Siena poll: New Yorkers have mixed feelings about scandal-scarred Cuomo
ALBANY — A growing number of New Yorkers have a negative view of Gov. Cuomo, but most don’t think he should resign, according to a new Siena College poll released on Monday.
The governor has seen his popularity, which skyrocketed early on in the COVID pandemic, drop in recent months as he faces multiple accusations of sexual harassment, an impeachment probe, calls for his resignation and a federal investigation into his administration’s handling of nursing home deaths.
That trend continues with a full 52% of respondents reporting a negative view of Cuomo, according to the new Siena poll. It’s the first time the college has recorded an unfavorability rating over 50% for Cuomo, according to Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg.
The governor’s favorability rating fell from 56% in February to 40% this month.
Despite his troubles, a majority of New Yorkers continue to say both that Cuomo should not resign, 51%, and that they believe he can effectively do his job as governor, 52%.
“Voters to Andrew Cuomo: ‘we’ve got some good news and some bad news,’” Greenberg said of the latest numbers. “On the one hand, his favorability rating is now the lowest it has ever been, with more than 50% of voters viewing Cuomo unfavorably for the very first time in a Siena College poll.”
“On the other hand, a majority of voters – including Democrats by two-to-one and a plurality of independents – continue to say that Cuomo should not resign, and a similar majority say he can still effectively do his job as governor,” he added.
In all, only 37% of people in the state believe the governor should step down. Cuomo, who has denied ever touching anyone inappropriately, has repeatedly asked New Yorkers to reserve judgement on his conduct until the completion of an independent probe being overseen by Attorney General Letitia James’ office.
A growing number of voters now say they believe Cuomo has committed sexual harassment, including Republicans by 39 points, independents by 29 points and Democrats by nine points, as well as men by 23 points and women by 20 points, Greenberg noted.
“Last month, a plurality of all those demographic groups, except Republicans, were undecided on whether or not Cuomo had committed sexual harassment,” he said.
Along with his favorability rating, Cuomo’s job performance and re-election ratings also continued to fall.
Cuomo’s job performance rating is negative, with 42% saying he’s doing alright and 56% giving the governor low marks.
Right now, 33% of New Yorkers say they are prepared to re-elect Cuomo next year if he runs, compared to 57% who would prefer to see “someone else” take over in 2022.
Respondents were also split on the $212 billion state budget approved earlier this month.
While 38% of people believe the spending plan and other recently passed laws will be good for the state, 36% say think the legislation and budget will overall be bad.
Several of the budget’s big ticket items have New Yorkers support, including a $2.1 billion in assistance to workers, including undocumented immigrants, who lost employment during the pandemic but were ineligible for federal aid.
By a margin of 72%-20%, voters approve of increasing tax rates on millionaires.
They also approve of legalizing the recreational use of cannabis, 57%-36%.
