Blakeman Could Close the Gap as Latest Poll Numbers Give Hochul a Single-Digit Lead

New polling conducted for Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman shows trouble for incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul as she heads into a showdown with the popular Long Island Republican on November 3, with Ms. Hochul scoring just 49.6 percent of likely voters surveyed.The survey, conducted by McLaughlin & Associates at the end of August, queried 800 likely voters across New York state to find Ms. Hochul “mired deep in danger territory,” according to a press release circulated by Mr. Blakeman’s campaign.“Any incumbent polling under the 50% threshold two months before Election Day is facing near-certain defeat,” the release states.Meanwhile, Mr. Blakeman scored his highest numbers yet as the candidate of choice for 45.7 percent of respondents. He performed even better among voters who described themselves as familiar with both candidates, winning 52 percent to Hochul’s 44 percent among those voters.The numbers appear to overcome the state’s blue voter bias. While registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by 18 percentage points in New York, the McLaughlin poll shows the GOP candidate just 3.9 points behind Ms. Hochul, placing him “within striking distance,” according to Tuesday’s press release.The latest figures come three weeks after President Donald Trump traveled to Long Island, where he appeared on stage with Mr. Blakeman at a rally, winning cheers as he cited a national drop in violent crime in 2025 and again when he highlighted Nassau County’s recent designation as the safest county in America. The president decried Ms. Hochul as a “nightmare for crime.” A Siena University poll from August 6 also showed Ms. Hochul with 49 percent of the vote with Mr. Blakeman 10 points behind. Those numbers marked a come-up for Mr. Blakeman, who started the summer trailing the governor by 20 points in a Siena poll from June 23.Mr. Blakeman doubled down on his public safety promises on Tuesday citing his success in Nassau County and promising “bring that same leadership to all of New York.”“Kathy Hochul’s parole board frees dangerous criminals from jail and puts them back into our neighborhoods,” he wrote on X. “When dangerous criminals are released back onto our streets and innocent New Yorkers pay the price, the system has failed.”The governor’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Blakeman Could Close the Gap as Latest Poll Numbers Give Hochul a Single-Digit Lead

Blakeman Could Close the Gap as Latest Poll Numbers Give Hochul a Single-Digit Lead

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