Most voters in New York are hoping to see someone other than Governor Kathy Hochul secure the governor’s seat in the next election, according to a newly released poll.
A Siena College survey published Tuesday reveals that 55 percent of respondents said they want “someone else” in office next year, while just 36 percent backed Hochul. This represents a 10-point drop in net support from the previous month, when 39 percent supported her and 48 percent preferred a different candidate.
The decline in support is primarily driven by increased dissatisfaction among Republicans and independents. Over 80 percent of Republicans and nearly two-thirds of independents now say they would rather vote for someone else. That’s a noticeable jump from April, when 68 percent of Republicans and 55 percent of independents shared that sentiment.
Democrats, however, remain mostly steady in their backing of Hochul, with 51 percent of Democratic voters still favoring her as their choice for governor.
Even as she faces the potential of a primary challenge from within her own party, Hochul maintains a strong position. In a theoretical Democratic primary against Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado and Congressman Ritchie Torres, Hochul leads with 46 percent, compared to 12 percent for Delgado and 10 percent for Torres.
Currently, 50 percent of voters give Hochul a positive job approval rating, an increase from 48 percent last month. However, her overall favorability took a slight dip, now at 44 percent favorable versus 46 percent unfavorable. Last month, she had enjoyed a rare positive net rating for the first time in over a year.
“After hitting year-long highs in both Hochul’s favorability and job approval ratings last month, those numbers largely held constant this month, although Republicans, already very negative toward Hochul, turned even more so on both measurements,” Siena pollster Steven Greenberg explained in a statement.
On the Republican side, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik currently leads a possible GOP primary field with 35 percent support. Congressman Mike Lawler trails with 22 percent, and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman follows with 11 percent.
Last month, before Stefanik was factored into the polling, Blakeman had been ahead of Lawler by six points.
Stefanik’s consideration of a gubernatorial run comes after her nomination to serve as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations was withdrawn. Both Lawler and Blakeman have also indicated they are contemplating campaigns, and Lawler is expected to make his decision public soon.
The GOP is eyeing an opportunity to gain ground in New York, citing Hochul’s lukewarm ratings and recent Republican progress in various regions of the state. But recognition remains an obstacle. Forty percent of voters say they don’t know enough about Stefanik to form an opinion, and even more are unfamiliar with Lawler and Blakeman.
Stefanik’s favorability is currently underwater by 8 points, with 25 percent viewing her positively and 33 percent negatively. Lawler sits at a net negative of 3 points, with 22 percent seeing him favorably and 25 percent unfavorably.
The poll was carried out between May 12 and May 15, surveying 805 registered voters. The margin of error for the results is 4.3 percentage points.

{Matzav.com}