Elise Stefanik gains ground on Gov. Hochul in head-to-head 2026 match-up — as more independents lean red: poll

Gov. Kathy Hochul is losing ground in what is shaping up to be a bruising general election next year — as one of her potential Republican foes, firebrand Elise Stefanik, starts to carve off support among New York independents, a new poll shows.