Less than six weeks until Election Day, Democratic incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul holds a commanding lead over Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman with 58 percent of likely voters supporting Hochul and 39 percent supporting Blakeman, according to a Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pea-ack) University New York State poll of likely voters released today. Three percent of likely voters did not choose a candidate.
Democrats (89 – 6 percent) support Hochul, while Republicans (90 – 8 percent) support Blakeman. Among independents, 51 percent support Hochul, while 45 percent support Blakeman.
Forty-six percent of likely voters have a favorable opinion of Kathy Hochul, while 43 percent have an unfavorable opinion of her, and 10 percent haven’t heard enough about her.
Thirty percent of likely voters have a favorable opinion of Bruce Blakeman, while 36 percent have an unfavorable opinion of him, and 34 percent haven’t heard enough about him.
MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE
When likely voters were given a list of 10 issues and asked which is the most important one in deciding who to vote for in the election for governor, the cost of living tops the list, with 28 percent, followed by the economy (21 percent) and health care (11 percent). No other issue reaches double digits.
Among Republicans, the top issues are the cost of living (21 percent), immigration (20 percent), the economy (17 percent), taxes (15 percent), and crime (11 percent).
Among Democrats, the top issues are the cost of living (35 percent), the economy (21 percent), and health care (16 percent).
Among independents, the top issues are the cost of living (26 percent), the economy (22 percent), and health care (12 percent).
Among likely voters who say the cost of living is the most important issue, 66 percent support Hochul and 30 percent support Blakeman.
Among likely voters who say the economy is the most important issue, 64 percent support Hochul and 34 percent support Blakeman.
“Four years after Kathy Hochul won the governor’s race by single digits, she appears positioned, at the moment, to have a wider lane on the road to being reelected. Likely voters prefer her to be in Albany handling the cost of living and the economy, their top concerns, and that is putting her at a sizable advantage over Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman,”said Quinnipiac University Poll Assistant Director Mary Snow.