Hochul favorability remains underwater as she heads into reelection, new polls shows

ALBANY – Gov. Kathy Hochul is still muddling through lackluster poll numbers as the incumbent begins gearing up for her 2026 reelection bid, according to a newly released Siena College poll.

Hochul remains underwater with 42% of New Yorkers rating her favorable compared with 47% who see her as unfavorable, the poll shows.

The results from the latest Siena survey follow a trend from the past year where Hochul was rated more unfavorable than unfavorable in 11 of the last 12 months.

Only 37% of voters say they want to re-elect Hochul compared with 55% who prefer someone else, according to the new poll.

The survey was put into the field June 23 to June 26, just as socialist Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani won the Democratic primary for New York City mayor.

The poll also gave an early look at how Hochul squares up against some of her potential 2026 Republican foes.

If the election were held today, Hochul would beat out North Country Rep. Elise Stefanik 47% to 24%, according to the poll. 

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman would be defeated 44% to 19%.

Hochul would beat Hudson Valley Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) 44% to 24%, according to Siena.

“While the early leads seem large, Hochul is not hitting the ‘magic’ 51% mark against any of these opponents, and in each matchup, between a quarter and a third of voters wasn’t able to choose between the two candidates,” points,” Siena College Research Institute Director Don Levy said.

Siena continues to show Democrats with a pessimistic view of the direction New York is heading. Just under half – 48% – said New York was on the right track compared with 37% that said it was heading the wrong direction.