ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — Governor Kathy Hochul’s job approval and favorability ratings are up, and she maintains her lead over the likeliest Republican opponent in the race for governor, Congressmember Elise Stefanik, according to the Siena Poll that came out on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Marist Poll released that same day shows Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani with a lead in the New York City mayoral race against former Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Hochul and Stefanik
Hochul’s job ratings stand at 54% approval and 40% disapproval, her best approval rating since February 2023, per the Siena Poll. They also found Hochul’s favorability at 45% favorable to 42% unfavorable, marking the first time that rating turned positive since April 2025 and her best favorability rating since January 2024.
Hochul holds a 25-point lead over Stefanik in a potential head-to-head gubernatorial match-up, earning the support of 52% of voters polled compared to the congressmember’s 27%. Pollsters called it the first time the governor clinched more than 50% in this match-up.
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The Siena Poll also found that, asked if they’d reelect the governor, 37% of voters would, while 51% preferred “someone else.” Even so, it showed Stefanik with a 21% favorable and 34% unfavorable rating, a decline from her 27% favorable and 32% unfavorable rating in August. Indeed, the poll showed her trailing the governor in New York City, the downstate suburbs, and upstate.
Beyond the head-to-head numbers, Siena offers more on Hochul’s standing with different constituencies. A majority of voters polled credited Hochul with working hard for New Yorkers, providing decisive leadership, getting things done, and demonstrating honesty and integrity.
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The governor has a 41-point lead over Stefanik in New York City, a 23-point lead in the suburbs, and a 9-point lead upstate. When broken down by race, Hochul leads with white voters (46% to 35%), Black voters (73% to 6%), and Latino voters (65% to 19%). Hochul’s lead with independent voters, who were leaning toward Stefanik last month, now support the incumbent 43% to 25%.
Mamdani and NYC
The latest Marist Poll showed New York two most recent governors, Hochul and Cuomo, in very different political positions. And a desire for change and new leadership was present throughout New York City, according to poll findings.
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While many believe the city is headed in the right direction, they see Mamdani as the candidate most likely to bring change across the notoriously expensive five boroughs. According to Dr. Lee Miringoff, the Director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion, Mamdani’s support comes from Democrats and non-enrolled voters, “the same coalition he had when he come from behind to win that [Democratic] primary.”…