I live in New York state, and there are very few good things to say about it. For decades, it’s been a deep-blue stronghold where far-left downstate elites call the shots, forcing their radical agenda on an entire state that actually leans far more red or at least purple outside the city limits. Trump said last year he would be competitive in the Empire State, and while he really wasn’t, he did better than any other Republican in recent memory. But the liberal stronghold of New York might finally be ready to break free from decades of Democratic rule.
Recent polling shows Governor Kathy Hochul's approval ratings have plummeted to an embarrassing 36%, while President Trump's approval in the deep blue state stands at a remarkably higher 43%. That’s right, Trump has higher approval ratings in New York than the Democrat governor.
Make no mistake about it, this represents a seismic shift in New York politics.
The writing has been on the wall for some time. In the 2024 presidential election, Trump increased his vote share in New York by six percentage points compared to 2020, securing 43.7% of the vote. This didn't happen by accident. New Yorkers are fed up with the Democrats' failed policies that have led to surging crime, an illegal immigration crisis, and rampant political corruption.
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As pollster Landon Wall noted, "The rightward shift of New York, in particular New York City, has been happening since 2006." So, it's not just about Trump's growing popularity. There's actually a broader rejection of one-party Democratic control that's been brewing for years.
The cracks may have been forming for years, but they’ve been getting much bigger in recent years, and it looks like the Democrats' iron grip on New York is weakening. Republican Lee Zeldin came within six points of defeating Hochul in 2022. That would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. Now, an astounding 60% of voters believe it's "time for someone new," including 34% of Democrats and 55% of independents.
Zeldin now has a job in the Trump administration, but there may be a new savior for New York in Rep. Elise Stefanik, who is currently trailing Hochul by a mere six points in a potential 2026 matchup.
And she’s seriously considering a run.
"If you look at the past few election cycles, New York is moving toward the Republican direction, and I believe that's a result of single-party failed Democrat rule led by Kathy Hochul," Stefanik told the Daily Mail.
"I'm gonna fight for New Yorkers like I always do. We are hearing an outpouring of support importantly not just from Republicans, but from Independents and Democrats as well. It has been overwhelming. New Yorkers want to fire Kathy Hochul."
Given the current state of affairs, New York appears primed for a historic shift. With crime spiraling out of control, illegal immigrants overwhelming city resources, and Democratic leadership seemingly more interested in woke politics than solving real problems, voters are ready for change. The question isn't if New York will turn red, but when.
Soon please.
