Hochul widens lead over Blakeman in final week
A new Siena Research Institute survey shows the governor's advantage growing as Election Day approaches.
By Andrew Yang ·
Gov. Kathy Hochul has extended her lead over Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman to 14 points among likely voters in New York.
The Siena Research Institute released its findings on Wednesday. The survey indicates the Democratic incumbent is pulling further ahead with only days remaining before the election. In September, Hochul held a nine point lead. That margin has since expanded to double digits. Greenberg, the director of the institute, stated that Blakeman is running out of time to close the widening gap.
Blakeman is struggling to gain ground in key regions. The two candidates are nearly tied in upstate New York and the downstate suburbs. However, Hochul leads independent voters by 11 points. Historically, Republicans require strong support in these areas and among independents to overcome the Democratic registration advantage in New York City. Greenberg noted that the even split in those regions makes a comeback difficult in the final week.
Voters remain divided on the candidates' ability to lower living costs. Thirty five percent of surveyed likely voters said neither candidate would make life more affordable. Thirty percent selected Hochul, while 27 percent chose Blakeman. The survey also marked a shift in Hochul's personal standing. For the first time in her five years in office, a majority of likely voters view her favorably. Her favorable rating stands at 51 percent, compared to 45 percent who view her unfavorably. Her job approval has also risen to 51 percent from 48 percent in September. Blakeman has a 39 percent favorable rating and a 40 percent unfavorable rating.
Demographic breakdowns show distinct patterns. Hochul leads Blakeman by 23 points among women and by six points among men. She also holds a large advantage among Black voters, leading 81 percent to 16 percent. White voters are closely divided. A majority of likely voters, 68 percent, believe Hochul will win the race. Only 23 percent predict a Blakeman victory. Even among Republicans, 40 percent expect the incumbent to prevail.
Other statewide races show similar Democratic leads. Attorney General Letitia James trails her Republican opponent Saritha Komatireddy 54 percent to 39 percent. State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli leads his challenger Joseph Hernandez 59 percent to 32 percent. The Siena poll surveyed 807 likely New York voters via telephone and text to web methods between Oct. 19 and Oct. 22. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.1 percentage points. Voters will cast their ballots on Nov. 3.
