Poll Shows Disturbing Disapproval for Governor Hochul and Mamdani
A recent Republican poll indicates that over 60% of voters in Nassau County are dissatisfied with Governor Kathy Hochul’s performance, particularly concerning her affiliation with mayoral candidate Zoran Mamdani.
According to a survey conducted by McLaughlin & Associates, 61% of respondents disapprove of Hochul’s governor role, and a striking 67% feel “very” disadvantaged by Mamdani, the Democratic candidate in New York City’s mayoral race.
The unpopularity of this Democratic duo is evident on Long Island, where GOP candidates are leveraging fear tactics through local campaign mailers.
“Hochul’s approval ratings are worse than when she ran three years ago,” one McLaughlin pollster, who also studies President Trump, remarked. “New York is becoming less safe, as voters can see.”
He pointed out that suburban voters, particularly, are dissatisfied with congestion pricing, a new fee implemented for drivers entering Manhattan south of 59th Street, which Hochul has defended.
There seems to be a clear distancing from Mamdani among suburban Democrats, as many fear he may harm their chances in moderately populated areas.
Both Hochul and Mamdani are prominently featured in GOP advertisements aiming to undermine fellow Democratic candidates. Local Democratic figures, including Tom Suozzi and Laura Gillen, are targeted for their ties to the current Queens councilors running for mayor.
Maeanwhile, Mamdani and Hochul have been characteristically depicted as twins in GOP ads that criticize Democratic candidates like Nicole Aloise and Joe Scarpino, who are vying for district attorney and Hempstead Supervisor, respectively.
Republican District Attorney Anne Donnelly is pursuing reelection, and the GOP’s John Ferretti is expected to fill a vacant seat for Hempstead.
The McLaughlin survey revealed that only 23% of Nassau voters have a positive perception of the Democratic candidates, while 10% remain undecided.
Jewish voters in the area exhibit heightened skepticism toward Mamdani, reflecting deep-seated concerns about his sentiments towards Israel. Remarkably, 80% of registered Jewish voters in Nassau expressed a negative opinion of Mamdani, while just 16% viewed him favorably.
“There is a genuine fear regarding anti-Semitism connected to Mamdani,” noted McLaughlin. “It’s not likely he’ll resonate well in places like Plainview.”
The concerns surrounding Hochul aren’t far off either. Polling indicates her approval rating has fallen to just 38%, with 50% strongly disapproving of her job performance—59% of Hispanic voters in Nassau feel similarly disillusioned with her leadership.
The survey also highlights that even Jewish voters, traditionally part of the Democratic base, are largely critical of Hochul, with only 44% expressing favorable views.
McLaughlin speculated that as Hochul arrives in Nassau, she is likely to not resonate well with Democratic candidates in upcoming weeks, adding, “We’ll ensure that.”
Hochul is gearing up for reelection next year, with Representative Elise Stefanik contemplating a challenge against her.
Nassau County’s Democratic leader, Jay Jacobs, acknowledged the GOP’s accurate measurements of Mamdani’s unpopularity but disputed the negativity surrounding Hochul’s performance.
“I believe there’s a misjudgment regarding Governor Hochul,” Jacobs, who is closely affiliated with her, stated. “Our voting data shows better support for her, but there is work to be done.”
He questioned whether a notable number of voters would rally behind measures like banning cell phones in classrooms or providing free school lunches.
Jacobs has highlighted Mamdani’s ties to the democratic socialist tax agenda and his controversial stance regarding Israel, mentioning that Netanyahu has expressed intentions to take legal actions against him.
While Jacobs concedes that Mamdani is “very unpopular” in Nassau, he insists Mamdani isn’t actively campaigning there.
He further accused Republicans of exploiting their errors to divert attention from the real issues at play, such as the ongoing property tax increases.
“This is classic Republican strategy,” he concluded.
The poll, which surveyed 400 potential voters, was conducted between August 19 and 21, with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points.
