Maurice Carroll, Assistant Director,

Quinnipiac University Poll

(203) 506-9199
Rubenstein
Contact: Pat Smith (212) 843-8026

FOR RELEASE: JULY 20, 2016

CORRUPTION IS VERY SERIOUS AND ALBANY WONT FIX IT,

NEW YORK STATE VOTERS TELL QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY POLL;
EFFORT TO BOOST ECONOMY WILL FAIL, UPSTATE VOTERS SAY
Government corruption is a very serious problem in New York State today, 56 percent of
voters say the highest number ever on this point while another 31 percent say its somewhat
serious, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
New York State voters say 50 38 percent that Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the State
Legislature will not take steps to improve ethics in state government in 2016. In fact, voters say
48 36 percent, current elected officials are incapable of ending political corruption and all
should be voted out of office so new officials can start with a clean slate.
Gov. Cuomo gets a 50 40 percent job approval rating, similar to his 51 38 percent
score in an April 4 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University. Only
13 percent of voters give him an A grade for his job as governor. Other grades are:

33 percent B
26 percent C
13 percent D
13 percent F
Throw out everyone in Albany, say almost half of New Yorkers. Voters dont think that

the current crowd is capable of cleaning up corruption, said Quinnipiac University Poll
Assistant Director Maurice Carroll.
Almost nine-tenths of voters think corruption is a serious New York problem. And,
although they give Gov. Andrew Cuomo OK job-approval numbers overall, lots of them think
that on corruption hes part of the problem.
-more-

Quinnipiac University Poll/July 20, 2016 page 2

When it comes to corruption, Cuomo is part of the problem, 48 percent of voters say,
while 36 percent say he is part of the solution.
Voters also say 78 15 percent that elected officials convicted of a felony should lose
their pensions. Support is 67 percent or higher among every listed group.
New York State voters approve 49 23 percent of the job State Attorney General Eric
Schneiderman is doing and approve 39 18 percent of the job State Comptroller Thomas
DiNapoli is doing.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara gets a 40 18 percent approval rating.
They still havent made U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, the main scourge of corrupt
legislators, a household name. But hes getting there, Carroll said.
Upstate Economy
Gov. Cuomos efforts to improve the upstate New York economy will be successful, 38
percent of voters say, while 39 percent say it will not be successful.
Upstate voters say 53 34 percent the effort will fail.
A total of 41 percent of voters say the statewide economy is excellent or good, while
57 percent say it is not so good or poor.
Upstate, no voters say the economy is excellent, while 29 percent say it is good.
Another 40 percent say the economy is not so good and 28 percent say it is poor.
Only 21 percent of voters statewide say the economy is getting better, while 29 percent
say it is getting worse and 47 percent say it is the same. Upstate results are similar.
The governors ballyhooed plans to boost the upstate economy have come under various
investigations and voters split on whether or not the effort is working, Carroll said.
Upstate voters give the recovery plans a big thumbs down.
From July 13 17, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,104 New York State voters, with a
margin of error of +/- 3 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.

11. 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 35-49 50-64 65+

50%
40
10

29%
63
8

68%
21
10

48%
44
8

45%
46
9

55%
35
10

58%
34
8

49%
40
11

49%
44
7

50%
42
8

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

36%
56
8

62%
27
11

54%
35
11

15. 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 35-49 50-64 65+

24%
63
13

19%
71
10

29%
57
15

24%
63
13

24%
62
14

24%
64
12

29%
49
22

22%
70
8

24%
67
9

21%
64
15

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

18%
69
13

28%
58
14

28%
61
12

16. 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 35-49 50-64 65+

43%
39
18

36%
47
17

53%
27
20

38%
47
15

43%
39
18

43%
40
17

53%
29
19

39%
47
14

40%
41
19

40%
42
18

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

41%
42
17

47%
36
17

40%
41
19

17. 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 35-49 50-64 65+

52%
34
14

40%
45
15

69%
19
12

45%
42
13

47%
37
16

56%
32
12

54%
31
15

46%
40
14

51%
38
11

55%
32
13

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

48%
37
15

59%
28
13

48%
39
14

18. 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 35-49 50-64 65+

39%
18
43

36%
26
38

46%
12
42

34%
20
46

37%
17
46

41%
19
41

34%
12
54

31%
23
46

46%
20
34

41%
15
44

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

44%
18
39

37%
19
44

35%
17
48

19. 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 35-49 50-64 65+

49%
23
28

37%
34
29

66%
11
23

42%
28
30

44%
28
27

53%
19
28

48%
20
33

38%
30
32

51%
27
22

57%
15
28

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

48%
22
30

53%
22
25

42%
29
29

20. 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 35-49 50-64 65+

22%
25
53

22%
29
49

26%
19
55

16%
31
53

22%
29
49

21%
22
57

27%
19
54

23%
27
51

23%
29
48

16%
25
59

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

22%
29
49

24%
21
55

16%
27
57

21. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Preet Bharara is handling his job as U.S.
Attorney?

Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS..............
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+

40%
18
42

27%
28
45

50%
9
41

42%
21
37

42%
20
38

38%
16
46

42%
13
44

34%
25
41

45%
17
38

38%
14
48

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

33%
18
49

47%
17
36

39%
19
42

22. What letter grade would you give Andrew Cuomo for the job he has been doing as
Governor; A, B, C, D, or F?

A
B
C
D
F
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS..............
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+

13%
33
26
13
13
2

7%
15
30
22
24
2

19%
49
23
5
4
-

11%
29
28
17
13
2

14%
28
24
11
19
3

12%
37
28
15
8
1

14%
44
22
7
9
4

12%
28
32
11
17
-

11%
31
30
15
12
1

11%
34
22
15
16
1

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
A
B
C
D
F
DK/NA

8%
26
25
18
22
1

18%
37
25
11
6
3

13%
38
30
8
9
2

23. What letter grade would you give the state legislature for the job it has been doing;
A, B, C, D, or F?

A
B
C
D
F
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS..............
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+

4%
20
34
20
14
8

5%
14
32
25
18
6

6%
28
33
19
7
8

2%
17
38
16
18
9

5%
17
29
21
18
10

3%
23
38
19
10
6

8%
27
30
12
8
15

3%
22
38
22
11
5

3%
22
32
22
16
5

1%
15
34
23
18
9

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
A
B
C
D
F
DK/NA

2%
17
31
25
18
6

5%
21
37
15
11
10

6%
25
32
19
9
9

29. Would you describe the state of New York State's economy these days as excellent,
good, not so good, or poor?

Excellent
Good
Not so good
Poor
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS..............
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+

2%
39
37
20
3

2%
23
39
32
3

3%
54
30
11
1

1%
37
42
19
2

3%
36
36
22
3

1%
41
37
19
3

5%
43
31
16
5

35
39
22
3

2%
38
38
22
1

1%
42
36
18
3

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Excellent
Good
Not so good
Poor
DK/NA

29
40
28
3

4%
43
35
15
3

1%
48
33
15
3

30. Do you think New York State's economy is getting better, getting worse, or staying
about the same?

Better
Worse
The same
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS..............
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+

21%
29
47
4

15%
41
40
4

32%
19
46
3

14%
28
55
3

23%
26
46
5

19%
31
48
2

33%
19
39
9

14%
38
47
1

22%
33
45
1

19%
24
55
3

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Better
Worse
The same
DK/NA

19%
34
45
1

25%
24
45
5

17%
26
52
4

31. Would you say that you are better off or worse off financially than you were a year
ago?

Better off
Worse off
SAME(VOL)
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS..............
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+

36%
34
29
2

29%
44
26
1

44%
24
30
2

32%
34
32
2

39%
31
26
4

32%
36
31
1

60%
22
18
-

36%
40
22
1

31%
36
32
1

25%
38
37
1

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Better off
Worse off
SAME(VOL)
DK/NA

37%
34
27
1

34%
33
30
3

36%
34
29
1

32. Do you think Governor Cuomo's efforts to improve the economy in upstate New York will
be successful or not?

Yes/Successful
No
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS..............
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+

38%
39
23

28%
54
18

51%
24
26

33%
43
24

32%
45
23

43%
34
23

40%
35
26

35%
43
22

36%
45
19

41%
38
21

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Yes/Successful
No
DK/NA

34%
53
14

44%
27
29

35%
36
29

33. How much of a problem, if at all, is government corruption in New York State today; is
it a very serious problem, a somewhat serious problem, a not too serious problem, or not a
problem at all?
Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS..............
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+

Very serious
56%
Smwht serious
31
Not too serious
9
Not a problem at all 1
DK/NA
3

64%
30
3
1
2

51%
34
13
3

52%
32
9
4
3

58%
27
11
1
3

54%
35
7
2
3

49%
30
14
4
3

52%
34
9
2
3

63%
29
8
1

56%
35
5
3

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Very serious
57%
Smwht serious
32
Not too serious
9
Not a problem at all DK/NA
1

55%
29
11
2
3

55%
32
5
2
6

34. Do you think Governor Cuomo and the state legislature will or will not take steps to
improve ethics in state government in 2016?

Will take steps

Will not
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS.............
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+

38%
50
12

30%
57
13

50%
39
11

32%
56
12

35%
53
12

42%
46
12

39%
43
18

33%
56
10

38%
53
9

42%
49
9

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Will take steps
Will not
DK/NA

31%
59
9

46%
37
17

37%
54
9

35. 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 35-49 50-64 65+

48%
36
15

64%
22
14

32%
54
14

52%
31
18

53%
30
17

44%
42
14

38%
35
27

50%
35
16

54%
38
8

51%
38
11

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

61%
27
12

37%
48
16

46%
34
20

36. 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 35-49 50-64 65+

36%
48
16

24%
61
14

49%
35
16

32%
55
13

31%
51
18

41%
45
14

44%
37
19

36%
45
19

35%
54
12

34%
52
14

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

34%
52
14

38%
47
15

35%
43
22

37. Do you think elected state officials who have been convicted of a felony should lose
their pensions or not?

Yes/Lose pensions
No
DK/NA

Tot

Rep

Dem

Ind

Men

Wom

AGE IN YRS..............
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+

78%
15
7

86%
9
5

72%
18
10

77%
18
5

75%
18
8

81%
13
6

67%
25
8

76%
15
9

79%
17
4

86%
6
8

AREA.............
UpStat NYC
Sub
Yes/Lose pensions
No
DK/NA

84%
8
8

68%
26
6

85%
8
7