The New York gubernatorial race continues to tighten between Governor Kathy Hochul (D-NY) and Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY), new polling shows.
Hochul, who took over as governor when disgraced Democrat Andrew Cuomo resigned in August 2021, has recently seen her lead shrink from the 17-point lead she obtained just last month.
A Quinnipiac University poll released Tuesday showed Hochul leading her Republican challenger by a mere 4%.
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“In the blue state of New York, the race for governor is competitive,” Quinnipiac University polling analyst Mary Snow said. “Democrats have cruised to victory in gubernatorial races since 2006, but Governor Hochul’s narrow edge puts Republican Lee Zeldin well within striking distance of her.”
Even more shocking, the Democrat is leading New York City by 22%, with Zeldin earning an estimated 37% of likely NYC voters — an extremely big grab for a Republican in the deep-blue city.
“WOW. A new Quinnipiac Poll finds [Lee Zeldin] way over a key 30% threshold in NYC – widely seen as key to a GOP candidate winning statewide in supposedly super blue NYC,” the New York Post’s Zach Williams reported Tuesday.
WOW. A new Quinnipiac Poll finds @leezeldin way over a key 30% threshold in NYC – widely seen as key to a GOP candidate winning statewide in supposedly super blue NYC … pic.twitter.com/42bFiUgrNI
— Zach Williams (@ZachReports) October 18, 2022
Popular upstate New York radio host Bob Lonsberry remarked on the polling news, “People who ought to know say that if Zeldin is above 35% in NYC, he’s the next governor,” he tweeted. “This is why Kathy is in NYC every day passing out taxpayer money.”
People who ought to know say that if Zeldin is above 35% in NYC, he's the next governor. This is why Kathy is in NYC every day passing out taxpayer money. https://t.co/m9xCGxW5DH
— Bob Lonsberry (@BobLonsberry) October 18, 2022
Moreover, a Siena College poll released the same day was also encouraging news for Zeldin, showing Hochul’s lead slashed to 11 points.
“Over the last three weeks, Zeldin has narrowed the deficit he must overcome from 17 points to 11 points in trying to become the first Republican in 20 years to win statewide,” Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg said, adding that “Hochul maintains the upper hand.”
Political consultant Ryan Girdusky on Tuesday reacted to the new polling, “Just 12 days ago I was mocked for saying this race is competitive. Lee Zeldin can win.”
Just 12 days ago I was mocked for saying this race is competitive.
Lee Zeldin can win. https://t.co/YxnkZwllo1
— Ryan James Girdusky (@RyanGirdusky) October 18, 2022
Girdusky notably made his comment by quote-tweeting Josh Barro mocking him on October 6 for highlighting Zeldin’s strengthening poll numbers at the time.
“NY GOV is one of these races that excessively online Republicans have memed themselves into believing is competitive,” Barro told Girdusky. “If a Republican fights NY-19 to a draw, as this poll shows, then he’s losing statewide by a wide margin.”
The Daily Wire reported over the weekend that the governor’s race was moved to a “toss-up” by RealClearPolitics.
Related: Another Governor’s Race In A Deep Blue State Moved To ‘Toss-Up’