Election Day 2026 Is Here: What New York Voters Need to Know

Election Day 2026 arrived in New York on November 3, with polling sites open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. statewide. The top of the ticket features Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul seeking a second full term against Republican Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who has trailed by double digits in recent polls — a Siena poll gave Hochul a 14-point lead, while a Marist poll showed her up 53%-42%. Voters are also deciding statewide races for Comptroller (Thomas DiNapoli vs. Joseph Hernandez) and Attorney General (Letitia James vs. Saritha Komatireddy). Fourteen congressional districts are on the NYC ballot, including the high-profile NY-17 showdown in the Hudson Valley and the NY-11 Staten Island seat. Five city charter amendments are also before NYC voters, covering outdoor dining permitting, contractor paperwork, bike-lane approvals, construction permitting, and a reserve-fund target. Early voting closed on November 2 after 690,526 New Yorkers cast ballots in the city — a 60% jump from the 2022 midterms. Nationally, control of the U.S. House is seen as the stakes underpinning the competitive congressional races in New York.