Just over one-third of New Yorkers believe Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul deserves another term, while a majority say they prefer a different candidate, according to a poll released Tuesday.
The Siena College survey shows that only 36 percent of voters support Hochul’s bid for a second four-year term, compared to 55 percent who say they want someone else. The results reflect a 10-point drop from the previous month, when 39 percent backed her reelection and 48 percent favored a new candidate. Hochul officially announced her reelection campaign last July, the Free Beacon reported.
The poll comes amid Republican gains in deep-blue New York, where recent trends have narrowed Democratic margins. A Siena poll earlier this year found that New Yorkers viewed President Donald Trump more favorably than Hochul, who has struggled with low approval ratings since taking office in 2021 following the resignation of former Governor Andrew Cuomo (D).
In the 2024 election, Trump lost New York by just 12.6 percentage points—down from 23.1 points in 2020 and 22.6 in 2016—signaling a shift in voter sentiment.
Although Trump’s favorability has since fallen slightly below Hochul’s, the latest Siena poll shows only a six-point gap between them, with Hochul at 44 percent and Trump at 38 percent, the Beacon noted.
According to the Tuesday poll, 64 percent of independents and 82 percent of Republicans said they would prefer a different governor. Even among Democrats, Hochul’s support is tepid—only 51 percent back her, while 38 percent said they would rather see someone else.
Though no Republican has formally entered the 2026 New York gubernatorial race, the poll shows Rep. Elise Stefanik leading the potential GOP field with 35 percent support. She is followed by Rep. Mike Lawler at 22 percent and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman at 11 percent, the outlet added.
