Gov. Kathy Hochul continues to face disdain from voters, who believe the top issue in New York state is cost of living. That information was released Tuesday by the Siena College poll in a news release.

Hochul has a negative 39-49% favorability rating, up a little from 36-51% in October (then among likely voters), and her job approval rating also got a bump to 46-49%, up from 41-51%, the Siena College poll noted. When asked if they would vote to re-elect Hochul or would prefer ‘someone else,’ 33% said re-elect Hochul and 57% wanted someone else.

“There’s some good news for the governor. Her favorability rating improved for the second consecutive poll, going from net -20 points in September, to now net -10 points, 39-49%. Her job approval rating is also up, now near breakeven, 46-49%, up net seven points since the last poll in October,” Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg said. “The bad news is that both ratings remain stubbornly underwater. Hochul has not had a positive favorability rating since January of this year and she has never had 50% or more voters view her favorably.

Voters say Albany’s top 2025 priority should be cost of living, 43%, followed by affordable housing and the recent influx of migrants, each with 19%, and crime, 15%. Cost of living is identified by 71% of voters as one of two top priorities, compared to 48% for affordable housing, 38% for crime, and 35% for the influx of migrants.

“Elected officials might want to listen when more than two-thirds of voters – including 77% of Democrats, 72% of independents and 60% of Republicans – tell them that the cost of living is one of their top two priorities for the coming legislative session. And 43% said it was the top priority,” Greenberg said. “Nearly half of voters said the availability of affordable housing should be one of the top two issues.

New Yorkers are divided on building new nuclear power plants in New York, with 43% opposing and 42% supporting. By 54-35%, voters say New York State should support, not oppose, any Trump administration efforts to deport migrants living illegally in the state.

“Crime and the influx of migrants were both top two priorities for more than one-third of voters,” Greenberg said. Only 22% of Democrats and 36% of independents said that the influx of migrants should be a top two issue, while 60% of Republicans said it should be a top two priority, tying with cost of living for the lead among Republicans.

“Voters also say that they haven’t seen progress on those issues. In fact, 54% of voters say that crime has gotten worse in New York State over the last year. Fifty-four percent also say the migrant influx has gotten worse, while 68% say the availability of affordable housing has gotten worse in the last year. And a whopping 76% of New Yorkers – three-quarters – say the cost of living has gotten worse,” Greenberg said.

The latest poll adds to some heat Hochul has been facing in recent months.

“As we now enter the 2026 gubernatorial election cycle, Hochul starts with less than an enthusiastic welcome from the voters. Only one third of voters – including only 48% of Democrats – say they’re prepared to re-elect Hochul, while 57% of voters – 40% of Democrats – say they want ‘someone else.’ Not surprisingly, 85% of Republicans want someone else, but so do 65% of independents,” Greenberg said.

“Voters say that all things being equal they’d prefer a Democrat over a Republican to be the next governor, 52-34%, with 85% of Democrats saying Democrat, 85% of Republicans saying Republican, and independents siding with the Republicans 39-29%,” Greenberg said. “When only Democrats are asked if they want Hochul as their nominee in 2026, 49% say yes, while 32% say no, and the rest are undecided.”