Siena College Poll: Hochul’s Approval Rises, But Lead Over Stefanik Narrows Ahead of 2024 Election
Hochul’s Approval Ratings Rise, But Lead Over Stefanik Narrows in New Poll
Albany, NY — New York Governor Kathy Hochul is experiencing a slight uptick in job approval and favorability ratings, according to a Siena College poll released Tuesday. However, her lead over potential Republican challenger Rep. Elise Stefanik has diminished significantly, dropping from 23 points to just 14 points since June.
The poll indicates that Hochul’s favorability rating stands at 42%, a modest improvement from 42% in June, while her job approval rating has risen to 53%, up from 50%. In contrast, Stefanik’s favorability remains low at 27%.
Despite nearly half of voters expressing familiarity with the North Country congresswoman, only 29% believe she possesses the necessary experience to serve as governor. A plurality of voters, 49%, think her election would be detrimental to the state.
Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg noted, “While the Governor can trumpet her best job approval rating since March 2023, Stefanik can highlight that more than a year out from a potential match-up, Hochul’s lead over Stefanik is only 14 points, down from 23 points in June.”
The poll reveals a stark divide among party lines: over two-thirds of Democrats support Hochul, while three-quarters of Republicans back Stefanik. Independents, who previously favored Hochul, are now leaning toward Stefanik.
Regionally, Hochul maintains strong support in New York City, but downstate suburban voters have shifted from favoring her by 11 points in June to now supporting Stefanik. Upstate voters, who previously gave Hochul a 12-point lead, are now nearly evenly split.
Greenberg emphasized that Stefanik has potential for growth among voters, noting that while 49% are familiar with her, 46% remain unaware of her.
The poll also touched on broader issues affecting New Yorkers, including concerns over the recently passed “Big Beautiful Bill,” which has raised fears about potential cuts to rural hospitals. A significant 43% of voters expressed strong concern that the legislation could lead to hospital closures, with bipartisan support for addressing these issues.
On the national front, former President Donald Trump continues to face a negative favorability rating of 37-56% in New York, although this is an improvement from June. His job approval rating stands at 41-58%.
As the political landscape evolves, voters remain skeptical about the direction of the state, with 45% believing New York is headed in the wrong direction. The Siena poll, conducted from August 4-7 among 813 registered voters, carries a margin of error of +/- 4.2 percentage points.
As the 2024 gubernatorial race heats up, both Hochul and Stefanik will need to navigate these shifting dynamics to secure voter support in the months ahead.
