A new poll is showing that Gov. Kathy Hochul is still struggling to appeal to New Yorkers.

But with President Donald Trump pushing a raft of new high-profile executive orders, it’s giving the governor a political opportunity to push back from her bully pulpit in the State Capitol.


What You Need To Know

  • Siena College released a new survey Monday that says New Yorkers still give the Democrat negative marks: 47% view her unfavorably compared to 39% who see her favorably

  • About 77% of New Yorkers support her idea to expand free breakfast and lunch to public schools statewide, compared to just 13% opposed

  • While New Yorkers agree deporting illegal immigrants convicted of crimes should be deported, they disagree with the new Trump administration possibly deporting non-convicts living undocumented in the U.S.

Siena College released a new survey Monday that says New Yorkers still give the Democrat negative marks: 47% view her unfavorably compared to 39% who see her favorably.

“Put it in the context of New York State historically seen as a deep blue state, but even though it’s a state where 49% of the enrolled voters are Democrats and only 23% of the enrolled voters are Republicans, Kathy Hochul in her three and a half years as governor has never once had a favorability rating over 50%,” said pollster Steven Greenberg.

Still, it’s not her worst performance. Back in September, she sported a 54% unfavorable just 34% favorable rating.

“In fact, 48% is the highest she’s ever gotten, and that is unusual if you go back over the last several governors,” Greenberg said.

“Even David Paterson, who took office similarly to the way Gov. Hochul took office when the incumbent governor was resigning and the lieutenant governor, for the first nine months, that he was governor —David Paterson had a favorability rating in the 50s and 60s,” he added.

Still, Democrats and Republicans back most of her policies. 77% of New Yorkers support her idea to expand free breakfast and lunch to public schools statewide, compared to just 13% opposed.

About 71% agree cops should patrol the subways between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m., and 62% favor smartphone bans in schools.

Hochul’s troubles extend to Washington, D.C.

“We can cooperate with federal serious crimes and certainly not civil violations. Federal government, different entity, they have their own rules, but I’m hoping they will focus on dangerous criminals,” said Hochul on Monday in Albany.

While New Yorkers agree deporting illegal immigrants convicted of crimes should be deported, they disagree with the new Trump administration, possibly deporting non-convicts living undocumented in the U.S.

Meanwhile, Republicans want to kick her out of the governor’s mansion.

“It’s time for New Yorkers to fight back, to push back against the insanity,” said Rep. Michael Lawler, during a state Conservative Party conference in Albany on Monday.

The Republican congressman, whose district includes Rockland, Putnam, Westchester and Dutchess Counties, is also mulling a run for governor in 2026.

“Kathy Hochul’s calling the president begging, ‘Please don’t kill congestion pricing.’ You mean to tell me when you’re proposing to increase state spending by $10 billion that you can’t find a billion for your MTA capital program?” Lawler said.

“57% of New Yorkers would like to see someone else in the governor’s office. Bad news if you’re the governor,” added Republican State Senate Minority Leader Robert Ortt.

Experts say she needs to shore up support among Democrats.

“41% of Democrats say they want someone else,” Greenberg said. “She’s also got to worry about an attack or a primary within the Democratic Party because right now Democrats are not in love with Kathy Hochul.”