Blakeman Cuts Hochul’s Lead In Half In Latest Governor Polls

LOUDONVILLE, NY — Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman has cut Kathy Hochul’s lead in half in New York’s race for governor, with Siena polls now showing Blakeman just 10 points behind the Democrat incumbent, 49 percent to 39 percent.

Blakeman has been trailing Hochul in statewide polls since he became the leading Republican candidate in December, but achieved the narrowest margin yet in Wednesday's polls. The Blakeman campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Wednesday's round of polling.

With just days to go before President Donald Trump comes to Long Island to stump alongside the Republican nominee, Siena pollsters said Blakeman was ahead of Hochul’s previous Republican challenger, Lee Zeldin, who trailed Hochul by 14 points at this point in the 2022 race. Hochul ultimately won the 2022 election by six points.

“The difference in this race is crystal clear: Governor Hochul has put money back in New Yorkers’ pockets at every opportunity, invested billions in public safety, and stood up against Donald Trump’s endless attacks on this state – ‘MAGA all the way’ Bruce Blakeman, who’s literally campaigning with Trump himself, jacked up property taxes and let violent crime spike to decade highs on his watch – and that’s what we continue to see voters respond to," Hochul Campaign Spokesperson Ryan Radulovacki said Wednesday.

Wednesday's survey of likely voters breaks down largely along party lines, with Hochul carrying 80 percent of Democrats surveyed and Blakeman carrying 84 percent of Republicans. Likely independent voters, Siena said, swung Blakeman’s way by a 45-to-40 percent margin. In previous polls, Hochul had carried independent voters.

Geographically, Hochul is ahead 64-to-19 percent in New York City but Blakeman leads downstate suburbs by a 49-to-41 percent margin. Upstate, Siena polls said the race is about even.

In downballot races, Attorney General Letitia James is ahead of Republican challenger Saritha Komatireddy by a 54-to-36 percent margin, while Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli holds a 55-to-32 percent lead over Republican challenger Joseph Hernandez.