New York has long been regarded as a Democratic stronghold, with the state not having voted for a Republican presidential candidate since 1984.

Yet in what could be evidence of a stunning reversal, new polling data shows President Joe Biden with just a single-digit lead over former President Donald Trump in the Empire State. 

Biden ahead of Trump by seven points

According to the New York Post, that was the finding of a survey carried out in May by Emerson College Polling in conjunction with The Hill and PIX11.

In a head-to-head matchup, Biden was supported by 48% of New York voters while Trump was backed by 41% with an additional 12% saying they were undecided.

Biden leads Trump by single digits in New York: poll https://t.co/mqioQKub4L pic.twitter.com/B8s3q0rMyf

— New York Post (@nypost) May 31, 2024

When those who identified themselves as being undecided were prompted to make a choice, Biden's total support grew to 55% while Trump's figure rose to 45%.

Yet when voters were given the option of selecting non-major party candidates Robert F. Kennedy Jr, Dr. Cornel West, and Jill Stein, Biden and Trump's support dropped to 44% and 38% respectively.

Voters listed the economy, immigration, and as top concerns

Spencer Kimball serves as executive director of Emerson College Polling, and he said, "Independent voters in New York who traditionally vote for Democrats, according to exit polling, have flipped to lean toward Trump by a margin of ten points, 43% to 33%."

The poll also found that 34% of New York voters cited the economy as the most important issue. Meanwhile, 16% pointed to immigration, 13% mentioned crime, and 12% identified housing affordability as their biggest concern.

Although Biden and other prominent Democrats have attempted to portray Trump as a menace to the democratic system, only 7% of voters regarded threats to democracy as being their top worry.

What's more, Biden is struggling with an anemic approval rating: only 39% said they like the job he has been doing as president compared to 50% voiced dissatisfaction.

Poll shows Biden and Trump as being tied in Virginia

New York is not the only blue state where the president has gotten warning signs, as a Roanoke College poll released this week showed as tied with Trump in Virginia.

"These results suggest that Virginia could be 'in play' in November," Roanoke College professor emeritus Harry Wilson told The Hill.

Carried out among 711 likely Virginia voters between May 12 and May 21, the poll's margin of error was plus or minus 4.24%.