Siena Poll Shows Hochul and Zeldin Neck-and-Neck in NY Suburbs

By Yehudit Garmaise

US Rep. Lee Zeldin received just 20% of NYC voters’ support, but outside the city, Gov. Kathy Hochul and her Republican challenger are fighting it out neck-on-neck, according to the latest poll taken by Siena College from Sept. 16 to 25.

While Gov. Hochul has 54% of the 655 NY poll voters statewide compared to 37% of voters’ support for Zeldin, in the suburbs, the battle intensifies in the governor’s race for the Nov. 8 election.

In the NY suburbs, which the poll defines as residents of Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam and Orange counties, Hochul is still leading with 50%, but Zeldin is closing in with 45% of voters’ support.

Upstate, where Republican gubernatorial candidates traditionally win big, the New York Post reported, Zeldin is showing 45% of voters’ support, compared to 44% of support for Hochul, who is from Buffalo.

To have a shot in beating Hochul, Zeldin will need to maximize his upstate lead over the governor by 10-points, experts say.

As to whether suburbanites are supporting Democrats or Republicans in a half dozen competitive races for US Congressional seats that will represent Long Island and the Hudson Valley, suburbanites also remain evenly split: 47% to 47%.

Other Democrats with big leads are US Sen. Chuck Schumer, the majority leader, who is ahead of former Newsmax host Joe Pinion 55% to 36%, and the state’s incumbent Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, who is 23 points ahead of his Republican challenger Paul Rodriguez.

In the NY attorney general’s race, Incumbent Letitia James is ahead overall with 53% of voters’ support, compared with 37% of support for Michael Henry, the Republican nominee.

Outside the city, however, only 44% of suburban voters said they support James, a Democrat, compared with the 47% who support Henry.