Maurice Carroll, Assistant Director,

Quinnipiac University Poll

(203) 582-5334
Rubenstein Associates, Inc.
Public Relations
Contact: Pat Smith (212) 843-8026

FOR RELEASE: JUNE 3, 2015

ETHICS HELP PULL NEW YORK GOV. CUOMO TO NEW LOW,

QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY POLL FINDS;
VOTERS SAY 2-1 CLEAN HOUSE TO CLEAN UP ALBANY
Low grades on his handling of ethics help sink New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to his lowest
approval rating ever, a divided 44 42 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University poll
released today.
This compares to a 50 39 percent job approval rating in a March 18 survey by the
independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University.
All elected officials in Albany should be voted out of office so new officials can start
with a clean slate, voters say 55 28 percent. No party, gender, age or regional group thinks
New York State elected officials are capable of ending political corruption in Albany.
Approval of Gov. Cuomo among Democrats is an unusually low 55 29 percent, as
Republicans disapprove 58 31 percent. Independent voters are divided 45 45 percent.
Approval is 52 29 percent in New York City, 48 37 percent in the suburbs and
negative 34 56 percent among upstate voters.
New York State voters disapprove 53 33 percent of the way Cuomo is handling ethics
in government, compared to a 54 35 percent disapproval March 18.
When it comes to ethics in government, voters say 52 32 percent that the governor is
part of the problem, not part of the solution, his worst score ever on this question.
Can Albany fix itself? A lot of New Yorkers don't think so. And most of them think
Gov. Andrew Cuomo is part of the problem, not of the solution, said Maurice Carroll, assistant
director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.
There have been no charges of corruption leveled against the governor or anyone in his
administration, but when the stench gets this bad, everyone starts to smell.
-more-

Quinnipiac University Poll/June 3, 2015 page 2

Only 5 percent of New York State voters say U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara has gone too
far investigating corruption in state government, while 36 percent say he has not gone far enough
and 32 percent say he has handled corruption investigations about right.
The Albany practice of three men in a room, in which the governor and two legislative
leaders make important decisions in secret, is one of several causes of corruption in Albany, 67
percent of voters say, while 12 percent say it is the main cause and 11 percent say it is not a
cause of corruption at all.
If more legislators were directly involved in making important decisions, it would help
end corruption, New York State voters say 66 27 percent.
Voters disapprove 60 26 percent of the job the State Legislature is doing, but approve
44 37 percent of their own Assembly member and approve 54 31 percent of their own state
senator. At the same time, 45 percent of voters say their state senator should be thrown out in a
general house-cleaning, while 40 percent say their senator deserves reelection. Voters are
divided 41 41 percent on whether their Assembly member should be reelected or thrown out.
Why, when there are 213 state legislators, do three men in a room make the big Albany
decisions? New York State voters wonder, Carroll said. Four out of five voters think the
leadership domination helps lead to corruption. If democracy ruled in the State Legislature, most
New Yorkers think it would help curb misbehavior.
Voters approve 57 28 percent of the job U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer is doing and give
U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand a 53 20 percent score.
State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman gets a 51 22 percent job approval rating
while State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli gets a 43 21 percent approval rating.
From May 28 June 1, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,229 New York State voters
with a margin of error of +/- 2.8 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, Iowa, Ohio,
Virginia, Colorado and the nation as a public service and for research.
For more information, visit http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling, call (203) 582-5201, or
follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll.

3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Andrew Cuomo is handling his job as Governor?

Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS.......
18-34 35-54 55+

44%
42
14

31%
58
11

55%
29
16

45%
45
10

42%
44
14

46%
39
15

41%
35
24

46%
41
12

44%
45
11

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

34%
56
9

52%
29
19

48%
37
15

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Andrew Cuomo is handling his job as
Governor?

Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

Jun 03
2015

Mar 18
2015

Dec 22
2014

Aug 20
2014

May 21
2014

APPROVE.......
High
Low
Dec 12 Jun 03
2012
2015

44
42
14

50
39
10

58
32
11

57
38
5

59
32
9

74
13
13

44
42
14

4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Charles Schumer is handling his job as
United States Senator?

Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS.......
18-34 35-54 55+

57%
28
15

38%
48
14

74%
11
15

54%
30
16

54%
33
14

60%
23
16

43%
28
29

57%
28
15

65%
26
9

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

52%
34
14

65%
20
16

54%
30
16

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Charles Schumer is handling his job as
United States Senator? (*High also 69% Oct 2001)

Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

Jun 03
2015

Mar 23
2015

Dec 23
2014

Aug 21
2014

May 21
2014

APPROVE.......
High
Low
Dec 08 Apr 15
2004*
1999

57
28
15

60
26
14

62
24
15

63
26
10

56
26
18

69
16
15

51
22
28

5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Kirsten Gillibrand is handling her job as
United States Senator?

Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS.......
18-34 35-54 55+

53%
20
26

39%
32
29

66%
7
27

53%
25
22

51%
25
24

56%
16
28

47%
20
33

53%
19
28

58%
22
20

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

53%
25
23

54%
16
30

53%
21
26

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Kirsten Gillibrand is handling her job as
United States Senator? (*High also 61% Dec 2012)

Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

Jun 03
2015

Mar 23
2015

Dec 23
2014

Aug 21
2014

May 21
2014

APPROVE.......
High
Low
Aug 21 Feb 17
2014*
2009

53
20
26

54
18
27

58
18
24

61
20
20

53
18
29

61
20
20

28
10
62

7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job?

Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS.......
18-34 35-54 55+

26%
60
14

20%
65
15

34%
53
13

23%
66
11

25%
63
12

27%
58
15

43%
45
12

23%
64
13

22%
65
13

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

21%
68
11

31%
54
15

26%
58
16

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job?

Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

Jun 03
2015

Mar 19
2015

Dec 22
2014

Aug 20
2014

May 21
2014

APPROVE.......
High
Low
Dec 12 Sep 01
2012
2010

26
60
14

23
62
15

28
55
17

26
61
13

26
55
18

35
46
18

15
75
9

8. Do you approve or disapprove of the way your state assembly member is handling their
job?

Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS.......
18-34 35-54 55+

44%
37
19

38%
42
20

51%
31
18

42%
39
19

44%
39
17

44%
35
21

48%
36
17

43%
37
20

45%
38
17

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

45%
37
18

44%
37
20

43%
37
21

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way your state assembly member is handling
their job?

Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

Jun 03
2015

Nov 27
2013

Jun 05
2013

Feb 15
2012

Dec 20
2011

APPROVE.......
High
Low
Dec 20 Feb 23
2005
2011

44
37
19

48
33
18

42
40
18

46
38
16

43
39
18

55
22
15

35
42
22

9. Do you approve or disapprove of the way your state senator is handling their job?

Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS.......
18-34 35-54 55+

54%
31
15

49%
34
17

65%
23
12

50%
36
14

53%
34
13

55%
27
17

58%
31
11

54%
31
15

53%
31
16

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

50%
34
17

60%
26
14

53%
33
14

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way your state senator is handling their job?
(* Low also 49% Feb 2011, Apr 2011, Aug 2011)

Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

Jun 03
2015

Nov 27
2013

Jun 05
2013

Feb 15
2012

Dec 20
2011

APPROVE.......
High
Low
Dec 20 Oct 26
2005
2011*

54
31
15

56
29
16

54
31
15

54
33
13

54
33
14

63
22
15

49
37
15

10. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Thomas DiNapoli is handling his job as
State Comptroller?

Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS.......
18-34 35-54 55+

43%
21
37

39%
22
39

49%
15
37

43%
23
34

48%
20
33

38%
21
40

37%
28
35

42%
19
39

49%
19
32

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

46%
21
33

42%
19
39

39%
22
39

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Thomas DiNapoli is handling his job as
State Comptroller?

Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

Jun 03
2015

Mar 19
2015

Dec 23
2014

Aug 20
2014

May 21
2014

APPROVE.......
High
Low
Aug 20 Apr 04
2014
2007

43
21
37

35
19
46

39
16
45

45
19
36

36
12
52

45
19
36

24
13
63

11. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Eric Schneiderman is handling his job as State
Attorney General?

Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS.......
18-34 35-54 55+

51%
22
27

37%
30
33

62%
14
24

52%
23
26

53%
24
23

50%
20
30

49%
25
26

50%
22
28

55%
20
25

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

46%
27
27

59%
16
25

47%
24
29

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Eric Schneiderman is handling his job as
State Attorney General?

Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

Jun 03
2015

Mar 19
2015

Dec 23
2014

Aug 20
2014

May 21
2014

51
22
27

45
22
33

47
20
33

51
22
27

46
18
37

12. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Carl Heastie is handling his job as
State Assembly Speaker?

Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS.......
18-34 35-54 55+

25%
24
51

15%
28
56

33%
18
49

24%
25
50

26%
26
48

25%
22
53

39%
20
41

27%
25
48

19%
26
56

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

22%
25
53

29%
24
47

25%
22
53

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Carl Heastie is handling his job as
State Assembly Speaker?

Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

Jun 03
2015

Mar 19
2015

25
24
51

20
15
65

16. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in New York State
today; are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very
dissatisfied?

Very satisfied
Smwht satisfied
Smwht dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS.......
18-34 35-54 55+

3%
38
33
25
1

2%
21
40
36
2

5%
55
25
14
1

2%
34
37
27
-

4%
40
32
24
-

3%
36
34
25
1

6%
39
38
16
2

3%
37
33
28
-

3%
40
31
25
1

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Very satisfied
Smwht satisfied
Smwht dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied
DK/NA

3%
29
35
32
1

4%
43
32
19
2

2%
46
31
21
-

TREND: In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in New York State
today; are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very
dissatisfied?
VERY+SMWHT SAT
High
Low
Jun 03 Mar 18 Dec 22 Aug 20 May 21 Feb 25 Jun 23
2015
2015
2014
2014
2014
1998
2010
Very satisfied
Smwht satisfied
Smwht dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied
DK/NA

3
38
33
25
1

3
44
30
23
1

6
42
29
22
1

5
43
27
24
-

5
44
27
22
2

13
60
20
7
1

1
18
33
47
1

17. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Andrew Cuomo is handling - the economy and
jobs?

Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS.......
18-34 35-54 55+

46%
46
8

31%
60
9

55%
35
9

51%
45
4

51%
44
6

42%
48
11

44%
48
9

45%
46
9

48%
45
7

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

40%
53
7

48%
42
11

53%
40
7

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Andrew Cuomo is handling the economy and
jobs?

Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

Jun 03
2015

Mar 18
2015

Aug 20
2014

May 21
2014

Feb 13
2014

46
46
8

49
44
7

53
41
6

49
40
10

46
45
9

18. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Andrew Cuomo is handling - energy and the
environment?

Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS.......
18-34 35-54 55+

45%
36
19

33%
48
18

55%
27
18

48%
35
17

47%
38
14

43%
34
23

45%
37
18

44%
35
21

47%
37
16

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

43%
40
17

49%
29
22

44%
40
16

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Andrew Cuomo is handling energy and the
environment?

Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

Jun 03
2015

Mar 18
2015

Aug 20
2014

May 21
2014

Feb 13
2014

45
36
19

48
36
16

51
35
13

47
36
18

49
32
19

19. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Andrew Cuomo is handling - ethics in
government?

Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS.......
18-34 35-54 55+

33%
53
14

20%
65
14

43%
42
15

31%
56
12

33%
56
12

33%
50
17

35%
53
12

36%
49
15

30%
57
13

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

27%
59
14

38%
45
17

34%
55
11

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Andrew Cuomo is handling ethics in
government?

Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

Jun 03
2015

Mar 18
2015

Aug 20
2014

May 22
2014

Feb 13
2014

33
53
14

35
54
11

39
50
10

48
34
18

52
31
17

20. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Andrew Cuomo is handling - the state budget?

Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS.......
18-34 35-54 55+

42%
43
15

35%
50
15

49%
36
15

40%
44
15

45%
40
14

38%
46
16

36%
51
13

41%
44
15

46%
39
14

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

38%
50
12

43%
39
18

45%
39
16

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Andrew Cuomo is handling the state budget?

Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

Jun 03
2015

Mar 18
2015

Jan 31
2013

Feb 15
2012

Dec 20
2011

APPROVE.......
High
Low
Sep 20 Jun 03
2011
2015

42
43
15

43
43
14

53
31
16

57
31
12

56
32
12

62
25
13

42
43
15

22. Which comes closer to your view about your state Senator, there are a lot of problems
in Albany but your state Senator has done a good job and deserves to be reelected or
almost everyone in the State Senate should be thrown out including your state Senator?

Deserves reelection
Shld be thrown out
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS.......
18-34 35-54 55+

40%
45
15

34%
52
14

50%
34
16

34%
53
13

39%
47
14

41%
43
16

46%
44
9

41%
43
16

37%
47
16

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Deserves reelection
Shld be thrown out
DK/NA

37%
48
15

40%
44
17

44%
43
12

TREND: Which comes closer to your view about your State Senator, there are a lot of
problems in Albany but your State Senator has done a good job and deserves to be reelected
or almost everyone in the State Senate should be thrown out including your State Senator?

Deserves reelection
Shld be thrown out
DK/NA

Jun 03
2015

Jun 05
2013

Sep 01
2010

Jul 28
2010

Jun 23
2010

DESERVES REELECTION
HIGH
LOW
Dec 16 Sep 01
2009
2010

40
45
15

40
47
13

31
55
14

35
53
13

36
51
13

41
46
13

31
55
14

23. Which comes closer to your view about your state assembly member, there are a lot of
problems in Albany but your state assembly member has done a good job and deserves to be
reelected or almost everyone in the State Assembly should be thrown out including your
state assembly member?

Deserves reelection
Shld be thrown out
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS.......
18-34 35-54 55+

41%
41
18

37%
45
18

48%
32
20

39%
47
14

42%
43
16

41%
40
20

53%
39
9

42%
37
21

38%
46
17

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Deserves reelection
Shld be thrown out
DK/NA

42%
43
15

40%
39
21

41%
42
17

TREND: Which comes closer to your view about your State Assembly member, there are a lot
of problems in Albany but your State Assembly member has done a good job and deserves to
be reelected or almost everyone in the State Assembly should be thrown out including your
State Assembly member?

Deserves reelection
Shld be thrown out
DK/NA

June 03
2015

Jun 05
2013

Sep 01
2010

Jul 28
2010

Jun 23
2010

Apr 14
2010

41
41
18

38
45
17

33
53
14

33
49
17

34
50
16

35
48
17

10

38. When thinking about the problem of ethics in government, do you think Andrew Cuomo is
part of the problem or part of the solution?

Problem
Solution
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS.......
18-34 35-54 55+

52%
32
15

64%
23
14

41%
42
17

54%
31
14

58%
30
12

47%
34
19

57%
27
16

50%
35
15

52%
35
13

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Problem
Solution
DK/NA

62%
25
13

40%
40
19

54%
32
14

TREND: When thinking about the problem of ethics in government, do you think Andrew Cuomo
is part of the problem or part of the solution?

Problem
Solution
DK/NA

Jun 03
2015

Mar 19
2015

Aug 20
2014

52
32
15

47
41
12

48
41
11

39. When it comes to investigating corruption in New York State government, do you think
U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara has gone too far, has not gone far enough, or has handled this
about right?

Too far
Not far enough
About right
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS.......
18-34 35-54 55+

5%
36
32
27

3%
31
32
35

4%
32
35
29

7%
43
33
17

5%
40
36
20

5%
33
29
33

7%
39
27
27

5%
33
35
26

3%
38
33
25

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Too far
Not far enough
About right
DK/NA

2%
41
29
28

6%
31
37
26

7%
36
30
27

11

40. Do you think New York State elected officials are capable of ending political
corruption in Albany or should all current elected officials be voted out of office so new
officials can start with a clean slate?

Capable
All voted out
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS.......
18-34 35-54 55+

28%
55
17

25%
61
14

32%
46
22

27%
62
11

29%
56
15

26%
54
19

28%
61
11

28%
54
18

27%
56
17

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Capable
All voted out
DK/NA

27%
59
15

27%
52
20

29%
55
16

41. Do you think the so-called Three Men in a Room practice in Albany, where the governor,
the leader of the State Assembly and the leader of the State Senate make important
decisions in secret and then present these decisions to the legislators, is the main cause
of corruption in state government, one of several causes or not a cause at all?

Main cause
One of several
Not a cause at all
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS.......
18-34 35-54 55+

12%
67
11
9

15%
65
10
10

9%
67
14
11

13%
69
12
6

12%
68
13
7

13%
66
10
11

11%
77
6
6

11%
69
14
6

14%
62
12
12

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Main cause
One of several
Not a cause at all
DK/NA

15%
67
10
8

11%
62
13
13

9%
75
11
5

42. If more legislators were directly involved in making important decisions, do you think
it would help end corruption in state government or not?

Yes/End corruption
No
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS.......
18-34 35-54 55+

66%
27
7

66%
25
10

68%
26
7

64%
30
6

68%
28
5

64%
27
10

74%
20
6

61%
34
5

66%
26
9

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Yes/End corruption
No
DK/NA

68%
23
8

63%
29
9

66%
30
4

12