Ex-Gov. Cuomo claws back his popularity, but not with NY Democrats: poll

Ex-Gov.Andrew Cuomo’s popularity has started to recover in the Empire State, but his potential revival isn’t coming from Democrats, a newly released statewide Siena College poll suggests.Cuomo, who is running for New York City mayor, remains unpopular with New Yorkers overall, with 37% rating him favorable and 51% unfavorable, in the first statewide numbers on the former governor from the polling institute since March 2022.

The poll was conducted last week, days after he formally entered the mayoral race.In that 2022 poll, which came less than a year after he’d resigned amid a cascade of scandals, Cuomo had been 32% favorable and 60% unfavorable.But in that time Cuo’s held almost the same amount of support from Democrats – 50% in 2022 and 51% now.His rising favorability in the poll appears driven by a surge of support – and falling animosity – from Republicans.Just 12% of GOPers thought of the disgraced gov favorably in 2022 compared with 25% in the survey conducted last week.The new poll also presents the first side-by-side comparison of Cuomo with Gov.

Kathy Hochul since the March 2022 survey, which was conducted as she was running in the primary for her first full term.At the time, Hochul had a positive net favorability of 10% with 45% rating her favorable.Her numbers have been dragging underwater for months now with a negative 10% net favorability – 40% favorable, 50% unfavorable.Given the poll’s 4% margin of error, Hochul’s topline numbers are strikingly similar to Cuomo’s.Hochul carries more support from Democrats – 57% support her – and women favor her 6% more than Cuomo.But overall, Democrats appear pessimistic about their leadership in New York.Only 47% of Democrats said New York is on the right track versus heading in the wrong direction.

Asked the same question on Siena’s March 2022 survey, 64% of Democrats said it was on the right track.Mayor Eric Adams’ popularity remains on life support, with only 30% of NYC voters in...