For most New Yorkers, the state, the country and democracy itself are headed in the wrong direction, according to a Siena College poll released Wednesday.
Only 14% of the 655 Likely voters who responded to the survey said they are “very optimistic” about the “state of our democracy” when asked among the 16 and the 25 of September, while a majority (52%) said that it is “somewhat” or “very pessimistic.”
A great majority of the 54% said that the country as a whole is on the wrong path, while 47% had the same opinion about the state of New York, ahead of the November 8 elections, where Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul is running for re-election with 54% over Republican legislator Lee Zeldin (36%).
For those consulted, things look better on the domestic front, with 69% saying that things are improving for them and their family, and only gave their opinion 25% thought otherwise.
Conservatives are particularly downhearted about the situation, according to the poll, with majorities of 81% and 87 %, respectively, who say the state and country are headed in the “wrong direction,” compared to just 13 % and 9% who think that we are on the “right path”.
Also 61% of conservative voters said they are pessimistic about the future of democracy in America, according to the poll.
“Although New Yorkers continue to believe that the state is headed in the wrong direction 47-47%, that’s a net seven-point improvement since August, when voters said the state was headed in the wrong direction 47-37 %”, highlighted a press release accompanying the survey, quoted by New York Post.
“When it comes to the country, voters say it is going in the wrong direction 59-31%. However, in August that opinion was maintained by a margin of 71-19%”, which represents an improvement of 24 net points”, adds the statement. More details of the survey results can be found here.