Island Media · Oct 28, 2026
Island Media — photo status
*Two New Polls Show Hochul With Double-Digit Lead Over Blakeman Days Before Election* Two statewide polls released Wednesday show Gov. Kathy Hochul ahead of Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman by double digits among likely voters, less than a week before Election Day. The Siena poll has Hochul at 54% and Blakeman at 40%, a 14-point lead, up from 50% to 41% in September. The Marist poll has Hochul at 53% and Blakeman at 42%, an 11-point lead. In both polls, about 7 in 10 voters expect Hochul to win. According to Siena, the two candidates are about even upstate and in the downstate suburbs. Siena found 51% of voters view Hochul favorably and 45% unfavorably, while Marist found 41% favorable and 51% unfavorable. Blakeman was viewed favorably by 39% in the Siena poll and 36% in the Marist poll, and 19% of Marist voters said they have not heard of him or are unsure. Blakeman disputed the polls, calling them voter suppression aimed at discouraging Republicans, and said his own polling shows a neck-and-neck race
