LOUDONVILLE, NY –
New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) leads Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman (R) in the race for governor 50-41%, little changed from 49-39% in August, according to a new Siena Poll of likely New York State voters released on September 23. In other statewide races, Democratic Attorney General Letitia James leads her Republican challenger, Saritha Komatireddy, 52-39%, down a little from 54-36% last month, and Comptroller Tom DiNapoli (D) leads Joseph Hernandez (R) 56-33%, virtually the same as August’s 55-32%.
While only half of likely voters say they are supporting Hochul, two-thirds of likely voters think Hochul will win, including 37% of Republicans. As for endorsements, voters say, 51-30% that President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Blakeman will be a negative for his campaign and, by a 50-30% margin, they say Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s endorsement of Hochul will be a positive for her campaign. New Yorkers oppose Trump’s renaming of Lake Ontario as Lake America 74-19%, and they oppose new large data centers in their area of the state after the state’s one-year moratorium on new large data centers expires, 63-25%.
“With six weeks until election day, voters offer good news to both Hochul and Blakeman. She now has the support of 50% of voters and saw her favorability and job approval ratings edge into positive territory. He now trails by single digits – well, nine points – in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans by more than two-to-one”, Siena pollster Steven Greenberg said. “At this time four years ago, Hochul led Lee Zeldin 17 points,54-37%, before going on to win by six points”.
“Currently, Blakeman is doing a better job with Republicans, leading 88-8%, than Hochul is with Democrats, leading 81-11%. Additionally, Blakeman is holding onto a narrow lead among independents, 44-39%, nearly the same as last month, 45-40%”,Greenberg said. “Hochul has a dominant lead in New York City, 61-27%, and the two are running neck and neck in the downstate suburbs – Hochul 48-46% – and upstate, Blakeman 47-44%”.
Hochul’s favorability rating is 48-46%, up a little from 46-49% in August. Her job approval rating ticked up to 48-47%, from 48-49% last month. Blakeman has a 35-34% favorability rating, compared to 33-26% in August.
