Gov. Kathy Hochul’s favorability fell to its “worst-ever” rating after a tough to start to 2023 that included a late budget — and New Yorkers are of mixed minds when it comes to whether she is a “strong” or “effective” leader, according to a new Siena College poll.
“While voters think that the recently passed budget and many of its specifics will be good for New York, at the same time they also give Hochul her worst-ever favorability rating – the first time it’s been underwater,” Siena pollster Steven Greenberg said.
According to the May poll of 810 registered voters, 45% of New Yorkers have an unfavorable opinion of Hochul compared to 40% who view her favorably, a notable change from a month ago when respondents were evenly split at 43%.
Voters were also evenly split about whether Hochul is a “strong” leader, with 40% saying she is and the same amount declaring she is not.
Forty-nine percent of those polled believe Hochul is “out of touch” with average New Yorkers, compared to just 31% who chose she “is not out of touch.”
The findings come after a bruising few months for the newly-elected Hochul, which included a late budget and the historical rejection of her pick to lead New York’s top court.
“Since January, Hochul’s favorability and job approval ratings have both dropped in each of the last three Siena polls. Job approval has fallen by 14 points and favorability by 11 points,” Greenberg said.
There was some good news for the governor in the poll, which found that 50% of respondents either somewhat or strongly approve of her performance as governor compared to 44% who somewhat or strongly disapprove.
Just 26% of registered voters believe she is “corrupt” despite a litany of allegations of pay-to-play arrangements with campaign donors while she ran for a full term in office last year. Forty-seven percent said she is “not corrupt.”
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“By a three-to-one margin, including 72% of Democrats and pluralities of Republicans and independents, voters say Hochul is hard-working,” Greenberg said.
New Yorkers said by a 44% to 32% margin that Hochul is “honest.”
And the poll found broad support for proposals she championed in the $229 billion state budget approved more than a month past an April 1 deadline.
- Voters approved of giving judges more discretion to set bail by a 59% to 20% margin.
- Sixty-four percent approved of boosting the minimum wage by $2 over the next three years while tying future increases to inflation. Just 24% disapprove.
- Allowing the state to fine or close illegal cannabis dispensaries got a thumbs up from 58% of respondents while 26% said it was “bad for New York.”
- A slight plurality – 40% to 39% – approved of increasing the film and tax credit from $420 million to $700 million annually.
- Requiring all new buildings be electric by 2029 got backing from 40% of respondents compared to 39% who disapprove.
- A whopping 80% think $1 billion in more funding for mental health services is “good for New York.”
“Majorities of Democrats and independents think the minimum wage increase and new funding
for reproductive health care will also be good for the state. Only Democrats say the new building electrification mandates and expanded film tax credit will be good for New York,” Greenberg said.
The poll also found majorities of New Yorkers remain concerned about crime – with 93% saying it is “somewhat serious” (34%) or “very serious” (59%). Just 6% said, “not serious at all.”
Republicans and Democrats have similar levels of concerns when it comes to crime in their own communities, with 65% of voters overall saying it is at least a “somewhat serious” problem.
The partisan divide, however, came into full view once voters were asked about Hochul, who received relatively low marks from independent voters in the poll, which had a margin of error of 4.1%.
Pluralities of independents say she is corrupt (41%), ineffective (51%), dishonest (40%) and out-of-touch with ordinary New Yorkers.
“Democrats say Hochul is effective and a strong leader. Republicans and independents
disagree,” Greenberg said. “Nearly half of New Yorkers say Hochul is out of touch with average New Yorkers, including a narrow plurality of Democrats.”
