Siena Research InstituteTier 1high
Siena: Hochul leads Blakeman 49-39 in first likely-voter poll — lead halved from June
Siena's first likely-voter poll of the cycle (811 LV, Aug 3-6, MOE +/-4.2) has Hochul up 49-39 — half her 52-32 June lead among registered voters. Blakeman leads the suburbs 49-41 and independents 45-40; Hochul leads NYC 64-19. Blakeman's favorability improved to 33-26, though 40% still don't know enough about him. Voters prefer Hochul on affordable housing (+16) and prices (+7); 52-25 support her data-center moratorium. Likely-voter screens typically tighten races, but this is the closest public head-to-head from a nonpartisan pollster this cycle.
Related fact-checks
Blakeman (X video, Jul 26): Hochul and Mamdani "want to increase the number of people subject to an inheritance tax," forcing families to sell homes, farms and businesses to pay itUnverifiedBlakeman campaign: independent testing found PFAS chemicals in groundwater from the East Hampton battery storage fire (campaign release, Jul 23, 2026)UnverifiedHochul: the CDPAP single-intermediary transition has "saved over two billion dollars" that can be churned back into care (Spectrum interview, Jul 23, 2026)Unverified
More on campaign
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Source: Siena Research Institute · Aug 12, 2026 · Credibility Tier 1 · Permalink https://reviewhochul.com/news/siena-likely-voter-poll-49-39-aug-2026
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