New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is becoming increasingly unpopular in the state, with polling data showing a lack of support for his reelection and a sizable share indicating support for a recall election.
Despite recall elections not being possible in the state, 40% of voters said they would support recalling the governor before his term is up in 2022 if they had the opportunity. Forty-two percent indicated they would not support a recall. The rest of the respondents were undecided.
Meanwhile, only 41% of voters agreed that the governor deserves another term in office, while 47% answered that the state needs a new governor.
While the majority of voters, 56%, were supportive of his overall response to the coronavirus pandemic, many voters indicated they blame Cuomo for the deaths that occurred in New York nursing homes.
Respondents were asked: “In your opinion is Governor Andrew Cuomo responsible for the thousands of deaths in New York state that needlessly occurred as a result of his decision last March to require nursing homes to accept patients released from hospitals, despite them being COVID-positive and despite testing deficiencies for both residents and staff?”
Almost half, 48%, of voters blamed Cuomo for the deaths, while 32% said he wasn’t to blame for the problem.
But it wasn’t all bad news for Cuomo, who does well in polls against hypothetical challengers in both a primary or general election.
In a hypothetical Democratic primary, voters prefer Cuomo over state Attorney General Letitia James, 65% to 22%. In a matchup against Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Cuomo leads 67% to 24%.
In a hypothetical governor’s race between Cuomo and Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Cuomo leads 49% to 37%.
“It is a political nightmare for Gov. Cuomo that only 41% of New Yorkers would vote to reelect him with 47% responding that they want someone new,” Stefanik senior adviser Alex deGrasse said of the poll numbers.
The Zogby poll surveyed 810 likely voters between Feb. 2 and Feb. 5, with a margin of error of 3.4%.
Cuomo’s office did not immediately respond to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment.
Author: Michael Lee
Source: Washington Examiner: Poll finds more New York voters believe state needs new governor, and 40% would support recalling Andrew Cuomo
