Sixty percent of New Yorkers, including 61% of registered voters, perceive some wrongdoing by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in his handling of nursing homes during the coronavirus pandemic, according to the latest Marist Poll. However, most don’t go so far as to say Cuomo did something illegal. New Yorkers are also far from sold on another term for Cuomo — 36% of registered voters, compared with 39% in April 2018, think Cuomo deserves to be reelected.
• 41% of adults statewide say Cuomo has done something unethical but not illegal in his handling of nursing homes — 19% think he has done something illegal, and 27% think he has done nothing wrong.
• 49% of New Yorkers approve of Cuomo’s job performance, down from 66% in July — 44% disapprove. Of note, 28% of Democrats disapprove of how Cuomo is doing his job compared with 9% in the summer.
• 20% of residents strongly approve of Cuomo’s job performance, down from 33% in July. 28%.
• 42% of voters say Cuomo is doing an excellent or good job in office, down from 60% in July. Cuomo’s score has reverted back to about what it was prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• 50% of voters have a favorable view of Cuomo, down from 54% in 2018. 46% have an unfavorable opinion of him, up from 40%.
54% of New Yorkers approve of how Cuomo is handling the coronavirus pandemic, down from 72% in July. The decline is across the board. Cuomo has a net positive rating in New York City (+22 points) and the city’s suburbs (+9 points). Upstate residents divide, 48% to 48%. On the economy, 50% of New Yorkers approve of Cuomo’s handling of the issue, down from 59% over the summer. 44% disapprove, up from 33% previously. Cuomo receives majority approval (58%) among those in the city. Suburbanites divide (46% to 48%), and a majority of those Upstate (51%) disapprove.
“Cuomo’s approval rating, which was sky high in the summer, has returned to its pre-pandemic level,” says Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of The Marist Poll. “Should Cuomo decide to seek a fourth term, these results suggest it will be a challenge. That said, his current numbers are comparable to what they were when he faced the voters last time.”
The COVID-19 Pandemic
New Yorkers are optimistic about the coronavirus pandemic. 69% think things will get better, up from 47%
last July. 10% report things will get worse, down from 23%, and 18% believe things will stay about the same,
down from 25%.
Opinions are also more positive about reopening public schools for in-person instruction. 58% of New Yorkers, up from 40%, say it is a good idea to reopen the schools. 35% report it is a bad idea, down from 50%.
A majority of New Yorkers prioritize controlling the spread of coronavirus over the economy. 57% believe the state should prioritize limiting the spread of the virus even if it means it will hurt the economy. 37% say restarting the economy should be top of mind even if it hurts the effort to contain the virus. A majority of residents in all three regions of the state prioritize controlling coronavirus over the economy.
About two in three New Yorkers say they plan to or already have received the coronavirus vaccine. 28% say
they will not. Although Democrats are more likely to take the vaccine, at least a majority of New Yorkers, regardless of political party, say they have or will be vaccinated.
