Kathy Hochul Widens Lead Over Bruce Blakeman in New York Polls
Governor Kathy Hochul holds a 14-point lead over Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman according to new Siena College polling showing her highest favorability rating to date.
Recent polling indicates that Kathy Hochul has significantly widened her lead over Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman in the New York gubernatorial race. A Siena College poll places Hochul ahead 54% to 40%, a 14-point margin that has grown from a 9-point lead in September. A Marist College poll shows a similar trend, with Hochul leading 53% to 42%.
For the first time in five years of Siena polling, a majority of voters view Hochul favorably, with her rating reaching 51%. The data shows Hochul maintains an 11-point advantage among independent voters and is virtually tied with Blakeman in the downstate suburbs and upstate New York. Other Democratic incumbents, including Attorney General Letitia James and Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, also hold significant leads in their respective races.
Bruce Blakeman has disputed these findings, claiming the race remains in the single digits and that Republicans are being undersampled. While Blakeman has campaigned on the repeal of congestion pricing, Hochul has focused on AI regulation and early-voting turnout. Despite her lead, a plurality of respondents believe neither candidate will successfully make New York more affordable.
