By Chris Wade
November 1st
(Republican Rep Elise Stefanik is slightly ahead of Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul in a potential New York gubernatorial race, according to a new poll by a conservative think-tank.
The Manhattan Institute poll, which surveyed 900 likely New York voters, showed 43% supporting Stefanik and 42% for Hochul — a “statistical tie” that the group says gives the GOP lawmaker a slight edge over her democratic rival in a possible race between them. Nine percent of those surveyed said they back someone else, while 7% said they are “not sure,” pollsters said.
Meanwhile, Stefanik would beat Lt. Governor Antonio Delgado, a Democrat who is mounting a primary challenge to Hochul, by six points (43%-37%) in a general election matchup, pollsters found.
Pollsters found that partisan loyalty remains strong across the state’s and New York City’s electorate, with most voters staying aligned with their party regardless of the Democratic nominee. About 70% of Hochul supporters also back Delgado, while only 3% of Democrats cross over to Stefanik, the poll found.
Pollsters suggested that those partisan divisions and Hochul’s paltry numbers may have been impacted by her decision to endorse New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist whose controversial left-wing proposals include free college and bus service and government run grocery stores.
“The contrast between Hochul’s precarious standing and Mamdani’s near-assured victory underscores New York’s split political identity — a deep-blue city within a state that appears increasingly competitive,” they said.
