House Republican leader Ellis Stefanik (R-NY) is putting pressure on Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) after her endorsement of Democratic candidate Zoran Mamdani for New York City mayor.
A statewide poll, shared exclusively with Breitbart News and commissioned by Stefanik’s leadership PAC, E-PAC, indicates that Kathy Hochul is “deeply vulnerable,” with Stefanik trailing her by just five points in the upcoming 2026 election. The poll surveyed 1,250 voters, showing Hochul leading at 48% to 43%.
Interestingly, when voters were informed about their standings, Stefanik seemed to have a slight edge, leading Hochul by a narrow margin of 1 point—46.4% to Hochul’s 45.9%.
“It’s evident that Kathy Hochul, considered one of America’s least effective governors, is facing significant challenges and lacks support even within her own party,” Stefanik remarked in a statement. “It makes sense why she would support candidates like the radicals running for New York City mayor.”
Hochul’s backing of Mamdani surprised many, including former President Donald Trump.
“New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s endorsement of Zoran Mamdani, a self-proclaimed radical leftist, is quite shocking and unfortunate for New York City,” Trump commented. “How does something like this happen? The national spotlight will surely be on this.”
Hochul’s gambit appears to be backfiring; Mamdani has not reciprocated support for her following her endorsement.
It seems that polarized voters don’t have much incentive to rally behind Hochul right now. Since her election, her approval ratings have dropped significantly, and her leadership has been criticized, even by fellow Democrats.
“Kathy Hochul has contributed to an affordability crisis while New York grapples with the highest taxes in the nation, along with soaring energy, rent, and grocery costs,” Stefanik stated. “Hochul’s one-party rule, combined with the failures of bail reform and sanctuary state policies, places criminal interests above the safety of residents.”
Team Elise’s executive director, Alex DeGrath, labeled the situation a “devastating moment for the worst governor in America,” adding that “Hochul’s ineffective leadership is eroding whatever support she still had in New York.”
“Voters are looking for a governor who genuinely fights for change. If they choose to run against Kathy Hochul, they will likely back Elise Stefanik’s fresh approach,” he noted.
It’s worth mentioning that Stefanik’s backing comes despite her not officially entering the race yet.
“This poll is particularly revealing because it was conducted before Elise launched her campaign,” DeGrath said. “It’s clear why Kathy is feeling the heat.”
