ICYMI: Gov. Kathy Hochul Continues to Dominate in Gubernatorial Polls

Gov. Hochul “Incredibly Efficient and Effective Out of the Gate”

A new Data for Progress poll found Gov. Kathy Hochul still holds a solid early lead in the New York gubernatorial race. Gov. Hochul dominates the field with a +40 net favorability and 36% support in a hypothetical six-way primary. She also leads in head-to-heads against all declared and potential challengers.

“Kathy Hochul has been incredibly efficient and effective out of the gate at using the bully pulpit of her office,” said political consultant Neal Kwatra. “She has a very high favorability early on across the board with a ‘get stuff done/can do’ brand.”

Read more on Gov. Hochul’s strong polling numbers below:

Politico: Hochul dominates gubernatorial field in early poll

Gov. Kathy Hochul is maintaining a healthy lead over her toughest challenger, state Attorney General Tish James, in her bid to win a term in her own right next year, according to a new Data for Progress poll shared with POLITICO.

Hochul leads James 36-22 when the poll includes former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who resigned in August and has made no moves to reclaim his old seat. When he is omitted from the poll, the 15 percent support he received is fairly evenly divided among Hochul, James and others trailing the frontrunners.

Without Cuomo in the mix, Hochul leads James by a 39-24 margin, with 9 percent of respondents supporting city Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who announced his entrance into the race last week. Long Island Rep. Tom Suozzi and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio — neither of whom have officially announced campaigns — receive 7 percent and 5 percent, respectively. Another 16 percent are not committed to anyone.

In a head-to-head matchup between Hochul and James, the sitting governor would win 46-35 with 19 percent undecided.

Hochul would enjoy a more comfortable margin in a one-on-one fight with Williams, who came within striking distance of defeating her in the lieutenant governor’s race in 2018. In that contest, she would beat him 55-to-24, with 21 percent undecided.

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Data for Progress — a left-leaning think tank that fairly accurately polled the recent mayor’s race — surveyed 528 New Yorkers likely to vote in the Democratic primary next June, oversampling New York City residents to account for anticipated high turnout in the five boroughs.

The text message- and web-based poll was commissioned by political consultant Neal Kwatra on behalf of a donor whom he declined to identify. Kwatra said he is not working for any of the gubernatorial candidates and the Hotel Trades Council, for whom he consults, has yet to endorse. Hochul recently appealed to the influential union by steering much of her $450 million tourism program into helping unemployed hotel workers.

“Kathy Hochul has been incredibly efficient and effective out of the gate at using the bully pulpit of her office,” Kwatra said. “She has a very high favorability early on across the board with a ‘get stuff done/can do’ brand that is earning this upstate pol downstate plaudits.”

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