New Siena Poll shows Hochul favorability up 3 points in NY

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Siena Research Institute released a poll of New York's registered voters on Tuesday morning. The poll highlighted Governor Kathy Hochul's latest favorability and job approval ratings, what voters think the top issues are that should be focused on in Albany, and their thoughts on topics like congestion pricing.

Hochul's favorability rating is still negative with 39% in favor of her and 49% against, but this is up from her 36-51% favorability rating among likely voters in October. Her job approval rating also went up from 41% in October to 46% on Tuesday.

When it came to voters choosing between re-electing Hochul or voting for another candidate, 33% said they would want to re-elect her while 57% said they wanted "someone else." For Albany's top 2025 priority, 43% of voters said it should be cost of living, 19% said affordable housing, 19% said the recent influx of migrants, and 15% said crime.

Hochul's reinstituted $9 congestion pricing plan was opposed by 51% of voters with only 29% agreeing with it. Voters were split almost evenly on building nuclear power plants in New York with 43% opposing and 42% supporting.

54% of voters say the state should support President-elect Donald Trump's administration's efforts to deport migrants living illegally in the state. 35% disagreed.

“There’s some good news for the Governor. Her favorability rating improved for the second consecutive poll, going from net -20 points in September, to now net -10 points, 39-49%. Her job approval rating is also up, now near breakeven, 46-49%, up net seven points since the last poll in October,” Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg said. “The bad news is that both ratings remain stubbornly underwater. Hochul has not had a positive favorability rating since January of this year and she has never had 50% or more voters view her favorably."