(WBEN) - New poll numbers show declining favorability rating for New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on the heels of passing a $229 billion state budget.
For the first time, more voters (45%) view Hochul unfavorably than view her favorably (40%), according to new numbers from Siena Research released on Tuesday.
"It's the worst her favorability rating has been since she has been governor. It's the first time that more voters have an unfavorable view than favorable view," said Siena College pollster Steve Greenberg.
The budget was viewed as being good for the state by a small plurality (38%) of voters, with proposals to increase funding for mental health services, increase the minimum wage, and authorizing the state to penalize unlicensed cannabis stores being the most popular among voters.
"While voters think that the recently passed budget and many of its specifics will be good for New York, at the same time they also give Hochul her worst-ever favorability rating," said Greenberg. "For months, we've noted that Hochul's favorable rating has never hit 50%, now she's struggling to keep it in the 40s."
The most recent poll showed a mixed response to the State plan to ban the use of natural gas in new buildings. Overall, 40% of respondents approved of the plan while 39% opposed. Democrats were 57% in favor, while Republicans were 66% opposed, and independents 49% opposed.
Within those numbers continues to be a big upstate - downstate divide. In New York City, 53% of respondents think the gas ban is good for New York, while 53% of upstate respondents say the ban is bad for the state.
