Joe Biden, Kathy Hochul favorability and approval ratings hit rock bottom in New York

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's favorability and job approval has dropped to the lowest rating ever, according to new polling that also shows President Joe Biden's ratings have also hit rock bottom in the state.

The Siena College poll on Thursday found that Hochul's favorability rating was 38-49%, while her job approval rating was 44-50%. Both were down from a previous poll and the lowest since she took office in August 2021.

Among Democrats, Hochul has a 2-1 favorability rating and even stronger job approval rating. Still, she’s viewed unfavorably by 81% of Republicans and 61% of independents, while 84% of Republicans and 63% of independents disapprove of the job she’s doing as governor, according to the poll.

"When it comes to various Hochul characteristics, the partisan divide remains between Democrats on one side and Republicans joined by independents on the other side," Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg said in a statement. "Democrats say Hochul cares about people like them, works hard, is a decisive leader, and honest. Republicans and independents don’t agree."

Hochul’s latest poll numbers are even worse than those of Biden, who 42% of respondents viewed favorably. The poll found Biden leading the presumptive Republican nominee, former President Trump, by single digits, 47%-39%.

"While Biden maintains the support of three-quarters of Democrats, Trump has support from 85% of Republicans and leads Biden 45%-28 with independents," Greenberg said. "A gender gap has reopened as men support Trump 46%-42% and women favor Biden 51%-33%. White voters are evenly divided."

Despite Hochul's sagging poll numbers, a plurality of voters in both parties support her decision to halt New York's congestion pricing program, which would have charged motorists an additional $15 toll to enter New York City.

Last week, Hochul announced that she has directed the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to "indefinitely" pause the congestion pricing system, which was set to go into effect on June 30. The Democrat said she supports the program's "goals" to reduce traffic and pollution but said the plan would hurt "hardworking New Yorkers."

Pollsters found that voters approve of her decision by 45%, with only 23% disapproving and another 16% not taking a position on her decision to halt the plan, according to the poll.

Support for Hochul's decision to delay congestion pricing was stronger among suburban voters, who backed the move by 56%, according to the poll.

New York is viewed as a battleground in the upcoming elections, with control of Congress in play. Two years ago, Republicans were able to reclaim a razor-thin majority in the House of Representatives largely due to several key Republican congressional victories in New York.

The Siena College poll, which surveyed 805 registered voters across New York state, has a 4.1% margin of error.