Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul leads Republican Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman by 4 percentage points in a new poll commissioned by a pro-Blakeman super PAC, pointing to a tightening race for New York governor.
The survey, conducted by Red Oak Strategic for the Strong and Safe super PAC, measured Hochul at 47% support to Blakeman's 43%, with 10% of registered voters undecided.
Hochul's approval ratings in the poll were modest, with 39% approving of her job performance and 56% disapproving. Only 33% of respondents said she deserves re-election, while 61% said it is time for someone else to serve as governor.
A majority of voters expressed concern about the state's direction. Fifty-seven percent said New York is on the wrong track, compared with 33% who said it is headed in the right direction. Cost of living, the economy and taxes emerged as top voter concerns, followed by public safety.
Blakeman remains largely unfamiliar to many voters statewide, with 47% saying they had no opinion of him or had never heard of him. Among those surveyed, 30% viewed him favorably and 23% unfavorably.
The poll found Blakeman performing well among independent voters and showing strength in suburban areas. Republican voters demonstrated stronger enthusiasm than Democrats heading into the November 3 election.
Despite the narrow margin, Hochul holds a substantial financial advantage. Campaign finance filings show she and allied Democratic organizations possess tens of millions of dollars more than Blakeman and the state Republican Party.
The Red Oak survey differs markedly from other recent polling. A Siena College poll released in June showed Hochul ahead by 20 points, while another conservative-backed poll earlier in July found her leading by 6 points.
The survey questioned 2,000 registered New York voters from July 7 through July 12 with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.2 percentage points.