SCOOP: Shock poll shows Stefanik leading Hochul in governor's race following Hochul's endorsement of Mamdani
Kathy Hochul's endorsement of Zohran Mamdani may be the kiss of death for her statewide ambitions next year.
Gov. Kathy Hochul (D., N.Y.) recently endorsed Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani in his campaign to be the next Mayor of New York City, spurning her former ticketmate, disgraced former governor Andrew Cuomo in the process.
That move, combined with a series of high-profile Hochul failures, is now propelling Rep. Elise Stefanik (R., N.Y.) to a one-point lead over Hochul, according to a new poll obtained by the Washington Reporter.
The poll, which was paid for and commissioned by Stefanik’s E-PAC, showed Stefanik leading Hochul, 46.4 percent to 45.9 percent after voters are informed about both candidates. Hochul’s “endorsement of Zohran Mamdani, bail reform record, and cost of living failures” all help propel Stefanik into a lead in the heavily-anticipated showdown that would take place next year.
Stefanik, who currently serves as the House Republican Leadership Chairwoman, said the results show that “Kathy Hochul, the worst governor in America, is a deeply embattled and historically unpopular failed governor who is struggling to even gain support from her own party.”
“It is now crystal clear,” Stefanik said, “why Kathy Hochul bent the knee to the Communist anti-Semite running for Mayor of New York City: because she desperately needed to shore up her own party.”
Other findings in the poll are major red flags for Hochul. They include, per the polling memo, that “only 15% of voters said they would definitely re-elect Hochul, with another mere 19% saying probably showing incredibly soft support,” that “59% of voters say it’s time for someone new,” and that Hochul doesn’t even receive a majority of support from her own party in her primary against her own lieutenant governor.
On the flip side, Stefanik’s favorability ratings are positive among voters overall.
Alex deGrasse, Team Elise’s executive director, noted that “this poll is devastating for the worst governor in America.”
“Kathy Hochul’s dismal record of failure and bending the knee to Commie Mamdani is causing her already weak support to crater across New York,” deGrasse said. “Voters want change and a governor who will fight for them, which is why they will resoundingly reject Kathy Hochul for new leadership in Elise Stefanik if she decides to run for governor.”
While Stefanik has yet to make her intentions known, she already won her face-off against Hochul earlier this year, when the controversial New York governor testified before Congress during a hearing about sanctuary cities. Most observers told the Reporter that Stefanik decisively won that bout.
The poll, conduced by GrayHouse, surveyed 1,250 likely voters and has a margin of error of 2.6 percent.