Schumer Sinks While AOC Surges: New Poll Shows New York Democrats Want a Tougher Stance on Trump

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is finding himself in some seriously chilly political waters at home in New York.

Schumer's decision to back a Republican-led government funding bill—designed to keep the lights on in Washington and backed by President Trump—has not exactly been a hit with his own party. In fact, it’s sparked a pretty dramatic backlash among Democrats, and the latest Siena College poll captures just how frosty things have gotten.

Schumer's favorability in New York has sunk to 39%, with 49% viewing him unfavorably—his worst numbers in two decades of Siena's polling. Pollster Steven Greenberg summed it up: for the first time, a plurality of voters see Schumer in a negative light, putting him 10 points underwater. Not exactly the kind of record you want to break.

The real kicker? His numbers have cratered the most among Democrats, especially liberals. While Schumer is still hanging onto a slim majority of favorability among Democrats—52% to 38%—that’s a sharp drop from the previous 68% to 23%. Among self-identified liberals, the fall is even steeper, now at 47%-41%, down from 68%-21%. Ouch.

Meanwhile, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is on the up and up. The progressive star has seen her favorability soar to 47% among New Yorkers, with only 33% viewing her unfavorably. That's a significant leap from four years ago, when she was basically breaking even. In the Democratic camp, 64% have a favorable opinion of her—more than Schumer or even Governor Kathy Hochul. Republicans, predictably, don’t share the love, and independents are split right down the middle.

With Schumer defending his controversial funding bill as the lesser of two evils—arguing that a shutdown would only empower Trump and his billionaire allies—he’s trying to keep a grip on his Senate Democratic Caucus, even as party progressives demand he get tougher on Trump. But with whispers swirling about a possible primary challenge from Ocasio-Cortez, and some early polls even suggesting she could beat him, Schumer has to be hearing footsteps.

Governor Hochul, on the other hand, is getting a little more breathing room. Her approval rating has ticked up to 48%-45%, an improvement over last month, and her favorability has inched up as well. Still, only 39% of voters say they're ready to re-elect her in 2026, though that’s a bit better than March’s numbers. Apparently, upstate and women voters are warming up to her a bit more.

As for the governor’s race, Republican contenders like Elise Stefanik, Mike Lawler, and Bruce Blakeman are eyeing a run against Hochul. But for now, Democratic leaders are touting the latest poll as proof that Hochul is delivering on key issues like public safety and lowering costs—even if voters, as always, want to see more.