A recent poll from the Siena College Research Institute has shed light on the growing unease among New York voters concerning the handling of the migrant crisis by prominent Democrats, including President Joe Biden.
The issue at the forefront is the sharp rise in the number of asylum-seekers, which has reached approximately 100,000 in New York City and affected regions across the entire state.
The study provided several critical insights, one being that 46% of the voters felt migrants who’ve settled in New York over the past twenty years had been more of a “burden” to the state, while only 32% viewed their presence as a “benefit.”
Furthermore, a majority, 58%, expressed that New York has done enough to accommodate migrants and should take measures to decrease the influx.
Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams have been under the spotlight for their perceived management of the situation.
Hochul faces a 51% disapproval rate regarding her efforts, whereas Adams is closely trailing with a 47% disapproval rating.
Both leaders have proactively reached out to the White House, seeking further support and an expedited process for the asylum-seeking migrants’ working documents. Tensions between the state and city administrations have also been hinted at in recent court documents, where the Governor’s office accused Adams of not doing enough to address the crisis.
While the migrant issue is pressing, the poll indicates that most top Democrats’ approval ratings remain relatively stable compared to the period before the migrant surge. However, this doesn’t mitigate the potential looming challenges, particularly with the 2024 state and congressional elections.
One of the poll’s most striking findings pertains to the diminishing popularity gap between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump in New York.
While Biden maintains a lead over Trump, 47% to 34%, this 13-point lead starkly contrasts the more robust 25-point advantage Biden enjoyed in 2020 post-securing the Democratic nomination. Additionally, more New Yorkers now view Biden unfavorably (50%) than favorably (46%).
A topic of considerable debate is the proposal to relocate migrants from New York City to other state regions.
The poll showed that 50% of the general respondents favor this idea. This approval is primarily driven by the city residents, with a strong 62% agreement. However, Mayor Adams’ decision has not been without its detractors, especially among local leaders.
Conducted between August 13-16, the Siena College poll captured the opinions of 803 registered voters and came with a 4.4% margin of error.
