The governor recently endorsed socialist New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, a decision that could hurt her reelection campaign, according to the poll
New York governor Kathy Hochul (D.) is “deeply vulnerable” and clinging to a narrow lead in a hypothetical matchup with Rep. Elise Stefanik (R., N.Y.), a new statewide poll of likely voters conducted by GrayHouse shows.
Stefanik is just five points behind Hochul, trailing 43 percent to 48 percent, according to the poll. But when voters learn about each candidate’s background, including Hochul’s endorsement of socialist New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, Stefanik erases that gap and takes an edge, 46.4 percent to 45.9 percent.
The poll also found that Hochul’s chances of winning reelection decline if Mamdani wins the mayoral race, with 38 percent of voters—and 47 percent of independents—saying they are less likely to vote for a Democrat if Mamdani is elected.
Just 39 percent of New Yorkers approve of Hochul’s performance, and over 56 percent disapprove, according to the poll, which also found that Stefanik has a net positive approval rating. Fifty-nine percent of respondents said that it’s time for a new governor.
A pollster at GrayHouse, Landon Wall, said the results showed Hochul to be in a “deeply vulnerable position.” Her “coalition is historically fragile” with “significant growing appetite for change,” he added.
The poll comes on the heels of Hochul’s endorsement of Mamdani last month. The governor expressed confidence that the avowed socialist “has the courage, urgency and optimism New York City needs to lead it through the challenges of this moment.”
Stefanik is expected to declare her candidacy after the November midterm elections and is bracing for a potential matchup with Hochul.
“The data is clear,” Stefanik said in a statement, “Kathy Hochul, the Worst Governor in America, is a deeply embattled and historically unpopular failed Governor who is struggling to even gain support from her own party.”
