Hochul Leads Blakeman by 11 Points in Latest Poll as Democrats Attack His Public-Safety Record

A Marist poll released Wednesday shows Governor Kathy Hochul maintaining an 11-point lead over Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, 53 to 42 per cent statewide among registered voters, with 5 per cent undecided. Hochul leads 69–24 per cent in New York City; the two candidates are tied at 48–48 among suburban voters; and Blakeman leads upstate 51–43. Among independents, Blakeman holds an edge of 49–42. The poll was conducted October 1 through October 4 among 1,361 registered New York voters and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.

New York State Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs is attacking Blakeman's signature issue of public safety, noting that Nassau County Police Department staffing fell from 3,325 full-time employees at the end of 2025 to 3,275 by early September after an early-retirement incentive drew 241 participants. Blakeman's proposed 2027 county budget also cuts the department's equipment line by roughly 25 per cent, though overall police spending would rise about 3.4 per cent to $1.24 billion.

State data show Nassau's violent index crimes reached a 10-year high of 2,294 in 2024, up from 2,271 in 2022 when Blakeman took office — an increase of about 1 per cent. Blakeman's campaign did not respond to requests for comment.