By Richard Lee

A Sept. 14 Siena College Research Institute poll found New York Gov. Kathy Hochul with a 42% favorability rating.

How does does that number compare with what the poll found about other powerful women in New York state government?

According to the poll, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has a slightly higher favorability number – 44%. Attorney General Letitia James had the lowest number among the three – 38%.

Interestingly, large percentages of the respondents had yet to form opinions of the three. The 21% with no opinion of Hochul is not surprising since she has only been in office since Aug. 24. But Gillibrand has been one of the state’s U.S. senators since 2009, and 32% of the respondents had no opinion on the favorability. And James, despite being at the forefront of the investigation that led to Andrew Cuomo’s resignation, had the largest percentage of no opinion responses – 45%. As for Cuomo, the poll showed him with a 35% favorability rating.

The poll asked respondents about favorability of 14 government officials; Hochul, Gillibrand and James were the only women in the group.

Richard Lee, executive director of the Jandoli Institute, covered politics and government as a reporter and later served as Deputy Director of Communication for two New Jersey governors.

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