A surprising new Siena College poll released Thursday delivered the verdict that former President Donald Trump has a higher net favorability rating than New York state Governor Kathy Hochul (D). 

Hochul was elected in 2022 after being appointed by then-Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) in 2021 after he stepped down because of sexual misconduct allegations.

While both politicians had approval ratings that were seriously underwater, only 34% of the state's residents approved of Hochul according to the poll, while 54% did not approve.

A slightly higher 39% approved of Trump, while 57% viewed him poorly.

"Hochul’s favorability rating, 20 points underwater, is worse than Trump’s, 18 points underwater," Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg said in the poll's press release. "To repeat, Kathy Hochul has a lower net favorability rating in New York than Donald Trump."

"We are going to win New York"

Last month 39% approved of Hochul, while 50% disapproved, so her numbers have seen a pretty significant downturn.

While Hochul’s favorability rating has never been outstanding — she’s never been viewed favorably by 50% of voters in a state where 49% of the voters are Democrats — it has now hit an all-time low, 34%-54%," Greenberg said. "Her job approval rating, 39%-56%, is also a record low."

Trump said at a Long Island rally on Wednesday that he would "win New York," a longtime blue state where Republicans haven't generally won in recent years.

"The reason I’m here," Trump said, "is because "we are going to win New York. That’s the first time in many, many years that a Republican can honestly say it, and we’re going to do it."

While Trump's optimism is nice and all, a Republican presidential candidate hasn't won in New York since Ronald Reagan in 1984.

History in New York

Trump may be banking on the fact that he has lived and run businesses in New York for decades.

While his primary residence is officially in Florida now, he still maintains a presence in New York City and has an apartment in Trump Tower where his son Barron is living while attending NYU.

Trump knows that if he wins New York, he will win the election.

"We have to do it. We do it, and the election nationwide is over. We take over the White House, and we fix up our country," he said.

In elections today, there really is no normal. Anything can happen, and we will just have to see what does on November 5.