🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur.
With less than one month until the November 8 midterm elections, Representative Lee Zeldin finds himself with only a single-digit deficit against Governor Kathy Hochul, according to a new poll.
Zeldin, a Republican representing New York's First Congressional District comprised of Eastern Long Island, has now seen several polls showing him trailing by single-digits despite New York's strong Democratic lean. His campaign has largely focused on crime, accusing Hochul and other statewide Democrats of being "soft on crime."
As the midterms inch nearer, Schoen Cooperman Research released a new poll showing Hochul only 6 percentage points up against Zeldin, according to the New York Post. The poll surveyed 824 likely voters from October 8 to 12 and carried a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
It found Hochul hitting 50 percent of the vote, while 44 percent of respondents said they planned to vote for Zeldin.
The midterms will mark the first time Hochul faces an election since assuming the governorship after Governor Andrew Cuomo resigned from office last year after a report from New York Attorney General Letitia James indicated he sexually harassed several women.
Hochul, then the lieutenant governor, came into office pledging a new era of transparency for the state's government. However, her administration has faced scandals of its own. Brian Benjamin, her first lieutenant governor, resigned after being arrested on bribery charges only seven months after being appointed to office.
Crime has emerged as a major issue in the gubernatorial election. In New York City, overall crime has risen by about 32 percent in 2022, according to New York Police Department (NYPD) data. Murders and shootings, however, have both declined by about 14 percent. Zeldin and other Republicans blame the increase on crime on criminal justice reform policies such as cashless bail.
Hochul responded to rising crime by launching a $5 million project to install cameras in public transportation systems, and in September announced $50 million in public safety funding.
Other polls also indicate the gubernatorial race is closer than once expected.
An October 3 to 6 Marist College poll found an 8-point lead for Hochul among "those who say they will definitely vote." Meanwhile, a September 30 to October 3 poll from GOP-leaning Trafalgar Group, which surveyed 1,087 likely voters, found Hochul leading by 2 points. In FiveThirtyEight's polling aggregate, Hochul leads her Republican challenger by 11.8 points.
Hochul has made reproductive rights one key aspect of her campaign. The Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade in June galvanized Democratic voters across the country and has allowed Democrats to mitigate losses during the midterms. Zeldin has opposed reproductive rights, but has said as governor, he would not change abortion laws.
New York Emerges as Midterms Battleground
New York, long seen as one of the most Democratic states in the country, has emerged as a battleground during the 2022 midterms.
In addition to the governor's race appearing to be more competitive than expected, New York is also home to eight congressional districts won by either President Joe Biden or former President Donald Trump by less than 10 points in 2020.
Zeldin's congressional district, which was drawn to become more competitive in redistricting, is one of those districts both parties are vying for—though Republicans are generally seen as favored to hold the seat.
Meanwhile, Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer is expected to easily win reelection against Republican Joe Pinion.
Newsweek reached out to the Zeldin and Hochul campaigns for comment.
About the writer
Andrew Stanton is a Newsweek weekend reporter based in Maine. His role is reporting on U.S. politics and social issues. ... Read more