New polls show Hochul with lead over GOP nominee Blakeman

Both polls show right now that Governor Kathy Hochul, with a double-digit lead over her opponent, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, as early voter turnout continues to surpass 2022. But Blakeman downplaying the results today, accusing these pollsters of trying to suppress Republican turnout. Now, the new Siena University poll has Hochul 14 points ahead of Blakeman. That lead dipped slightly in the Marist University poll, also released today. but Hochul's still with an 11-point advantage. The Siena University poll also shows for the second straight month that a majority of voters polled view President Trump's endorsement as a liability for Blakeman, while Mayor Mamdani's endorsement for Hochul is seen as more positive. However, when it comes to independent voters, there's a stark difference in the polls. The Marist poll has Blakeman leading among independent voters by 10 points, while the Siena poll has Hochul leading among independents by 11 points. In a statement, Blakeman said in part, quote, today's polls are nothing more than voter suppression tactics designed to discourage Republicans and manipulate the outcome of this election. Kathy Hochul is desperate to convince New Yorkers this race is over because she knows her failed leadership is on the ballot. Our polling and internal surveys across the states show a neck and neck race, end quote. Hochul responding today. since we've had polls in this country since about 1822 and i never heard them being uh defined as something that's intended to suppress people getting out to vote so that's that's a new one that's a new one uh so i i will dismiss that outrageous claim but i want to get the message out clearly that there are still days to go really voting is showing exciting exciting news that there is record historic number of people turning out all over the state. So far, early voter turnout across the state continues to outpace turnout for the governor's race four years ago and is up 88 percent so far. Both Blakeman and Hochul have been crisscrossing the state in these final days. Hochul today again dodging questions on if she will raise taxes next year if reelected to help pay for child care. Hochul then later today is traveling to Albany for a campaign rally. Meanwhile, Blakeman making several stops today in the southern tier, pushing home his message that he can deliver on lowering energy costs. In the city yesterday, Blakeman said if elected, he could kill the congestion pricing program, but hasn't fully explained how he would work the Democrat-controlled state legislature to end it. The way to get people back using public transportation is not congestion pricing, is not a tax on the middle class like Kathy Hochul and Zoran Mamdani have inflicted on people here in New York City. But the way to do it is have cleaner subways, have our subways run on time, cleaner trains, have more conductors, more police officers, and cleaner stations. That's what people want, and safer stations. Early voting runs through Sunday, and the election is on Tuesday.