New York Gov. Kathy Hochul lost a chunk of her gaping lead over a potential Republican challenger in the latest snapshot of a possible matchup for next year’s governor’s race. Correspondent Bernie Bennett has more details. VERBATIM: The Democratic incumbent led Rep. Elise Stefanik by 45% to 31% in a Siena College survey of voters […]
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Rep. Stefanik Gains on Gov. Hochul in Possible NY Governor Match-Up
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul lost a chunk of her gaping lead over a potential Republican challenger in the latest snapshot of a possible matchup for next year’s governor’s race. Correspondent Bernie Bennett has more details.
VERBATIM:
The Democratic incumbent led Rep. Elise Stefanik by 45% to 31% in a Siena College survey of voters released Tuesday, a 14-point edge that had shrunk from the 23-point lead Hochul held in a Siena poll from June.
Huge shares of voters in both polls declined to pick a favorite in the hypothetical race, showing a lot of room for shifts in either direction if the matchup takes place.
Stefanik, who has represented northeastern New York in the House for more than a decade, is weighing a 2026 run for governor and says she’ll announce her decision after this November’s elections for county and local offices in New York.
Fellow GOP Rep. Mike Lawler, who also considered entering the race, decided last month to run for re-election instead, clearing the field for now for Stefanik, if she opts to run.
Bernie Bennett reporting.