It’s an Empire State squeeze.
Two-thirds of New York voters are fed up with the cost of living, saying it’s gotten harder to make ends meet, a new survey released Tuesday found.
The Siena College poll, which found that Gov. Kathy Hochul’s approval rating has dipped again, asked more than 800 voters if they believed that New York was heading the wrong direction — and 67% said it was.
The dire forecast cut across partisan lines, with of 59% Democrats, 79% of Republicans, and 71% of independent or non-party-affiliated voters polled agreeing that the state is taking a bite out of their wallets.
Despite voters’ views that New York is failing to address the fundamental issues of the high cost of living and housing, Gov. Hochul is still in the driver’s seat for her re-election bid to win a second, four-year term this fall, the poll shows. Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul
“New Yorkers are very disappointed with the state of affairs. Full stop,” said JC Polanco, a political analyst and professor at the University of Mount St. Vincent. “You can see in the results regarding cost of living, affordability.
“Both Republicans and Democrats love to talk about it, but their solutions stink,” Polanco said. “It’s terrible. Who’s going to come up with a solution?”
The Siena University Poll surveyed 806 state-registered voters from April 27-30, with a margin of error of +/- 4.2 percentage points.
“Voters are fed up with their leaders,” political consultant George Arzt said. “The cost of living doesn’t seem to be going in any direction but up. People are worried about their future and their children’s future.”
Ross Wallenstein, founder and CEO of the public relations firm Wall to Wall Communications, said high taxes “are a problem for everyone.
“But some candidates and legislators in this country for a generation or two have tried to tax-break our way out of everything while New Yorkers send much more to Washington than we ever get back,” he said.
“Looks like while offering breaks, they broke it.”
Hochul leads rival, Republican Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, 49% to 33%, with the remainder undecided or preferring someone else. Gregory P. Mango for NY Post
The Siena results represent a mixed bag for Hochul, whose favorability rating dipped to 41% from 45% in March, her lowest mark since June 2025, while her approval rating was at 48% after a 52% rating in March, the lowest in a year, according to Siena.
Hochul has tried to sell herself as the affordability candidate as she nears her re-election bid in November — but critics contend things have just gotten pricier on her watch and could get even worse.
Last week, a separate survey by The Business Council of New York State determined that nearly 70% of respondents fear that the state’s controversial energy mandates will drive prices even higher.
New York already has the second-highest tax burden in the US — lagging only behind Hawaii, according to a report released last month by WalletHub — and taxes residents more aggressively than any state.
Big Apple Mayor Zohran Mamdani is still viewed favorably – but barely – by a plurality of voters statewide, 43% favorable to 40% unfavorable. James Messerschmidt for the NY Post
The report found that the Empire State had a 13.6% tax burden, which means 13.6 cents out of every dollar goes to taxes.
It’s even worse in the Big Apple.
For example, New Yorkers pay an additional 4.875% sales levy to the state’s 4% sales tax every time they go to the cash register.
Nonetheless, the Siena poll also found that Hochul’s lead over Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman, the Nassau County executive, had slightly widened since the earlier survey.
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The Democratic governor now leads Blakeman by a 49-33 margin, after the poll in March had a narrower gap at 47-34.
One major challenge for Blakeman appears to be that 64% of voters polled said they don’t know who he is or are unfamiliar with him, the survey said.
On another question, the poll determined that only 31% of voters said New York was creating enough affordable housing, while 57% said the effort to fill that gap is heading in the wrong direction.
Meanwhile, a majority of New Yorkers polled — 53% — said statewide efforts to reduce crime were falling short, while just 38% said crime fighting policies are on the right track.
Nearly 70% of Republicans, two-thirds of independents, and a plurality of Democrats agree that housing costs are too high. vichie81 – stock.adobe.com
Voters were more split on whether New York was providing a quality education, safeguarding the environment, improving the state’s transportation infrastructure and providing access to quality health care.
Democrats were more positive than Republicans on the issue.
“A majority of Democrats think the state is on the right track on five issues, but even Democrats agree with Republicans and independents that the state is headed in the wrong direction on housing and cost of living,” Siena pollster Steven Greenberg said.
Follow live updates on Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s socialist agenda and the latest in NYC politics
Despite voters’ views that New York is failing to address the fundamental issues of the high cost of living and housing, according to the poll, Kathy Hochul is still in the driver’s seat for her re-election bid to win a second, four-year term this fall.
Hochul leads Republican nominee Bruce Blakeman, the current Nassau County executive, 49% to 33%, with the remainder undecided or preferring someone else.
Blakeman’s big challenge: nearly two-thirds of voters — 64% — said they don’t know or are unfamiliar with him.
DiNapoli is seeking a fifth term as New York State Comptroller, but only 28 percent of voters said they would re-elect him. REUTERS
One eye-opener: only 43% of voters said they would re-elect state Democratic Attorney General Letitia James, while 41% of respondents prefer someone else.
Saritha Komatireddy, a former federal prosecutor and chief of staff at the Drug Enforcement Agency, is James’s Republican challenger.
Democratic state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, in office since 2007, is seeking a fifth term.
But only 28% of voters said they would re-elect DiNapoli, 29% preferred someone else, and 43% had no opinion.
DiNapoli faces his first serious Democratic primary since his initial election, challenged by former affordable housing nonprofit executive Drew Warshaw and tech executive and former Kansas legislator Raj Goyle.
40 percent of voters across New York view Mamdani unfavorably. Anadolu via Getty Images
Businessman Joseph Hernandez is the Republican nominee for comptroller.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani is still viewed favorably – but barely – by a plurality of voters statewide, 43% favorable to 40% unfavorable.
Locally, 56% of city voters view him favorably compared to 34% who don’t.
That’s a higher popularity than Hochul, who is viewed favorably by just 46% of Big Apple voters while 37% rated her unfavorably.
New York Sen Chuck Schumer, the Democratic minority leader, remains unpopular. Only 33% of voters have a favorable view of Schumer, while 52% had an unfavorable view of the veteran senator.
The Siena University Poll surveyed 806 state-registered voters from April 27 to 30. It has a margin of error of +/- 4.2 percentage points.