SIENA COLLEGE RESEARCH INSTITUTE SIENA COLLEGE, LOUDONVILLE, NY

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1 SIENA COLLEGE RESEARCH INSTITUTE SIENA COLLEGE, LOUDONVILLE, NY For Immediate Release: Tuesday, September 5, 2017 Contact: Steven Greenberg, PDF version; crosstabs; website: Siena College Poll: Cuomo Favorability Rating Rebounds; Overall Job Performance Remains Underwater; Job Performance on 5 Issues All Significantly Negative Plurality Support for ConCon with Independents Most Supportive; Voters Divided Over Naming Tappan Zee for Mario Cuomo By 50-36%, New Yorkers Say State Headed on Right Track Loudonville, NY. Governor Andrew Cuomo s favorability rating rebounded after falling to its lowest level this year in July. He now has a percent favorability rating, up from percent in July, according to a Siena College poll of New York State registered voters released today. He has a negative percent job performance rating, exactly the same as July. Forty-eight percent of voters are prepared to re-elect Cuomo next year, compared to 44 percent who would prefer someone else, up a little from percent in July. On specific issues from taxes and the economy to infrastructure, mass transit and primary education voters give Cuomo decidedly negative grades, even lower than they were in May. New Yorkers are divided on naming the new Tappan Zee Bridge for Mario Cuomo, with 44 percent in support and 42 percent opposed (up from percent opposition in July). A plurality of voters 45 percent support the upcoming vote on a Constitutional Convention, with independents most supportive, Democrats supportive and Republicans divided. After a turbulent first half of the year that saw Cuomo s favorability rating fluctuate from month to month, and thanks to increased support this month from Republicans and downstate voters, Cuomo s favorability rating edged up since July and now stands at percent, exactly the same as January of this year, said Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg. While Cuomo s favorability rating rebounded with Republicans this month rising from 48 points underwater in July to now 25 points underwater his slide with upstate voters continues. In May upstaters viewed Cuomo favorably by 12 points; in July, they viewed him unfavorably by seven points; and upstaters now view Cuomo unfavorably by 18 points. New York City voters view Cuomo favorably by better than two-to-one and downstate suburban voters view him favorably by 31 points, up from six points in July, Greenberg said. more

2 Siena College Poll September 5, 2017 Page 2 Although Cuomo s favorability rating rose, his job performance rating remained unchanged since July, as 43 percent say he s doing an excellent or good job as Governor and 55 percent give him only a fair or poor rating, Greenberg said. When it comes to specific issues, voters give Cuomo even more critical grades. He gets a breakeven rating on higher education, however, strong majorities of voters give him negative grades on K-12 education, economy and taxes, as well as infrastructure and mass transit, Greenberg said. Cuomo Job Performance Ratings August 2017 May 2017 Ex/Good Fair/Poor Ex/Good Fair/Poor Overall Job Performance Overall rating 43% 55% 51% 46% Job Performance on Specific Issues Higher education 49% 47% 54% 41% NY's economy 37% 60% 44% 52% K-12 education 34% 56% 39% 53% Infrastructure 34% 59% 37% 56% Mass Transit 26% 65% N/A N/A Taxes 23% 72% 27% 67% Siena College Poll September 5, 2017 Majority Still Know Nothing About ConCon Vote; Plurality Support ConCon, Strongest with Inds One-fifth of voters up from 14 percent have read or heard at least some about the ConCon vote in November, however, 58 percent down from 67 percent still say they ve heard nothing, Greenberg said. Registered voters not likely November voters now support ConCon by a relatively narrow percent, with 22 percent undecided, largely unchanged from percent support in July, Greenberg said. Compared to July, support is down among Democrats from 30 points to now 13 points up among Republicans to now breakeven, and strongest with independents, percent. Voters Now Closely Divided on Naming New Tappan Zee Bridge for Mario Cuomo Thanks to increased support from Democrats, Republicans and downstaters, New Yorkers are now closely divided on naming the new Tappan Zee bridge currently named for Governor Malcolm Wilson the Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, after being decidedly negative in July, Greenberg said. The Cuomo Bridge naming has plurality support downstate and plurality opposition upstate. Democrats support; Republicans and independents oppose. New Yorkers Continue to View Direction of the State Positively But Down from May By a percent margin up from percent in July voters say New York is headed on the right track, rather than in the wrong direction, Greenberg said. Downstate voters are significantly more positive now than they were in July, with 56 percent now saying the state is on the right track. However, upstate voters who essentially matched downstate voters in July now say the state is headed in the wrong direction by nine points. # # # This Siena College Poll was conducted August 26-30, 2017 by telephone calls conducted in English to 771 New York State registered voters. Respondent sampling was initiated by asking for the youngest male in the household. It has an overall margin of error of percentage points including the design effects resulting from weighting. Sampling was conducted via a stratified dual frame probability sample of landline and cell phone telephone numbers (both from Survey Sampling International) from within New York State weighted to reflect known population patterns. Data was statistically adjusted by age, party, region and gender to ensure representativeness. The Siena College Research Institute, directed by Donald Levy, Ph.D., conducts political, economic, social and cultural research primarily in NYS. SCRI, an independent, non-partisan research institute, subscribes to the American Association of Public Opinion Research Code of Professional Ethics and Practices. For more information, call Steve Greenberg at (518) For survey cross-tabs:

3 SIENA COLLEGE RESEARCH INSTITUTE SIENA COLLEGE, LOUDONVILLE, NY Siena College Poll Trends September 2017 Q. 3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion about Andrew Cuomo? September July May April March February January HIGHEST EVER 77 (2/11) 44 (7/15, 5/15) 24 (1/06, 2/06, 9/07) LOWEST EVER 44 (8/06, 10/06) 14 (8/09) 3 (10/16, 10/20/10) Q. 14 How would you rate the job that Andrew Cuomo is doing as Governor? Would you rate it excellent, good, fair, or poor? September July May April March February January HIGHEST EVER 17 (1/12) 47 (4/12, etc.) 40 (6/16, 7/15, 12/14) 25 (10/14) 28 (1/11) LOWEST EVER 5 (9/16) 32 (12/15, etc.) 24 (1/11) 4 (2/11, 1/11) 0 (2/16, 5/15, 10/14) Q. 13 If Andrew Cuomo runs for re-election as Governor in 2018, as things stand now, would you vote to re-elect him or would you prefer someone else? DATE RE-ELECT SOMEONE ELSE DON T KNOW/NO OPINION September July May April March February January HIGHEST EVER 53 (5/17) 49 (9/16, 5/31/16) 11 (4/17, 3/17) LOWEST EVER 42 (5/31/16) 36 (5/17) 6 (9/16, 6/16) Q. 15 Specifically, how would you rate the job that Governor Cuomo is doing on K-12 education? Would you rate it excellent, good, fair, or poor? September May HIGHEST EVER 8 (5/17) 31 (5/17) 30 (9/17, 5/17) 26 (9/17) 10 (9/17) LOWEST EVER 7 (9/17) 27 (9/17) 30 (9/17, 5/17) 23 (5/17) 9 (5/17) Q. 16 Specifically, how would you rate the job that Governor Cuomo is doing on higher education? Would you rate it excellent, good, fair, or poor? September May HIGHEST EVER 16 (5/17) 38 (5/17) 26 (9/17) 21 (9/17) 6 (5/17) LOWEST EVER 15 (9/17) 34 (9/17) 25 (5/17) 16 (5/17) 5 (9/17)

4 Siena College Poll Trends September 2017 Page 2 Q. 17 Specifically, how would you rate the job that Governor Cuomo is doing on New York s economy? Would you rate it excellent, good, fair, or poor? September May HIGHEST EVER 8 (5/17) 36 (5/17) 35 (9/17) 25 (9/17) 4 (5/17) LOWEST EVER 6 (9/17) 31 (9/17) 30 (5/17) 22 (5/17) 3 (9/17) Q. 18 Specifically, how would you rate the job that Governor Cuomo is doing on taxes? Would you rate it excellent, good, fair, or poor? September May HIGHEST EVER 4 (5/17) 23 (5/17) 36 (9/17, 5/17) 36 (9/17) 6 (5/17) LOWEST EVER 3 (9/17) 20 (9/17) 36 (9/17, 5/17) 31 (5/17) 5 (9/17) Q. 20 Specifically, how would you rate the job that Governor Cuomo is doing on infrastructure? Would you rate it excellent, good, fair, or poor? September May HIGHEST EVER 7 (5/17) 30 (5/17) 36 (9/17) 25 (5/17) 7 (9/17, 5/17) LOWEST EVER 6 (9/17) 28 (9/17) 31 (5/17) 23 (9/17) 7 (9/17, 5/17) Q. 22 The last New York State Constitutional Convention was held in Since then, New Yorkers have twice voted against having a constitutional convention in both 1977 and In 2017, New Yorkers will again have an opportunity to vote on whether or not there should be a State Constitutional Convention. How much have you heard about that vote in 2017 on whether or not to have a constitutional convention? Would you say you have heard a great deal, some, not very much, or nothing at all? DATE GREAT DEAL SOME NOT VERY MUCH NOTHING DON T KNOW/NO OPINION September July May April February June HIGHEST EVER 8 (9/17) 11 (9/17) 24 (4/17) 75 (7/15) 2 (4/17) LOWEST EVER 2 (several) 4 (7/15) 18 (7/17, 2/17) 58 (9/17) 0 (2/17, 7/15) Q. 23 Specifically, the November ballot question on a Constitutional Convention will ask, Shall there be a convention to revise the constitution and amend the same? Will you vote yes to have a Constitutional Convention or no to not have a Constitutional Convention? (PRIOR TO JULY 2017, WORDING OF THIS QUESTION WAS: Do you support or oppose having a New York State Constitutional Convention in which delegates propose changes to the State Constitution for voters to approve or reject? ) YES/ NO/ DATE SUPPORT OPPOSE DON T KNOW/NO OPINION September July May April February June HIGHEST EVER 69 (5/3/16, 7/15) 34 (7/17) 22 (9/17) LOWEST EVER 45 (9/17) 15 (7/15) 12 (5/3/16, 8/09) Q. 21 The current Governor Malcolm Wilson Tappan Zee Bridge between Westchester and Rockland Counties is being replaced by a new bridge. Governor Cuomo and the State Legislature recently passed a law to name the new bridge the Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. Do you support or oppose naming the new bridge the Mario M. Cuomo Bridge? DATE SUPPORT OPPOSE DON T KNOW/NO OPINION September July HIGHEST EVER 44 (9/17) 47 (8/17) 15 (9/17, 8/17) LOWEST EVER 37 (8/17) 42 (9/17) 15 (9/17, 8/17)

5 Siena College Poll Trends September 2017 Page 3 Q. 4 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion about the New York State Assembly? September July May April March February January HIGHEST EVER 46 (3/17, 2/17) 61 (7/10) 21 (5/17) LOWEST EVER 25 (7/10) 34 (5/17) 10 (5/15) Q. 5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion about the New York State Senate? September July May April March February January HIGHEST EVER 50 (2/17) 74 (7/09) 17 (5/17, 3/17) LOWEST EVER 20 (7/09) 35 (5/17) 6 (7/09) Q. 9 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion about Eric Schneiderman? September March December HIGHEST EVER 41 (10/14) 27 (10/31/10) 86 (11/09) LOWEST EVER 8 (11/09) 6 (5/10, 11/09) 39 (10/14) Q. 10 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion about Thomas DiNapoli? September March December HIGHEST EVER 35 (10/14) 36 (10/31/10) 80 (6/07) LOWEST EVER 7 (6/07, 5/07) 10 (12/09, 11/08) 37 (10/31/10) Q. 1 Is New York State on the right track, or is it headed in the wrong direction? DATE RIGHT TRACK WRONG DIRECTION DON T KNOW/NO OPINION September July May April March February January HIGHEST EVER 57 (1/13) 76 (10/31/10) 30 (1/07) LOWEST EVER 14 (10/10) 26 (1/07) 7 (2/17, 5/13) Poll Trend Notes: * All surveys are of registered voters except for the following polls: September thru November 2016, July thru October 2014, August/October 2012, October 2010, September/October 2008, and September/October 2006, which are polls of likely voters. Trends reflect questions asked at least twice since the first Siena College Poll in February Results listed here include all times questions have been asked since January Highest Ever and Lowest Ever are provided at the bottom of each question. Inconsequential wording change.