Why do ppl not like the gover of new york
Executive summary
Kathy Hochul’s popularity problems stem from a mix of policy choices, political positioning and opponent messaging: critics accuse her of excessive spending and poor fiscal stewardship, question her accountability after fraud scares, and chafe at specific stances on public safety, migration and business regulation, even as Democrats and nonpartisan forecasters still rate her re-electable in a favorable partisan environment [1] [2] [3] [4]. Her perceived vulnerability has invited primary interest and sustained Republican attacks, amplifying discontent in media and among union and conservative critics [5] [6] [7].
1. Fiscal stewardship and the “spend, spend” narrative
A persistent theme among opponents is that Hochul’s budgets expand spending to record levels, provoking charges that she is ignoring long-term affordability and middle-class burdens; State Senator Tom O’Mara publicly criticized her proposed $260 billion 2026-27 fiscal plan as the “highest-ever” and accused the governor of feeding a “spend, spend, spend” addiction that will not make New York more affordable [1]. That message fuels a straightforward political line: higher spending equals harder times for taxpayers, a claim repeated by Senate Republicans who also demand audits and fiscal scrutiny [2].
2. Accountability questions and calls for audits
GOP lawmakers have framed Hochul as insufficiently accountable in the wake of nationwide scrutiny about fraud in government programs, pressing for independent audits and suggesting that failure to act would indicate incompetence and unaccountability—language designed to turn administrative errors or gaps into broader questions of competence [2]. Those calls are both policy-driven and partisan: they seek to tie local troubles elsewhere to Albany governance, while positioning Republicans as fiscal watchdogs [2].
3. Policy positioning that alienates both left and right
Hochul occupies a politically risky middle ground on hot-button issues—pushing tougher public-safety measures and sometimes advocating rollbacks to 2019 criminal justice reforms, moves that anger progressives while her crime-focused rhetoric is still used by conservatives to claim she isn’t effective enough on safety [3]. At the same time, her vetoes and regulatory choices—like narrowing the scope of the NY LLC Transparency Act to align with federal rules—provide fodder for business critics and transparency advocates who argue she sided with compliance simplification over tougher disclosure [8].
4. Controversies around migrants, local alliances and perceived flip-flops
Observers note a string of controversies—publicly aligning with partisan mayoral actors, protesting migrant shelters, and opposing certain housing plans—which critics say reveal either poor judgment or politicized responsiveness to local pressure, and which have been cited as causes of friction with traditional Democratic constituencies and civic groups [9]. Such episodes allow opponents to depict Hochul as unpredictable or out of step with New York’s progressive base [9].
5. Political vulnerability and intra-party friction
Hochul’s reported low approval ratings and the Democratic Party’s uneven performance in recent cycles have made her susceptible to primary challenges; outlets and political trackers identify her as vulnerable to intra-party contests and point to an actual primary challenge from Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado as evidence of internal dissatisfaction [5] [7]. That intra-party pressure both reflects substantive policy disputes and creates incentives for rivals to amplify critiques for electoral advantage [5] [7].
6. The counterpoint: structural advantages and a governing record
Despite criticisms, reporting and analysts note structural advantages and policy claims that cut the other way: early 2026 coverage showed Hochul leading likely opponents by comfortable margins in polls and earned a “solid Democratic” rating from some forecasters in a pro-Democratic environment, while her administration promotes a State of the State agenda framing itself around affordability, safety and family supports [4] [10] [11]. Those supporting her emphasize governance continuity, pragmatic problem-solving and the difficulty opponents face in a blue state [4] [11].
7. What the backlash really is: politics, policy and messaging
The dislike of Hochul is a compound of real policy disagreements—on spending, public safety, migration and business regulation—and strategic political framing: Republicans and some unions amplify grievances to create vulnerability, progressives fault perceived moderation, and her own decisions (vetoes, public stances) provide concrete grievances critics can point to, even as independent ratings and polls still show her in a structurally favorable position [1] [3] [9] [4]. Reporting limits prevent conclusive judgments about which factor is dominant in the public’s mind, but the record shows multiple, overlapping lines of critique giving opponents material to work with [5] [6].