Maurice Carroll, Assistant Director,

Quinnipiac University Poll

(212) 362-9217
Rubenstein Associates, Inc.
Public Relations
Contact: Pat Smith (212) 843-8026

FOR RELEASE: JANUARY 21, 2016

GOV. CUOMO TOPS MAYOR DE BLASIO IN NEW YORK CITY,

QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY POLL FINDS;
SUPPORT FOR $15 MINIMUM WAGE AT 75%
New York City voters approve 65 29 percent of the job Gov. Andrew Cuomo is doing, topping
Mayor Bill de Blasios 50 42 percent job approval rating, according to a Quinnipiac University
poll released today.
But on the critical issue of homelessness, 33 percent say Mayor de Blasio is doing a
better job, while 28 percent say Gov. Cuomo is doing better, with 39 percent undecided, the
independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University Poll finds.
As with other issues in New York City there is a racial division: Blacks back de Blasio
over Cuomo on handling homelessness 50 20 percent. Hispanic voters back de Blasio 36 26
percent. White voters back Cuomo 37 25 percent.
In overall job approval, de Blasio gets a 63 28 percent nod from Democrats, with
disapproval ratings of 75 18 percent from Republicans and 59 37 percent from independent
voters. There are gender and racial gaps: Men disapprove 51 43 percent while women
approve 56 35 percent. Approval is 77 11 percent among black voters and 66 29 percent
among Hispanic voters, while white voters disapprove 67 27 percent.
Cuomo wins approval ratings of 72 22 percent from Democrats and 61 32 percent
from independent voters, with Republicans divided 47 49 percent. The gender and racial gaps
are smaller: Men approve 61 33 percent and women approve 69 25 percent. Approval is
74 21 percent among black voters, 72 18 percent among Hispanic voters and 58 37 percent
among white voters.
Despite the home court advantage, Gov. Andrew Cuomo outpoints Mayor Bill de Blasio
among city voters, said Quinnipiac University Poll Assistant Director Maurice Carroll.
-more-

Quinnipiac University Poll/January 21, 2016 page 2

But these same New York City voters think de Blasio does better than Cuomo managing
the homelessness problem, the issue on which the two leaders have been sparring, Carroll
added.
Who do city voters identify with on political philosophy? De Blasio by a nose.
De Blasio most closely represents their political views, 30 percent of New York City
voters, including 40 percent of Democrats, say. Cuomo is closer to their views, 25 percent of
city voters, including 27 percent of Democrats, say. Neither leader represents their views, 38
percent of voters, including 62 percent of Republicans and 53 percent of independent voters, say.
De Blasios involvement in national affairs is distracting him from his job as mayor, 45
percent of New York City voters say, while 42 percent say it is not distracting him.
Minimum Wage
New York City voters support 75 23 percent raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour
by the end of 2018. Support is 88 10 percent among Democrats and 63 34 percent among
independent voters, with Republicans opposed 59 40 percent.
Support in the boroughs ranges from 66 32 percent in Staten Island to 81 18 percent
in The Bronx.
The citys liberal leanings produce heavy support for upping the minimum wage to $15
an hour, Carroll said. Theres no surprise in the political division: Democrats give a
resounding yes; Republicans a medium no.
From January 11 17, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,143 New York City voters, with
a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia,
Iowa, Colorado and the nation as a public service and for research.
Visit www.quinnipiac.edu/polling or www.facebook.com/quinnipiacpoll
Call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll.

8. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill de Blasio is handling his job as Mayor?

Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

Wht

Blk

Hsp

50%
42
7

18%
75
7

63%
28
9

37%
59
4

43%
51
6

56%
35
8

27%
67
5

77%
11
12

66%
29
5

AREA.............................
Brnx
Kngs
Man
Qns
StIsl

AGE IN YRS..............
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+

58%
30
12

58%
34
8

54%
40
6

50%
45
5

48%
45
7

26%
66
8

53%
40
7

46%
48
6

46%
46
9

16. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Andrew Cuomo is handling his job as Governor?

Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

Wht

Blk

Hsp

65%
29
6

47%
49
5

72%
22
5

61%
32
7

61%
33
6

69%
25
6

58%
37
5

74%
21
5

72%
18
10

AREA.............................
Brnx
Kngs
Man
Qns
StIsl

AGE IN YRS..............
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+

69%
28
3

68%
24
7

64%
31
6

71%
21
8

61%
31
8

59%
38
2

62%
31
7

65%
31
4

66%
27
7

39. Who do you think is doing a better job handling homelessness, Mayor de Blasio or
Governor Cuomo?

de Blasio
Cuomo
DK/NA

de Blasio
Cuomo
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

Wht

Blk

Hsp

33%
28
39

22%
40
38

39%
25
36

28%
34
39

32%
31
37

34%
25
40

25%
37
38

50%
20
30

36%
26
38

AREA.............................
Brnx
Kngs
Man
Qns
StIsl

AGE IN YRS..............
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+

33%
27
40

34%
25
41

36%
22
41

32%
32
36

34%
28
38

22%
41
37

35%
25
41

33%
32
34

31%
31
38

49. Who do you think most closely represents your political views, Governor Andrew Cuomo,
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, or neither?

Cuomo
de Blasio
Neither
DK/NA

Cuomo
de Blasio
Neither
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

Wht

Blk

Hsp

25%
30
38
7

25%
12
62
-

27%
40
24
9

25%
19
53
4

25%
27
44
4

25%
32
33
10

34%
17
45
4

15%
51
21
12

23%
30
33
14

AREA.............................
Brnx
Kngs
Man
Qns
StIsl

AGE IN YRS..............
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+

24%
33
36
7

18%
32
45
4

22%
32
38
8

32%
27
35
7

21%
30
40
9

32%
18
48
1

23%
36
36
5

31%
26
35
8

28%
24
34
13

50. Do you think Bill de Blasio's involvement in national issues is or is not distracting
him from his duties as Mayor?

Yes/Distracting
No/Not distracting
DK/NA

Yes/Distracting
No/Not distracting
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

Wht

Blk

Hsp

45%
42
13

62%
27
10

40%
47
13

54%
35
11

51%
37
12

41%
46
14

55%
34
11

29%
54
17

47%
45
8

AREA.............................
Brnx
Kngs
Man
Qns
StIsl

AGE IN YRS..............
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+

40%
47
13

49%
36
15

43%
43
14

45%
42
14

49%
38
12

58%
35
7

43%
48
9

47%
42
10

46%
38
17

51. Do you support or oppose raising the minimum wage in New York City to $15 an hour by
the end of 2018?

Support
Oppose
DK/NA

Support
Oppose
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

Wht

Blk

Hsp

75%
23
2

40%
59
1

88%
10
1

63%
34
4

63%
34
3

85%
14
1

64%
33
3

92%
8
-

85%
14
2

AREA.............................
Brnx
Kngs
Man
Qns
StIsl

AGE IN YRS..............
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+

81%
18
2

73%
27
1

77%
23
1

76%
21
3

72%
26
2

66%
32
2

73%
27
1

80%
18
2

80%
17
4