August 1, 2016 - New York City Voters Give Mayor Big Thumbs Down, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; But De Blasio Tops Stringer Or Quinn In Reelect Bid PDF format Additional Trend Information New York City voters disapprove 51 - 42 percent of the job Mayor Bill de Blasio is doing, close to his 52 - 41 percent disapproval, his worst grade ever, and say 50 - 42 percent that he does not deserve reelection in 2017, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. But Mayor de Blasio tops two potential challengers, City Comptroller Scott Stringer or former City Council Speaker Christine Quinn in Democratic primary and general election matchups, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University Poll finds. Hypothetical election results show: de Blasio gets 43 percent in a Democratic primary, with 19 percent for Quinn and 16 percent for Stringer; de Blasio tops Stringer 45 - 32 percent in a head-to-head general election matchup, with Stringer running as an independent; de Blasio leads Quinn 43 - 33 percent in a two-way general election matchup, with Quinn running as an independent. There is a wide racial gap in each matchup as black voters back the mayor by large margins, while white voters back Stringer or Quinn. "For a mayor going into an election year, this is a disturbing poll. Half of New Yorkers say Mayor Bill de Blasio does not deserve reelection," said Quinnipiac University Poll Assistant Director Maurice Carroll. "The plus for Mayor de Blasio is in the political truism that you can't beat somebody with nobody. So far neither City Comptroller Scott Stringer nor former City Council Speaker Christine Quinn shows much political strength. "The racial divisions that have marked the mayor's first term are as strong as ever: de Blasio is exceptionally strong among black voters, exceptionally weak among white voters." New York City voters give Mayor de Blasio a 47 - 44 percent favorability rating, while his possible challengers are largely unknown: 63 percent don't know enough about Stringer to form an opinion of him; Quinn gets a 32 - 21 percent favorability, as 45 percent don't know enough about her. New York City voters approve 60 - 34 percent of the job Gov. Andrew Cuomo is doing. Approval ratings for other New York City officials are: 53 - 13 percent for Stringer; 40 - 17 percent for Public Advocate Letitia James; 29 - 23 percent for City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito; Gov. Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio have "honest disagreements," 46 percent of New York City voters say, while 40 percent say they are involved in a "personal feud." Whatever it is, 42 percent of city voters agree more with Cuomo, while 33 percent agree more with de Blasio. And 60 percent of voters say the conflict hurts New York City. "How about that edginess the media keeps reporting about between de Blasio and Cuomo? Is it a personal feud or just an honest difference of opinion? Voters are split. But, overall, they think the governor is doing a good job and the mayor isn't," Carroll said. Voters say 52 - 41 percent that de Blasio does not have strong leadership qualities, but 51 - 44 percent that he does understand their problems. Voters say 49 - 40 percent that the mayor is honest and trustworthy. New York City voters are divided 45 - 44 percent on their approval of the way the mayor is handling relations between blacks and whites. He gets negative approval scores in other areas: 42 - 49 percent for his handling of crime; 37 - 55 percent for handling relations between the police and the community; 35 - 43 percent for handling the city budget. From July 21 - 28, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,310 New York City voters, with a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points. The survey includes 845 Democrats, with a margin of error of +/- 3.4 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia, Iowa, Colorado and the nation as a public service and for research. Visit www.quinnipiac.edu/polling or www.facebook.com/quinnipiacpoll Call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll. 1. (If Registered Democrat) If the Democratic primary for Mayor were being held today, and the candidates were Bill de Blasio, Scott Stringer, and Christine Quinn, for whom would you vote? REGISTERED DEMOCRATS....................................... POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY LIBERAL..... Mod/ Tot Very Smwht Cons Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp de Blasio 43% 48% 46% 41% 44% 43% 23% 65% 56% Stringer 16 14 13 19 19 14 30 6 10 Quinn 19 17 23 18 17 21 28 12 14 DK/NA 21 21 19 22 20 22 20 17 20 2. If the election for Mayor were being held today, and the candidates were Bill de Blasio the Democrat, and Scott Stringer running as an independent candidate, for whom would you vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp de Blasio 45% 11% 59% 29% 41% 48% 24% 74% 51% Stringer 32 53 27 42 37 29 51 12 29 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 3 6 1 4 4 1 4 - 2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 5 11 2 6 5 4 5 1 4 DK/NA 16 18 11 19 13 18 16 12 14 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ de Blasio 61% 48% 40% 41% 27% 57% 42% 44% 38% Stringer 17 27 39 38 49 22 37 33 40 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 3 1 3 3 2 2 3 3 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 4 4 5 5 7 3 5 4 5 DK/NA 16 18 15 13 14 16 15 15 14 3. If the election for Mayor were being held today, and the candidates were Bill de Blasio the Democrat, and Christine Quinn running as an independent candidate, for whom would you vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp de Blasio 43% 10% 56% 30% 41% 45% 24% 70% 52% Quinn 33 48 30 37 34 32 47 19 29 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 3 11 1 3 3 2 5 - 2 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 8 19 3 10 9 6 10 2 8 DK/NA 13 13 10 20 12 14 14 9 10 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ de Blasio 58% 48% 38% 37% 27% 52% 40% 46% 36% Quinn 22 30 43 33 40 29 40 30 35 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 2 2 5 8 - 2 4 4 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 8 6 5 11 10 6 6 9 8 DK/NA 11 15 12 14 15 13 12 12 17 4. Is your opinion of Bill de Blasio favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Favorable 47% 12% 59% 33% 42% 50% 27% 75% 52% Unfavorable 44 82 31 56 50 39 66 17 37 Hvn't hrd enough 6 4 7 7 4 8 5 5 6 REFUSED 3 2 3 4 4 2 2 2 5 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Favorable 63% 50% 44% 42% 22% 60% 42% 47% 38% Unfavorable 30 41 44 49 71 31 48 46 52 Hvn't hrd enough 3 7 8 6 6 8 7 4 6 REFUSED 4 3 4 2 1 2 3 3 4 5. Is your opinion of Scott Stringer favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Favorable 26% 17% 28% 29% 29% 23% 33% 16% 28% Unfavorable 10 14 9 11 10 11 10 13 6 Hvn't hrd enough 63 67 61 59 60 65 55 70 65 REFUSED 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Favorable 14% 22% 38% 28% 20% 17% 22% 31% 35% Unfavorable 9 11 14 8 5 12 12 11 7 Hvn't hrd enough 76 66 46 64 74 72 65 58 55 REFUSED 1 1 2 1 1 - 1 1 3 6. Is your opinion of Christine Quinn favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about her? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Favorable 32% 23% 35% 29% 33% 32% 38% 30% 28% Unfavorable 21 35 17 26 27 16 29 15 16 Hvn't hrd enough 45 40 46 44 38 50 32 54 53 REFUSED 2 2 2 1 2 2 1 2 3 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Favorable 20% 33% 46% 26% 29% 23% 38% 32% 36% Unfavorable 16 21 20 22 30 12 21 26 25 Hvn't hrd enough 62 44 30 50 40 64 40 40 35 REFUSED 1 2 3 1 2 1 1 1 4 7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill de Blasio is handling his job as Mayor? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 42% 9% 55% 30% 41% 44% 25% 63% 50% Disapprove 51 86 38 65 53 48 69 29 44 DK/NA 7 6 7 5 6 8 6 9 6 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Approve 57% 41% 43% 41% 19% 51% 41% 43% 33% Disapprove 35 51 50 54 74 44 55 50 57 DK/NA 8 8 7 5 8 6 4 7 9 12. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Letitia James is handling her job as Public Advocate? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 40% 17% 49% 32% 35% 44% 26% 60% 46% Disapprove 17 40 8 25 21 13 23 8 16 DK/NA 43 43 43 43 44 43 51 32 38 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Approve 47% 38% 38% 41% 33% 41% 41% 41% 37% Disapprove 9 19 15 18 25 16 18 17 16 DK/NA 44 43 47 41 41 43 41 42 47 13. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Melissa Mark-Viverito is handling her job as City Council Speaker? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 29% 14% 37% 20% 29% 28% 23% 34% 38% Disapprove 23 54 12 34 29 18 29 12 25 DK/NA 48 31 51 46 42 53 48 55 38 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Approve 35% 21% 37% 27% 22% 31% 29% 29% 29% Disapprove 19 22 19 26 40 20 24 24 24 DK/NA 45 56 43 48 38 49 47 47 47 14. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Scott Stringer is handling his job as City Comptroller? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 53% 44% 58% 50% 55% 50% 58% 52% 51% Disapprove 13 27 9 14 12 14 12 15 11 DK/NA 34 28 33 35 32 36 31 32 37 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Approve 47% 47% 58% 60% 48% 39% 51% 58% 64% Disapprove 12 14 14 10 15 16 17 10 7 DK/NA 40 39 28 30 37 45 32 32 29 15. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Andrew Cuomo is handling his job as Governor? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 60% 51% 66% 55% 62% 59% 55% 66% 67% Disapprove 34 47 27 39 32 35 40 26 27 DK/NA 6 2 7 5 7 6 5 8 6 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Approve 63% 56% 56% 67% 57% 54% 64% 63% 64% Disapprove 29 36 38 28 41 37 32 30 32 DK/NA 8 8 5 5 2 9 4 7 4 16. Do you feel that Bill de Blasio deserves to be reelected, or do you feel that he does not deserve to be reelected? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes/Deserves 42% 13% 53% 32% 42% 43% 23% 72% 47% No/Does not 50 85 38 62 52 48 70 21 48 DK/NA 8 2 10 6 6 9 7 7 6 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes/Deserves 57% 44% 41% 39% 23% 53% 40% 42% 36% No/Does not 32 49 52 52 69 37 55 51 57 DK/NA 11 7 7 9 8 10 5 7 7 17. Do you believe Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio are involved in a personal feud or do you believe they have honest disagreements about what's best for New York City? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Personal feud 40% 51% 38% 41% 43% 37% 49% 34% 36% Honest disagreements 46 40 49 41 44 48 39 55 48 DK/NA 14 9 13 18 13 16 12 11 17 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Personal feud 30% 42% 41% 40% 42% 29% 40% 42% 47% Honest disagreements 52 45 45 46 44 54 49 46 39 DK/NA 18 13 14 14 14 17 11 12 14 18. Thinking about this conflict, do you agree more with de Blasio or more with Cuomo? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp de Blasio 33% 9% 42% 23% 30% 35% 23% 49% 36% Cuomo 42 73 36 46 46 40 54 26 46 DK/NA 25 18 22 31 24 25 23 25 18 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ de Blasio 48% 34% 35% 25% 18% 45% 31% 33% 25% Cuomo 29 38 42 50 65 32 46 44 50 DK/NA 23 28 23 25 17 23 23 24 24 19. Does the conflict between Cuomo and de Blasio help New York City, hurt New York City, or doesn't it make a difference? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Help NYC 7% 6% 8% 6% 9% 6% 4% 11% 9% Hurt NYC 60 60 60 64 57 62 68 52 52 No difference 27 25 26 25 27 26 23 29 32 DK/NA 6 8 6 5 7 6 4 9 7 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Help NYC 7% 9% 7% 6% 6% 13% 4% 7% 6% Hurt NYC 49 58 67 59 68 54 65 63 55 No difference 34 26 20 29 23 26 26 25 32 DK/NA 10 7 6 5 4 7 5 4 7 20. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in New York City today; are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Very satisfied 6% 2% 8% 5% 8% 4% 4% 7% 8% Smwht satisfied 40 18 49 32 41 39 39 48 33 Smwht dissatisfied 31 31 31 29 27 34 31 31 33 Very dissatisfied 22 48 11 33 22 22 25 13 24 DK/NA 1 - 1 - 1 1 1 1 1 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Very satisfied 11% 4% 8% 5% 3% 5% 5% 7% 8% Smwht satisfied 35 41 44 41 32 38 40 44 37 Smwht dissatisfied 37 29 29 29 30 37 31 26 30 Very dissatisfied 17 24 18 24 33 20 24 22 23 DK/NA - 1 1 1 1 - - 1 1 21. Would you say that Bill de Blasio - has strong leadership qualities or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 41% 17% 49% 34% 42% 40% 24% 65% 46% No 52 82 44 60 51 53 72 29 46 DK/NA 7 1 7 6 7 7 4 6 8 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes 48% 42% 39% 40% 27% 52% 38% 40% 36% No 43 52 56 51 69 40 58 54 58 DK/NA 9 6 5 10 3 8 4 6 6 22. Would you say that Bill de Blasio - understands the problems of people like you or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 51% 15% 64% 40% 47% 55% 36% 78% 54% No 44 83 31 54 48 41 59 18 42 DK/NA 5 2 5 5 5 4 4 4 3 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes 57% 55% 53% 49% 26% 61% 50% 53% 42% No 38 38 41 48 74 35 47 44 51 DK/NA 4 6 6 3 - 4 4 3 7 23. Would you say that Bill de Blasio - is honest and trustworthy or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 49% 13% 61% 40% 46% 51% 38% 68% 54% No 40 81 28 49 44 37 54 20 35 DK/NA 11 6 11 11 10 12 8 12 12 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes 55% 48% 55% 46% 28% 53% 50% 48% 46% No 32 41 37 41 59 36 43 40 42 DK/NA 13 11 8 13 13 11 7 12 12 24. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Mayor de Blasio is handling - crime? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 42% 16% 52% 33% 44% 41% 34% 56% 42% Disapprove 49 81 40 57 48 51 59 36 48 DK/NA 8 3 8 10 8 9 7 8 10 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Approve 46% 41% 50% 40% 24% 44% 42% 44% 40% Disapprove 47 48 42 53 72 46 53 47 52 DK/NA 7 10 9 7 5 10 5 8 8 26. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Mayor de Blasio is handling - relations between blacks and whites? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 45% 18% 56% 35% 47% 43% 38% 59% 48% Disapprove 44 75 33 55 41 46 53 28 45 DK/NA 11 7 11 10 12 11 9 13 7 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Approve 49% 42% 52% 42% 34% 42% 48% 47% 43% Disapprove 45 45 37 43 63 47 44 43 46 DK/NA 6 13 12 15 3 11 8 10 10 27. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Mayor de Blasio is handling - relations between the police and the community? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 37% 11% 48% 28% 39% 36% 28% 54% 42% Disapprove 55 88 45 63 54 57 68 36 53 DK/NA 7 1 7 9 7 7 4 11 5 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Approve 48% 34% 44% 35% 15% 35% 36% 39% 39% Disapprove 46 57 49 57 82 56 59 56 54 DK/NA 6 10 6 8 3 10 4 6 8 28. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Mayor de Blasio is handling - the city budget? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 35% 16% 43% 29% 35% 35% 25% 53% 37% Disapprove 43 70 33 53 43 43 52 27 46 DK/NA 22 14 23 18 22 22 23 20 18 AREA............................. AGE IN YRS.............. Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Approve 37% 36% 34% 37% 24% 34% 36% 40% 30% Disapprove 42 43 41 41 57 43 48 41 39 DK/NA 21 21 24 21 19 22 15 19 31 Sample and Methodology detail