Bruce A. Blakeman trailed Gov. Kathy Hochul in the latest late polls released before Election Day 2026, with one Siena survey showing her ahead by 14 points. The results left Blakeman facing a steep deficit as New Yorkers prepared to vote on Nov. 3.
Siena's 54% to 40%
The Oct. 28 Siena poll of 807 likely New York voters gave Hochul 54% support and Blakeman 40%, up from her 50% showing in a September poll. That placed her 14 points ahead and showed Blakeman had not closed the gap in the final stretch before voting.
The same polling window also mattered for the race's structure. Siena surveyed likely voters from Oct. 19 to 22, so its numbers captured opinion before Election Day and before the final count could settle the contest.
Marist and Quinnipiac shifts
A Marist poll released the same day showed Hochul ahead by 11 points, 53% to 42%, with 4% undecided. Marist surveyed 1,448 registered New York voters from Oct. 22 to 25, giving the race a second late look with a smaller but still clear lead for Hochul.
Another late read came from Quinnipiac on Oct. 21, when Hochul led Blakeman by 14 points. That survey suggested the race might be tightening after Hochul had led by 19 points in a September poll, narrowing the margin even as she kept the advantage.
Cost of living, economy, immigration
Cost of living, the economy and immigration topped the list of most important issues in the race. More than 70% of likely voters who prioritized cost of living and the economy supported Hochul, giving her strength with the issues that appeared to be driving the contest.
Marist also found 41% viewed Hochul favorably and 36% viewed Blakeman favorably. Nearly one in five Democrats held an unfavorable view of Hochul, while nearly the same share either did not know who Blakeman was or did not know how to feel about him.
For Blakeman, the late polling left little room to catch up before votes were counted on Nov. 3. The final result would turn on whether the polling advantage held once Election Day ballots were tallied.
