New York polls are full of warnings for Chuck Schumer

Stephen Neukam

This is Chuck Schumer — Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer leaves the Democratic Senate luncheon in the U.S. Capitol on March 24. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's approval rating in New York has cleared 40% just once during the last six months, according to polling from Siena University.

His approval was at 53% at the same point in President Trump's first term, according to Siena.

Why it matters: Schumer is obsessed with his hometown polls. He's up for reelection in 2028 and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) is eyeing his seat.

The minority leader's New York approval rating reached 38% in March, according to polling by Siena.
His recent high-water mark was 42% in September, and his local ratings bottomed out at 32% in November.
That was around the time that Senate Democrats voted to end a record long government shutdown, outraging the party's base. Schumer opposed the deal between Democratic moderates and Senate Republicans but still faced significant blowback over his caucus' cave in negotiations.

Zoom in: Schumer's polling slide comes as Ocasio-Cortez campaigns across New York, far from her district in the Bronx and Queens.

That includes a series of town halls in upstate New York last summer.
AOC has the option of running for president or Senate, as Axios has reported. She's joined Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on a nationwide "Fighting Oligarchy" tour.

Between the lines: Schumer and his team focus intensely on his presence in the state, with the Democratic leader frequently holding press availabilities and public events while back in New York on weekends and during recess.

Schumer has toured all 62 counties in the state for 27 straight years, a pledge he made during his first Senate election in 1998.

The bottom line: Schumer's national favorability among Democrats hovers around 43%, according to polling averages compiled by Decision Desk.

In April 2018, two-thirds of national Democrats viewed Schumer favorably.

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New York polls are full of warnings for Chuck Schumer

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