ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — Governor Kathy Hochul's approval ratings are slightly up, but a 2026 gubernatorial race against Representative Elise Stefanik has tightened, according to a new Siena Poll conducted during the first week of August. The poll showed Hochul with a 14-point lead over Stefanik, a drop from the 23-point spread in a similar poll in June.

In a head-to-head general election matchup, 45% vote Hochul and 31% vote Stefanik. Another 20% were undecided or refused to answer, and 3% would vote for someone else.

"The latest Siena poll is catastrophic for Kathy Hochul, as she is losing independent voters to Elise Stefanik, is below 50% on the ballot, and only 35% of voters want to re-elect [her]," said Alex DeGrasse, Team Elise Executive Director, after the poll came out. "Voters a

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