Hochul faring better in new poll, remains ‘stubbornly underwater’

The first-term Democratic governor and Buffalo native scored a 39% favorability rating, up three points from an October Siena poll. Hochul’s approval rating improved five points to 46%. And the governor’s unfavorable and disapproval rates, both at 51% in October, each dropped to 49%.

The improvements place Hochul above President-elect Donald Trump who, in a September poll of 1,000 likely voters, exceeded Hochul’s by 39% to 34% – a rare showing in New York, a heavily Democratic state.

On Tuesday, Trump’s favorability rating dropped to 37%.

“There’s some good news for the governor,” Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg said in a statement. “The bad news is that both ratings remain stubbornly underwater.”

The poll asked voters if, as things stand now, they would vote to re-elect Hochul or prefer someone else. Only 33%, including less than half (48%) of Democrats polled, said they re-elect Hochul. Another 57% said they preferred someone else.

And 50% of sampled voters said they believe the state is headed in the wrong direction. Another 36% said the state was on the right track, with 14% unsure or unopinionated on the question.

“And as we now enter the 2026 gubernatorial election cycle, Hochul starts with less than an enthusiastic welcome from the voters,” Greenberg said.

Asked if they would rather see a Democrat or Republican elected as the next governor, 52% said Democrat, 34% Republican. 

The poll asked voters to identify their top priority for the State Legislature as it prepares to begin its annual session next month. The overwhelming choice for top issue was the cost of living (43%), followed by affordable housing and the recent influx of migrants (both at 19%) followed by crime (15%).

Cost of living concerns…