2026 New York gubernatorial election

For related races, see 2026 United States gubernatorial elections.

2026 New York gubernatorial election

←  2022 November 3, 2026 2030 →

Party Democratic Republican

Incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul Democratic

The 2026 New York gubernatorial election will take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of New York. Incumbent Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul took office on August 24, 2021, upon the resignation of Andrew Cuomo, and was elected to a full term in her own right in 2022 with 53.2% of the vote, the closest New York gubernatorial election since 1994. Hochul announced her intention to run for re-election in July 2024. ^[1]

Democratic primary

Background

Due to low approval ratings, poor Democratic performances in the 2022 midterm elections in New York, and controversies surrounding her administration, Hochul is considered to be potentially vulnerable to a primary challenge. ^[2]

Governor

Candidates

Declared

• Kathy Hochul, incumbent governor (2021–present) ^[1]

Publicly expressed interest

• Jamaal Bowman, former U.S. Representative from New York's 16th congressional district (2021–2025) ^{[3] [4]}
• Ritchie Torres, U.S. representative from New York's 15th congressional district (2021–present) (decision expected in mid-2025) ^[5]

Potential

• Antonio Delgado, Lieutenant Governor of New York (2022–present) ^[6]

Declined

• Letitia James, Attorney General of New York (2019–present) (running for re-election) ^[7]
• Tom Suozzi, U.S. representative from New York's 3rd congressional district (2017–2023, 2024–present) and candidate for governor in 2006 and 2022 ^[8]

Polling

Hypothetical polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size [a]	Margin of error	Kathy Hochul	Antonio Delgado	Ritchie Torres	Other	Undecided
Data for Progress (D) [9]	March 26–31, 2025	767 (LV)	± 4.0%	51%	11%	11%	–	27%
Siena College [10]	March 2–6, 2025	400 (RV)	–	46%	11%	10%	4% [b]	28%
Citizen Data [11] [A]	February 10, 2025	– (RV)	± 4.4%	52%	15%	12%	–	21%

Lieutenant governor

Candidates

Potential

• Brian Benjamin, former lieutenant governor (2021–2022) ^[12]
• Jeremy Cooney, state senator from the 56th district (2021–present) ^[12]
• Brian Cunningham, state assemblymember from the 43rd district (2022–present) ^[12]
• Grace Lee, state assemblymember from the 65th district (2023–present) ^[12]
• Donovan Richards, Queens Borough President (2020–present) ^[12]
• Robert Rodriguez, president of the New York State Dormitory Authority (2024–present), former New York Secretary of State (2021–2024), and former state assemblymember from the 68th district (2011–2021) ^[12]
• Kathy Sheehan, mayor of Albany (2014–present) ^[12]
• James Skoufis, state senator from the 42nd district (2019–present) and candidate for Democratic National Committee chair in 2025 ^[12]

Declined

• Antonio Delgado, incumbent lieutenant governor (2022–present) ^[13]

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

• Carl Hyde Jr., town supervisor ^[c] of Bethany ^[14]

Publicly expressed interest

• Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County Executive (2022–present) ^[15]
• Mike Lawler, U.S. Representative from New York's 17th congressional district (2023–present) (decision expected by July 2025) ^[16]

Polling

Hypothetical polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size [a]	Margin of error	Bruce Blakeman	Mike Lawler	Other	Undecided
Siena College [10]	March 2–6, 2025	400 (RV)	–	13%	25%	3% [d]	60%

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report [17]	Likely D	January 23, 2025
Inside Elections [18]	Battleground	February 6, 2025

Polling

Hypothetical polling

Kathy Hochul vs. Mike Lawler

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size [a]	Margin of error	Kathy Hochul (D)	Mike Lawler (R)	Other	Undecided
Citizen Data [11] [A]	February 10, 2025	1,000 (RV)	± 3.1%	46%	38%	10%	6% [e]

Kathy Hochul vs. different candidate

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size [a]	Margin of error	Kathy Hochul (D)	Different Candidate	Undecided
Siena College [10]	March 2–6, 2025	806 (RV)	± 4.3%	34%	56%	10%
Siena College [19]	January 27–30, 2025	803 (RV)	± 4.2%	31%	57%	12%
Siena College [20]	December 2–5, 2024	1,059 (RV)	± 4.1%	33%	57%	11%
Slingshot Strategies (D) [21]	May 2–3, 2024	1,059 (RV)	± 5.0%	34%	44%	21%

See also

• 2026 United States gubernatorial elections

Notes

1. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear
2. "Someone else" with 4%
3. Mayor
4. "Someone else" with 3%
5. "I don't plan to vote in this election" with 6%

Partisan clients

1. Poll sponsored by Unite NY

References

1. Parsnow, Luke (July 2, 2024). "Hochul says she's running for another term as New York governor in 2026". Spectrum News . Archived from the original on July 8, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
2. Reisman, Nick (September 5, 2024). "Hochul's headwinds become tougher with indictment of alleged foreign agent". Politico .
3. Frey, Kevin (December 13, 2024). "'I wish I didn't pull that damn fire alarm': Rep. Bowman reflects on his time in Congress, primary loss". NY1 . Retrieved December 16, 2024.
4. Wong, Scott; Thorp, Frank (December 31, 2024). "Inside the most bizarre Congress in recent memory". NBC News . Retrieved December 31, 2024. Bowman said he is not ruling out running for political office in the future: 'U.S. Senate, yes, governor, yes, mayor, yes.'
5. Sheehan, Kevin; Campanile, Carl; McCarthy, Craig; Troutman, Matt (November 25, 2024). "Rep. Ritchie Torres 'considering' run for governor as he turns up heat on Hochul — and doesn't rule out bid for NYC mayor". New York Post . Retrieved November 27, 2024. Torres said in a spate of appearances that he's...making a decision in mid-2025 on a potential gubernatorial run
6. Mahoney, Bill (February 24, 2025). "Delgado won't seek another term as lieutenant governor". POLITICO. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
7. Coltin, Jeff (February 4, 2025). "Letitia James is taking on Donald Trump — again". Politico . Retrieved February 4, 2025. Asked about a run for governor in 2026, she said that's the year she'll be running for reelection as attorney general
8. Solender, Andrew (December 12, 2024). "GOP Rep. Ciscomani passes on run for Arizona governor". Axios . Retrieved December 12, 2024. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) told Axios he won't mount another run for governor in 2026.
9. "Incumbent Hochul Has Large Lead in 2026 New York Gubernatorial Race". Data for Progress. April 7, 2025. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
10. "Hochul – with a Big Lead in a Very Early Democratic Primary Look – Gets Good Grades from Voters on Protecting Constitutional Rights & Ensuring Quality Affordable Healthcare, But Not on Making NY More Affordable". Siena College Research Institute. March 20, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
11. "Unite NY Poll: Hochul Leads Lawler by Single Digits". The Daily Post. February 25, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
12. Lewis, Rebecca (February 25, 2025). "Who could be Hochul's next LG?". City & State . Retrieved February 26, 2025.
13. Golde, Vaughn (February 24, 2025). "NY Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado announces he's leaving ticket following public breaks with Hochul". New York Post . Retrieved February 24, 2025.
14. Quinn, Brian (February 14, 2025). "Bethany town supervisor planning gubernatorial run". The Daily News . Retrieved February 14, 2025.
15. Reisman, Nick; Ngo, Emily; Coltin, Jeff (January 24, 2025). "Kathy versus crime". Politico . Retrieved January 27, 2025.
16. McKenna, Chris (April 10, 2025). "Former TV reporter Mike Sacks joins field of Democrats running for Rep. Mike Lawler's seat". The Journal News . Retrieved April 10, 2025.
17. "2026 CPR Governor Race ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
18. "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections . Retrieved February 7, 2025.
19. "Siena College Poll Conducted by the Siena College Research Institute" (PDF). Siena College . February 3, 2025. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
20. "Siena College Poll Conducted by the Siena College Research Institute" (PDF). Siena College . December 10, 2024. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
21. "Slingshot New York State Topline". Politico. May 11, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2025.