Poll Shows Gov. Kathy Hochul Struggling Ahead of 2026 Election

ALBANY – Governor Kathy Hochul is shaking up stagnant polling numbers as incumbents gear up for their re-election campaign in 2026. A recent Siena University poll reveals her challenges.

Currently, Hochul’s approval ratings are quite unfavorable, with 47% of voters seeing her in a negative light, while only 42% view her favorably. This marks a continuation of a trend observed over the past year, where she has faced criticism consistently.

In the poll, just 37% of voters indicated they would support her re-election, while a significant 55% prefer an alternative candidate.

The survey was conducted from June 23rd to June 26th, coinciding with Socialist Congressman Zoran Mamdani’s victory in the Democratic primary for New York City Mayor.

The results hint at Hochul’s early positioning against possible Republican challengers for the upcoming election. If the election were held now, she’d be ahead of North Country representative Elise Stefanik, 47% to 24%, and beat Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, 44% to 19%.

Additionally, Siena’s findings show Hochul leading Hudson Valley Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) by a margin of 44% to 24%.

However, while these early leads look promising, Hochul hasn’t crossed the critical 51% threshold against any of her potential rivals. In each matchup, many voters also remain undecided—between a quarter to a third are not committed to either candidate.

The Siena polling paints a rather bleak picture for Democrats, with only 48% of respondents believing New York is on the right track, while 37% feel it’s heading in the wrong direction.