(WWNY) – Two polls out Wednesday show Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul leading Republican Bruce Blakeman, but they differ on just how close the race is.
The most recent poll from Quinnipiac University shows Hochul leading by 19 points. Earlier in the day, Siena University released the results of its poll, showing Hochul with a 9-point lead.
Siena poll shows narrowing lead
In the Siena poll, Hochul’s lead over Blakeman narrowed to 50-41%. That’s a marginal decrease from her 49-39% lead in August.
“With six weeks until election day, voters offer good news to both Hochul and Blakeman. She now has the support of 50% of voters and saw her favorability and job approval ratings edge into positive territory. He now trails by single digits – well, nine points – in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans by more than two-to-one,” Siena pollster Steven Greenberg said. “At this time four years ago, Hochul led Lee Zeldin 17 points, 54-37%, before going on to win by six points.”
The poll was conducted Sept. 11-17 among 1,144 likely New York voters.
Quinnipiac poll shows wider gap
The Quinnipiac poll found 58% of likely voters support Hochul and 39% favor Blakeman.
“Four years after Kathy Hochul won the governor’s race by single digits, she appears positioned, at the moment, to have a wider lane on the road to being reelected. Likely voters prefer her to be in Albany handling the cost of living and the economy, their top concerns, and that is putting her at a sizable advantage over Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman,” said Quinnipiac University Poll Assistant Director Mary Snow.
The poll was conducted Sept. 17-20 among 1,026 likely New York voters.
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