her numbers have continued to decline, but fortunately for other Democrats on the ballot, her popularity has not had a significant impact on them.
Vice President Kamala Harris and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand hold significant leads over their Republican opponents in New York, according to the same Siena survey. 55% of voters would choose Harris over 42% for Trump in a head-to-head matchup. Harris is trusted more than Trump on various issues such as abortion, democracy, and the economy, while they are equally trusted on immigration. The poll was conducted shortly after a debate between Trump and Harris, with 43% of voters saying the debate did not affect their vote in November, although 37% were more likely to support Harris after the debate.
Trump has a slight edge in New York suburban counties such as Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, Nassau, and Suffolk, with 50% of respondents preferring him over Harris at 48%. On the other hand, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is in a strong position for her third term, as 54% of respondents said they would vote for her compared to 31% for her Republican challenger, Mike Sapraicone. A significant 84% of respondents had no opinion of Sapraicone, showcasing Gillibrand’s popularity and support among New York voters.
Despite efforts by Governor Hochul to boost her favorability ratings, she still lags behind former President Trump in terms of popularity among New York voters. Although there is a higher number of voters who are undecided about Hochul compared to Trump, her negative ratings still remain high. However, other Democratic candidates such as Vice President Harris and Senator Gillibrand are maintaining strong leads over their Republican opponents in the upcoming election. The Siena College poll also indicates that the debate between Trump and Harris had a modest impact on voters, with more leaning towards supporting Harris after the debate.
In terms of voter preferences in New York suburban counties, Trump is slightly favored in certain areas over Harris, while Gillibrand is projected to win by a significant margin in her race for a third term. The low name recognition for Republican candidates like Sapraicone reflects the challenge they face in gaining support in a state dominated by Democratic voters. Despite the tough competition and changing dynamics in New York politics, the upcoming election will be crucial for both established and new candidates to secure the trust and support of voters in the Empire State.
