(WBEN) - New poll numbers show Governor Kathy Hochul sits in a favorable position at the beginning of an election year, and is enjoying widespread support of many of her State of the State proposals.
The latest Siena Research poll shows Hochul holds a 54%-28% lead over Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman in the anticipated machup on November's ballot. Hochul's 49% favorability rating is her highest ever in the poll.
“While a 49%-40% favorability rating is not generally seen as something to gloat about, for Hochul it is a net seven point gain from December, but more noteworthy is the fact that it is the first time in four and a half years as governor that Hochul has had 49% of voters view her favorably in a Siena poll," Siena pollster Steve Greenberg said, in a statement.
In addition, the six proposals from the Governor's State of the State address that Siena asked about each have between 58%-68% support, including four that have bipartisan support.
Eliminating state income tax on tips, ensuring immigration enforcement targeting people whose only crime is being in the country illegally cannot occur in schools, hospitals, and places of worship unless there is a judicial warrant, increasing childcare funding, and providing payments to farmers to offset rising costs have bipartisan support.
“Certainly, focusing on these issues in an election year will not hurt Hochul with voters, nor will it hurt legislators also seeking reelection,” Greenberg said.
Numbers show New Yorkers not in support of ICE
The new poll also showed ICE’s favorability rating with voters is 28%-67%.
Voters support deporting immigrants illegally living in the US, but, they oppose the way ICE is working to arrest people 61%-29%. Two-thirds think ICE’s tactics have gone too far, and they oppose the federal government sending additional ICE agents to New York.
“When it comes to ICE, voters quickly divide into partisan camps, with independents coming closer to the views of Democrats,” Greenberg said. “Republicans view ICE favorably, support the way they are working and nearly three-quarters want additional ICE agents sent to New York City. Democrats and independents say exactly the opposite: unfavorable to ICE, don’t like the way they work, and don’t want more of them in the Big Apple.”