As she was campaigning this year, Gov. Kathy Hochul asked if the race for her could be considered a re-election or true "election" in the sense that she had never really been elected to the job before. 

Speaking on NY1's Mornings on 1, Hochul agreed: It's an election for her. She's now about to start her first full term as governor, the first woman elected to the job after she filled out the remainder of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo's four-year term following his 2021 resignation. And there's a lot of work to do. 

A Siena College poll released this week found New York voters do not think Hochul accomplished much when it came to issues they care about like public safety and inflation.

Hochul can arguably counter with this: New York's controversial bail laws were changed to include more instances in which cash bail would be required, a record amount of direct aid was approved for schools making peace with education advocates in the process, property tax rebate checks for homeowners and checks for families with qualifying incomes were sent out and a suspension of the gas tax was approved. 

Still, voters in New York, especially independents, continue to have a static relationship with Hochul. Her favorability rating has never climbed much above 50% and she remains unpopular with the ever-increasing ranks of people who are not registered in a party. 

"Now I think what the governor has is an opportunity to hit the reset button and say, this is me," said Siena College pollster Steve Greenberg. "This is who I am."

Hochul is set to deliver a series of high-profile speeches, including an inaugural address on Jan. 1 and a State of the State outlining her priorities for the new year on Jan. 10. 

"I think what she needs to do is find a way to cut through that a little bit and connect more with New York voters," Greenberg said. 

She's also about to round out her team, and is due to fill important roles for the health commissioner's office and the top official at the Division of Budget. 

Political observer and former advisor to several governors Bruce Gyory acknowledged the sagging numbers with independents poses a problem for Hochul. Getting that approval up with that slice of the electorate will be key, he said. 

"The ticket to achieving that end is delivering results on crime and an uptick in the economy and to be perceived as addressing those twin pillars of public priorities according to voters," Gyory said.  

Voters continue to offer a mixed view of New York, an assessment that isn't just a problem for Hochul. Half of voters believe New York is heading in the wrong direction, up slightly from 47% in September. 

A lot of this concern is likely driven by the twin problems of crime and the cost of living. Addressing these issues, or at the very least communicating to voters by using the bullypulpit, could help.  

"Alternativvely, if Hochul and New York state Democrats are perceived as ignoring the public’s concerns on crime and inflation tied to the public’s perceptions regarding both problems worsening, then all Democrats from Hochul on down here in New York state will see deteriorating polling ratings with a derivative impact on their public prestige and hence their political standing."