Politics

Majority of New Yorkers say Trump should be impeached: poll

ALBANY — A majority of New York state voters believe Congress should conduct an impeachment investigation, according to a new poll released Tuesday.

A Siena College survey found 62 percent of voters across the state back the probe, compared to 23 percent who oppose the idea.

In a separate question, 55 to 38 percent of registered voters surveyed said they would back Congress’ efforts to impeach President Trump and remove him from office.

However, voters are divided along party lines — as 79 percent of Democrats support impeachment and removal, compared to 13 percent opposed.

On the other hand, 81 percent of Republicans are against impeachment and removal efforts, and the move is backed by a slim 14 percent.

Independent voters are divided nearly evenly, slightly favoring impeachment and removal proceedings at 49 to 47 percent.

New York City voters agree the impeachment inquiry is necessary and support Trump’s removal by a 65 to 28 percent majority. Upstaters and suburban denizens reflect more of a middle ground — 47 percent of suburbanites support impeachment and removal compared to 48 percent opposed, and upstaters are split at 49 to 43 percent.

“In these hyperpartisan times, it is not particularly surprising that Republicans oppose impeaching and removing Trump from office 81-14 percent and Democrats support it 79-13 percent, while independents lean, ever so slightly, toward impeachment, 49-47 percent,” said Siena College pollster Steve Greenberg.

“So, while the partisans are squarely in their respective corners, independents look more like Democrats on the investigation and actions taken by the President, but independents are not yet convinced that impeachment is the way to proceed,” he added.

When it comes to the 2020 Democratic field, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren surged four points since last month, meeting former Vice President Joe Biden at the top in a tie at 21 percent.

Biden led the progressive Warren by five points in a Siena poll in September, but her power move is in lockstep with a national trend showing Warren’s popularity rising.

“Biden no longer holds the title of front-runner in the Empire State, as he shares the lead with Warren. With six months until New Yorkers cast their ballots in the presidential sweepstakes, a quarter of Democrats are still undecided, and no candidate has even that much support. This race remains wide open,” said Greenberg.

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders trailed third at 16 percent, followed by California Sen. Kamala Harris and South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg tied at 4 percent.

Nonetheless, New York’s blue voters crown Biden as the candidate most likely to beat Trump in the 2020 election by a 30 percent margin.

Democrats will meet in their fourth presidential debate Tuesday, among a field of the 12 remaining contenders, on a stage at Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio.

The poll surveyed 742 registered voters and has a 4.3 percentage-point margin of error.