Gov. Kathy Hochul is leading potential primary challengers for the Democratic nomination for governor of New York, according to a new Marist Poll released today.
Hochul leads her biggest possible rival, state Attorney General Letitia James, 44% to 28%. Another 15% of Democrats polled favored New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and 13% were unsure.
The margin of error was 6.9 points.
James hasn’t officially announced she’s running for governor yet. Williams has formed an exploratory committee to consider a run.
Hochul could also face a primary challenge from New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. Republican U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin is considered the leading Republican candidate in the race.
Hochul took over for former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in August after he resigned over a sexual harassment scandal. She’ll serve out the rest of his term, but will have to run for reelection next year if she wants a four-year term of her own.
She has already said she plans to run.
If Cuomo himself decides to challenge Hochul in next June’s primary, her support drops to 36%. James gets 24%, Cuomo 19% and Williams 9%. Another 12% were unsure.
A total of 77% of New Yorkers do not want Cuomo to run for governor again, including 74% of Democrats, according to the poll. Among Democrats, 42% have a favorable view of him and 53% have an unfavorable one.
Hochul’s approval rating is at 49%, Marist said. Another 31% of New Yorkers in the poll disapprove of her performance and 20% aren’t sure.
More than half the people in the poll, 55%, view her favorably and 56% say she is a good leader.
When Cuomo left office in August, his approval rating was just 38%. Another 55% of people Marist polled at the time disapproved of the job he was doing and 7% were unsure.
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