The latest news out of New York regarding both the Governor and U.S. Senate race courtesy of Siena College’s latest poll. First, the Governor’s race:
Governor Andrew Cuomo’s favorability rating held steady, though his job performance and re-elect ratings fell a little this month, the second month in a row that they dropped. Cuomo is overwhelmingly favored by Democrats over a potential Democratic primary opponent, actor/activist Cynthia Nixon, 66-19 percent. And Cuomo holds early leads over two potential Republican opponents – Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro (57-29 percent) and State Senator John DeFrancisco (57-28 percent).
Cuomo Has Large Early Primary & General Election Leads; Job Rating Lowest Since September 2016
“With an overall 20-19 percent favorability rating – 26-16 percent among Democrats – Cynthia Nixon is far from a household name in New York, though she is better known than either Molinaro or DeFrancisco,” Greenberg said. “Among registered Democrats (not likely primary voters) Cuomo is favored over Nixon by a huge 66-19 percent margin, including among self-identified liberals, 63-18 percent. While Nixon does a little better among younger and upstate Democrats, she doesn’t have the support of more than one-quarter of either group.
“Looking at potential general election matchups, Cuomo has strong early leads over both declared but little-known Republicans, DeFrancisco and Molinaro. Cuomo has the support of more than 80 percent of Democrats against either, while two-thirds of Republicans would support either over Cuomo,” Greenberg said. “Cuomo has the support of a small plurality of independents against either and strong support from downstate voters, while upstate voters are closely divided between Cuomo and either Republican.
“In an early look at how Republicans feel about their candidates – both are unknown to more than three-quarters of Republicans – DeFrancisco has the support of 21 percent to Molinaro’s 17 percent. Half of Republicans are undecided between the two, while 13 percent said they wouldn’t vote for either,” Greenberg said.
“Cuomo’s favorability rating is down just one point from last month,” Greenberg said. “More voters, 46 percent, now describe Cuomo as a liberal, than at any time since he’s been Governor. While Democrats see him as a moderate, a majority of Republicans and independents describe him as a liberal.”
And in the U.S. Senate race:
Gillibrand Currently Has Smooth Sailing Toward a Second Full Term as a Senator
“While nine-year Senator Kirsten Gillibrand remains unknown to a quarter of voters, she has 49-25 percent favorability rating, compared to her virtually unknown opponent, Chele Chiavacci Farley, who has an anemic 5-9 percent negative favorability rating,” Greenberg said. “With a 79-point lead with Democrats, an 18-point lead with independents, and a 36-point deficit with Republicans, Gillibrand has a more-than-comfortable early 60-24 percent lead over Farley, who currently does not get more than one-third support in any region of the state.”
The poll also has the SAFE Act and banning assault weapons with super high approvals. Donald Trump’s approval stands at a dismal 33/63. It’s looking pretty clear we don’t have anything to worry about here. But I like Gillibrand and I like that she took this position on rejecting corporate PAC money.
Click here to donate and get involved with Gillibrand’s re-election campaign.