A new statewide poll shows Governor Kathy Hochul losing ground with voters on job approval and favorability, even as she modestly widens her lead over Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman in a hypothetical gubernatorial matchup.
The Siena College survey, conducted between April 27th and April 30th among 806 registered voters, found Hochul leading Blakeman 49% to 33% if the election were held today. The margin represents a slight increase from last month when her lead had narrowed significantly compared to earlier in the year.
While Hochul’s advantage in a head-to-head race has grown, the poll also reflects declining support in other areas. Just under half of respondents – 48% – said they approve of her performance as governor while 44% said they disapprove. Her personal favorability numbers were slightly weaker with 46% of voters holding an unfavorable view compared to 41% who view her favorably. Another 13% said they were unsure or had no opinion.
Blakeman’s numbers indicate that many voters are still unfamiliar with him. The poll found 64% of respondents said they did not know enough about him or had no opinion while 19% viewed him unfavorably and 17% favorably.
The results suggest a race that remains fluid with both candidates facing different challenges. Hochul is dealing with slipping approval ratings and Blakeman working to increase his statewide visibility.
Earlier in the year, Hochul held a significantly larger advantage with January polling showing her ahead by more than two dozen points. That lead tightened in subsequent months before expanding slightly again in the latest survey.
Blakeman dismissed the findings during a visit to the State Capitol signaling confidence in his campaign despite trailing in the polls.
“Let’s focus on Kathy Hochul and New York issues,” he said. “She wants to talk about Donald Trump. I’m going to talk about her record versus my record.”
Hochul, meanwhile, responded to questions about Blakeman’s political positioning and his ties to former President Donald Trump with pointed criticism, suggesting his campaign is closely aligned with national Republican leadership.
“That’s just precious, isn’t it? I know he’s going to get his marching orders. He’s got to find out what Donald Trump wants him to do to the state of New York because this is what he would do if he was ever elected. I’m not surprised he’s going down there to ask for his help in his struggling campaign. I think the voters will look at that with a skewed eye, how they feel about a candidate for governor having to go to the White House to get directions on what to do.”
When asked about Blakeman’s criticism of Democrats without directly addressing Trump, Hochul added, “That’s what happens when you’re bought and paid for by Donald Trump.”
The poll also measured voter sentiment toward Trump with 64% of respondents expressing an unfavorable opinion and 33% viewing him favorably.
Regionally, the data shows Hochul maintaining strong support in New York City where she leads by a wide margin. The race is much closer in other parts of the state. Among independent voters, the margin between the two candidates is narrow, indicating a potential battleground group as the campaign progresses.
With several months remaining before the general election, the poll highlights a mixed political landscape: an incumbent governor holding a clear lead but facing declining approval ratings and a challenger who has made gains but remains largely unknown to a significant portion of the electorate.
