In a whirlwind week for New York politics, a new statewide poll and a contentious City Council debate have thrust issues of affordability, public trust, and political leadership into the spotlight. As the year draws to a close, New Yorkers are weighing in on everything from universal childcare and free bus fares to pay raises for elected officials and the future direction of the state.
According to a Siena Poll released on December 16, 2025, Governor Kathy Hochul holds a commanding lead in the upcoming gubernatorial race, outpacing Rep. Elise Stefanik by 19 points (49-30%) and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman by 25 points (50-25%), with 20% and 21% of voters still undecided in each matchup, respectively. The poll, conducted among 801 registered voters statewide, carries a margin of error of ±4.1 percentage points, offering a snapshot of public sentiment as both the primary and general elections loom on the horizon.
But perhaps even more telling than the horse-race numbers are the issues driving voter opinions. A striking 65% of New Yorkers support universal free childcare for infants through pre-kindergarten, funded by increased taxes on residents earning more than $1 million. Support spans the political spectrum, with four in five Democrats and two-to-one among independents in favor, while a small majority of Republicans oppose the measure. "It is supported upstate and downstate, and other than Republicans and conservatives, it is supported by a majority—often an overwhelming majority—of every demographic group," Siena pollster Steven Greenberg told the press, as reported by the Siena College Research Institute.
When it comes to public transit, New York City voters are more divided. The idea of eliminating bus fares—again, funded by higher taxes on the city's wealthiest—finds support among 50% of city voters, with 41% opposed. The age gap is particularly stark: 61% of voters under 35 back the proposal, while 49% of those 55 and older are against it. The partisan split is narrower, with Democrats supporting the move 54-39% and Republicans opposing it 58-39%. "The bigger divide on this issue is age," Greenberg noted, highlighting generational differences in attitudes toward public services and taxation.
Meanwhile, in City Hall, a different kind of affordability debate is unfolding. On the same day the Siena poll was released, the New York City Council faced fierce criticism from good government groups over a proposal to raise their own salaries by 16%, from $148,500 to $172,500 annually. The bill would also boost the incoming mayor's pay—set to be Zohran Mamdani—to nearly $350,000, up from $258,000 with benefits. Advocates from Citizens Union and Common Cause New York called on the council to appoint an independent commission to review compensation for elected officials, warning that self-approved raises could erode public trust.
"I think it doesn't look right for the City Council to be acting in its own self interest," Grace Rauh, executive director of Citizens Union, told the council during a public hearing, according to The Center Square. Samantha Sanchez of Common Cause New York echoed this sentiment, stating, "Allowing elected officials to vote to increase their own compensation, particularly on a retroactive basis, raises procedural concerns, and runs contrary to long-standing anti-corruption principles."
Council members, however, defended the proposal. Councilwoman Nantasha Williams, who introduced the bill, said she was not opposed to an independent commission but worried it could delay much-needed pay adjustments. Councilman Lincoln Restler, chair of the committee reviewing the bill, argued that the proposed pay hike is modest compared to the $2.1 billion cost of raises for political appointees under outgoing Mayor Eric Adams. "It's never popular to do a pay increase for elected officials. It's always fraught," Restler remarked. "But it's critical that we convince the best and brightest, not just the wealthiest, New Yorkers to make the decision to run for public office."
This debate comes as Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani enjoys a political honeymoon of his own. The Siena poll shows Mamdani's favorability rating rising to 46-31% statewide—up from an even split of 40-40% last month—and an impressive 61-23% within New York City. Voters are increasingly optimistic about his impact: 49% statewide (up from 45%) believe his election will benefit the city, while 66% of New York City voters agree. Even among independents, sentiment has shifted, with 43% now saying Mamdani's election will be good for New York City, up from 38% in November.
Still, challenges remain for city and state leaders alike. Governor Hochul's favorability rating sits at 43-41%, a slight improvement over November, and her job approval has ticked up to 52-39%. Yet, as Greenberg observed, "She has still yet to crack 50% favorability in a state where 48% of the enrolled voters are Democrats." Rep. Stefanik's favorability is underwater at 22-33%, and Blakeman remains largely unknown to most voters.
On the policy front, voters have higher expectations for Hochul in areas like healthcare access and public safety. However, neither Hochul nor Stefanik is seen as likely to make life more affordable—a top concern for many New Yorkers. The poll also found that 58-65% of voters believe recent actions by the Trump administration, including deploying ICE agents, increasing tariffs, prosecuting critics, and bombing boats off Venezuela, have gone "too far." While Democrats and independents overwhelmingly share this view, a majority of Republicans feel the actions were appropriate, with 31% saying Trump has not gone far enough in prosecuting his critics.
Amid these debates, New Yorkers remain ambivalent about the state's trajectory. Nearly half (45%) say New York is falling behind other states, while 44% believe the state is on the right track—an improvement from last month's 39%. Support for raising taxes on the wealthiest 5% of New Yorkers remains robust at 58-35%, and the appetite for progressive public investments appears strong, especially among younger voters and urban residents.
As for the City Council's pay raise proposal, the controversy is unlikely to dissipate soon. Council members haven't seen a raise since 2016, but their salaries already rank among the highest for city legislators nationwide, trailing only Los Angeles and Chicago. The proposed increase would cost the city $1.6 million in the next fiscal year—a drop in the bucket compared to other budget items, proponents argue, but a flashpoint for public skepticism nonetheless.
With the 2025 primaries just six months away and the general election less than a year out, New York's political landscape is as dynamic—and divided—as ever. As voters demand both bold policy solutions and greater accountability from their leaders, the stage is set for a high-stakes year ahead in the Empire State.
