As of the first week in July, Governor Kathy Hochul appeared to have a sizable lead over her challengers if the 2026 gubernatorial election were held today.
A new Siena College Research Institute poll out Tuesday shows Hochul ahead by more than 20 points over all declared candidates, Democrat or Republican.
However, Professor Don Levy who conducted the Siena poll said the governor is far from home free.
“Where we say, ‘Would you vote for Hochul or would you vote for, ‘someone else,’” he explained. “There she's trailing this unnamed someone else, 55 to 37 so that would lead you to believe that she's vulnerable.
Less than half of those who said they would want someone other than Hochul would be willing to vote for a Republican in the race. Nearly as many voters said they are undecided so far out from the election.
It is the first poll comparing Hochul’s odds against GOP challengers. While she showed a sizeable lead against Representatives Elise Stefanik and Mike Lawler, at 47 percent to 24 percent margins, Hochul still missed topping 50 percent against any of her opponents.
“She has her work to do,” Levy explained that New Yorkers are still unhappy, “there is dissatisfaction, the issue of affordability, health care, crime, all of those issues continue to weigh on New Yorkers and weigh quite heavily.”
Hochul holds a significant lead against any Democratic challenger, as does Stefanik over her party’s challengers.
