Less than half of New Yorkers support Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul’s inflation relief payments, according to a new poll.
Newsweek reached out to Hochul’s office for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Hochul announced payments of up to $400 for New Yorkers to deal with high inflation after the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused a global economic slowdown. In New York, inflation has added to an already high cost of living.
Inflation peaked in June 2022, with a 9.1 percent rate, and has steadily fallen ever since. Still, prices have not returned to pre-pandemic levels. Americans are also facing concerns about a potential recession amid President Donald Trump‘s tariffs.
What to Know
A new poll from Siena College released on Tuesday found that only 45 percent of New Yorkers support the direct payments.
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Thirty-eight percent of respondents opposed the payments, while 12 percent said they were “in the middle.” An additional four percent said they were not sure how they felt about the payments.
Among Democrats, 53 percent support the payments. Forty-two percent of Republicans and 33 percent of independents polled said they supported the direct payments.
The poll surveyed 805 registered voters across New York from May 12 to May 15, 2025, and had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.3 percentage points.
It was less popular than other budget provisions, such as requiring subscription services to make it easier for customers to cancel, providing free breakfast and lunch to public school students, and requiring school districts to restrict smartphone use, all of which received support from more than two-thirds of New Yorkers.
New York Direct Payments: Latest Update
Payments will be sent out in October and November, Hochul’s office said in a press release last week. New Yorkers will automatically receive the checks if they are eligible, and there is no need to apply for it. The refund amounts are determined based on tax filing status and income.
Joint filers with incomes up to $150,000 will receive a $400 check, while those earning between $150,000 and $300,000 will receive $300. Single filers with incomes up to $75,000 will receive $200, and those earning between $75,000 and $150,000 will receive $150.
Kathy Hochul’s 2026 Election Chances: What Poll Says
The poll found a majority of New Yorkers want to elect a new governor in 2026.
Only 36 percent of respondents said they would prefer to re-elect Hochul next year, while 55 percent said they would prefer someone else. An additional 10 percent said they do not know whether they want Hochul to serve another four years as governor.
In the Democratic primary, Hochul would still be the favorite, according to the poll. Forty-six percent of Democrats indicated they’d vote for her. Twelve percent said they’d back Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado, while 10 percent said they would vote for Representative Ritchie Torres.
The poll did not include any head-to-heads against Republicans in the general election, but New York is seen as a generally safe state for Democrats despite recent shifts toward Republicans. Former Vice President Kamala Harris carried the state by nearly 12 points last year—a notably smaller margin of victory than former President Joe Biden‘s 22-point win four years earlier.
Fifty percent of respondents said they approve of Hochul’s job performance, compared to 46 percent who disapprove.
What People Are Saying
Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg said in the poll release: “Two potential Hochul rivals for the Democratic nomination for governor next year – Delgado and Torres – remain largely unknown to a majority of voters and a majority of Democrats. Not surprisingly, they both continue to trail Hochul by a large margin – and by virtually every demographic – when Democrats are asked to choose next year’s gubernatorial nominee.”
Laura Tamman, a professor of political science at Pace University, previously told Newsweek: “A check signed by the Governor is a way for her to communicate that she understands that New Yorkers are struggling financially, with a specific, tangible benefit. Unexpected checks in the mail are rare enough that I think voters will remember this gesture. However, the checks are simply not large enough to be the determining factor in whether she wins reelection in 2026.”
What Happens Next
Hochul has indicated she plans to run for reelection in New York. Democrats in the state will face their first test of the Trump 2.0 era in the New York City mayoral race this year, the primaries for which are set to be held in June.
The Cook Political Report classifies the New York gubernatorial race as Likely Democratic, meaning it is “not considered competitive at this point” but has “the potential to become engaged.”
