Gov. Kathy Hochul loses support in New York amid surge in concern over crime and living costs: poll

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New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul is facing a drop in support from voters as crime and the cost of living continue to dominate concerns from residents of the Empire State.

A Siena College Research Institute poll released Monday found that 49% of the 744 registered New York state voters who responded to the poll believe state is headed in the wrong direction, compared to 41% who said they believe it's on the right track.

As for Hochul's impression on voters, 46% said they hold a favorable view of the governor and 43% said they hold an unfavorable view — down from 48% to 42% last month. Hochul's job approval also faced a drop in support, with 56% saying they approve and 40% saying they disapprove, with slightly more voters disapproving from last month's poll.

The latest poll on Hochul's handling of a variety of issues of the state comes as the governor and the state legislature prepare to debate the $227 billion spending plan that is expected to pass at the start of New York's fiscal year on April 1.

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Gov. Kathy Hochul is facing a drop in support as concerns over crime and the cost of living in the Empire State continue to grow. (Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Survey respondents disapproved of Hochul's handling of crime and efforts to make living in the state more affordable — the top two concerns voters believe Albany should prioritize.

A total of 49% of voters said they somewhat or strongly disapprove of Hochul's handling of crime throughout the state, compared to 43% who said the opposite. More than half of respondents, 60%, said they believe crime is a serious problem in the state, with a combined 67% of respondents saying they believe crime is a serious problem in their communities.

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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul presents her executive state budget in the Red Room at the state Capitol on Feb. 1, 2023, in Albany, N.Y. (AP Photo/Hans Pennink)

On Hochul's efforts to alleviate the cost of the living in the state, 54% of voters said they somewhat or strongly disapprove of her handling of the issue, compared to 39% who said the opposite.

Hochul also faced pushback from voters on the idea of prohibiting all fossil fuel-burning equipment — including gas stoves — for new single-family homes by the end of 2025 and for all new construction by the end of 2028, with 53% of respondents opposing the effort and 39% supporting it.

Hochul is facing pushback from voters on the idea of prohibiting all fossil fuel-burning equipment – including stoves – for new single-family homes by the end of 2025 and for all new construction by the end of 2028. (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

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Aside from the disapproval ratings of Hochul's handling on a variety of issues, she also witnessed support for several portions of her 2023 agenda and budget proposal. For instance, 57% of voters said they approve of Hochul's proposal to ban flavored tobacco products and 62% approve of the proposal to raise the tax on a pack of cigarettes from $4.35 to $5.35.

Hochul also witnessed support from Empire State voters on her proposed initiative to base increases in New York's minimum wage on the rate of inflation, with 70% supporting the effort and 26% opposing it.

The Siena poll was conducted Feb. 19 - 23 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.