Poll: Kathy Hochul sees worst favorability rating since becoming governor

Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is facing her lowest favorability rating since taking office as governor in August 2021, according to a new Siena Poll on Monday.

According to data received by New York voters in the poll, Gov. Hochul sees her favorability rating at 40%-to-49%, which is down from 41%-to-46% back in February. In addition, her job approval rating dropped from 48%-to-47% in February to now 45%-to-49%.

It's her worst approval ratings in a Siena College poll since becoming governor, taking over for Andrew Cuomo when he resigned from office.

"While Democrats continue to view Hochul favorably and approve of the job she’s doing by about 2-to-1, 79% of Republicans view her unfavorably and 81% disapprove of the job she’s doing. And by 2-to-1 margins, Independents view her unfavorably and disapprove of the job she’s doing as governor,” said Siena College pollster Steve Greenberg.

One of the major factors into the drop in ratings for Gov. Hochul continues to surround the influx of migrants becoming a serious problem.

"82% say it's a serious problem, 56% - a clear majority - say it's a very serious problem. And what we see is that leaders at the New York City, New York State and federal level don't do well with voters on this issue," Greenberg said during an appearance on WBEN. "Right now, only 33% of New Yorkers approve of the job that Hochul is doing to address the influx of migrants compared to a majority, 58%, who disapprove. It's certainly one of the reasons that we may see the lowest-ever in Siena poll ratings right now for Kathy Hochul, in terms of her favorability rating and her overall job approval rating."

Greenberg adds this has been a consistent issue now for more than a year, with not much change being seen, in terms of the voters' opinion.

"In terms of it being a serious problem, it has consistently been in the 80%-to-85% of voters who say it's a serious problem. And in terms of the job they're doing, Hochul, Adams, Biden have all been underwater on this question since Siena started asking it last year," Greenberg said.

Among the other notable topics brought to the voters in the latest Siena Poll includes the criminal trial surrounding Donald Trump in Manhattan, safeguarding IVF access, enhancing LGBTQ protections, requiring high school athletes to compete with same sex as assigned at birth, banning TikTok and more.