ALBANY, NY — A new Siena College poll shows that a majority of New York voters are unfamiliar with State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli despite his nearly two decades in office, signaling a competitive and unsettled race heading into the 2026 election.
According to the poll, DiNapoli holds a 20% vs.15% favorability rating, while a majority of voters, 65%, say they have never heard of him or don’t know enough to form an opinion. Just 30% say they are prepared to re-elect him, compared to 29% who prefer “someone else,” with 41% undecided.
“For someone who has held office for nearly 20 years, these numbers are staggering,” said Joseph Hernandez, Republican candidate for New York State Comptroller. “When nearly two-thirds of voters don’t even know who the state’s chief fiscal watchdog is, it’s not just a name recognition problem, it’s a failure of leadership.
Hernandez said the numbers highlight a broader concern about the public’s perception of oversight in Albany.
“The Comptroller is supposed to be the first line of defense against waste, fraud, and abuse,” Hernandez said. “But when the office is invisible, so is accountability. That’s how you end up with billions in unchecked Medicaid spending, rising concerns about misuse of taxpayer-funded nonprofit grants, and agencies operating without real scrutiny.”
Hernandez added that the large share of undecided voters and those who don’t know DiNapoli demonstrates the race is far from settled.
“This poll makes it clear that voters are unhappy with how their tax dollars are spent and who is in charge,” Hernandez said. “There is a real opportunity for new leadership and a more active, independent Comptroller.”