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Poll shows Hochul leading Zeldin in the gubernatorial race

Gov. Kathy Hochul promoting a new healthcare initiative on August 3.
Office of Governor Kathy Hochul
/
Don Pollard
Gov. Kathy Hochul promoting a new healthcare initiative on August 3.

A new poll by Siena College finds Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul leading Republican Representative Lee Zeldin in the 2022 race to hold the state’s top elected post.

The poll finds Hochul ahead of Zeldin by 14 points at 53% to 39%. A poll spokesman for Siena, Steve Greenberg, said the Democratic governor, who is seeking a full term in office, leads among Democrats, African Americans and in New York City, while Zeldin is ahead in upstate. Among Independents, and in the New York City suburbs, the race is closer.

“Independent voters (are) closely divided. 44% with Zeldin, 42% with Hochul,” Greenberg said.

But numerically, there are twice as many Democrats in the state than Independents or Republicans, so Zeldin would need to win over some Democratic voters in order to be victorious in November.

The poll also found that two-thirds of all New York voters oppose the decision by the U.S. Supreme court to overturn the landmark abortion decision Roe v. Wade, and three-quarters think abortion in some form should remain legal. Hochul is pro-abortion rights, and Zeldin is anti-abortion.

Karen DeWitt is Capitol Bureau Chief for New York State Public Radio, a network of 10 public radio stations in New York State. She has covered state government and politics for the network since 1990. She is also a regular contributor to the statewide public television program about New York State government, New York Now. She appears on the reporter’s roundtable segment and interviews newsmakers. Karen previously worked for WINS Radio, New York, and has written for numerous publications, including Adirondack Life and the Albany newsweekly Metroland.