GOP candidates lead in two key NY House races

Two new polls spell bad news for Democrats in key New York House races, giving Rep. Chris Gibson (R) and candidate Elise Stefanik (R) sizable leads over their challengers.

In the new Siena College poll of New York’s 19th District, Gibson takes 57 percent to Democrat Sean Eldridge’s 33 percent support among likely voters, with 10 percent undecided. 

It shows, however, Eldridge is still largely unknown in the district — 57 percent of respondents said they had no opinion of him, while about a fifth viewed him favorably and a fifth viewed him unfavorably. 

{mosads}Gibson is seen favorably by 57 percent of the district, while only a quarter view him unfavorably.

In New York’s 21st District, where Rep. Bill Owens’s (D) retirement has made the seat more competitive for Republicans, Stefanik takes 46 percent support to Democrat Aaron Woolf’s 33 percent support, while Green Party candidate Matt Funiciello takes 10 percent. Eleven percent are undecided.

While both Stefanik and Woolf are seen favorably, she’s better-known in the district, and a plurality, 42 percent, say they have no opinion of Woolf.

Democrats believe both races will tighten as voters tune in to the elections and advertising picks up in the districts.

The 19th District poll was conducted among 609 likely voters from Sept. 4 to 9 via telephone and has a margin of error of 4 percent, while the 21st District poll was conducted among 591 likely voters from Sept. 7 to 9 and has a margin of error of 4 percent.