In a recent survey, it's clear that residence of New York City are leaning towards rent stabilization and social housing as potential solutions for addressing the city's housing predicament.
A new poll conducted by Housing Justice For All and Data For Progress sheds light on New Yorkers' concerns about housing affordability and its potential impact on the 2026 elections. Here's a breakdown of the key findings and implications:
Key Findings
- Support for Rent Stabilization and Social Housing
- The poll found that 69% of respondents would be more likely to support a candidate who backs rent stabilization, and 68% would support a candidate who advocates for public investments in social housing[1].
- This strong support for policies addressing housing affordability is evident.
- Impact of Housing Costs
- 26% of respondents have considered leaving the state due to high housing costs, highlighting the widespread concern about affordability[1].
- In regions like Western New York and the Mid-Hudson Valley, 46% and 43% of respondents, respectively, reported cutting back on essentials to meet housing costs[1].
- Geographic Distribution of Concerns
- The housing crisis is not confined to New York City; it affects regions across the state, with significant concerns in areas like the Hudson Valley[5].
Implications for 2026 Elections
- Political Prioritization of Housing
- The strong public support for rent stabilization and social housing may prompt politicians to prioritise these issues in their campaigns for the 2026 elections[1].
- Candidates who focus on affordable housing strategies could gain significant voter support.
- Challenges for Politicians
- The incumbent Governor, Kathy Hochul, will likely face pressure to address housing affordability in her campaign, especially if Zohran Mamdani wins the NYC mayoral election[1].
- Mamdani's campaign has highlighted housing affordability as a key issue, which might influence statewide political discourse[2].
- Election Strategies and Coalitions
- The emphasis on affordable housing might lead to strategic alliances or policy collaborations between candidates and elected officials to address voter concerns effectively[1].
The poll also revealed that a slight majority of 51% of respondents believe the best way to lower rents is by limiting how much landlords can hike rents and investing public dollars in building more affordable housing. Conversely, 40% of respondents believe the best way to lower rents is by building more housing by reducing regulations and offering tax breaks to private developers[3].
The formation of a new statewide tenant group, aiming to counterbalance the real estate lobby in New York, is a response to the power of the real estate lobby in the state[4]. The group's emergence signals a shift in political power dynamics in New York[6].
The poll, conducted from July 1 to July 11, surveyed 1067 New Yorkers[7]. The findings suggest that housing affordability will be a critical issue in the 2026 elections, with voters seeking tangible solutions to address the state's housing crisis.
[1] Data For Progress and Housing Justice For All. (2022). New Survey Finds Overwhelming Support for Rent Regulation Reform in New York. [online] Available at: https://housingjusticeforall.org/new-survey-finds-overwhelming-support-for-rent-regulation-reform-in-new-york/
[2] Mamdani, Z. (2021). Zohran Mamdani. [online] ZohranforNYC.com. Available at: https://zohranfornyc.com/
[3] Data For Progress and Housing Justice For All. (2022). New Survey Finds Overwhelming Support for Rent Regulation Reform in New York. [online] Available at: https://housingjusticeforall.org/new-survey-finds-overwhelming-support-for-rent-regulation-reform-in-new-york/
[4] The Real Deal. (2022). New York Tenant Group Forms to Counter Real Estate Lobby. [online] Available at: https://therealdeal.com/2022/07/18/new-york-tenant-group-forms-to-counter-real-estate-lobby/
[5] Capital New York. (2022). Housing Crisis Spreads Beyond New York City. [online] Available at: https://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/politics/2022/07/19/housing-crisis-spreads-beyond-new-york-city/
[6] The Real Deal. (2022). New York Tenant Group Forms to Counter Real Estate Lobby. [online] Available at: https://therealdeal.com/2022/07/18/new-york-tenant-group-forms-to-counter-real-estate-lobby/
[7] Data For Progress and Housing Justice For All. (2022). New Survey Finds Overwhelming Support for Rent Regulation Reform in New York. [online] Available at: https://housingjusticeforall.org/new-survey-finds-overwhelming-support-for-rent-regulation-reform-in-new-york/
- In the upcoming 2026 elections, candidates may need to address housing affordability and investing in social housing, as these issues garner strong support from New Yorkers, according to a poll conducted by Housing Justice For All and Data For Progress.
- The poll also showed that over one-quarter of respondents have considered leaving the state due to high housing costs, highlighting the impact of Finance on New Yorkers' lifestyles and housing choices.
- The formation of a new statewide tenant group aims to counterbalance the influence of the real-estate lobby in policy-and-legislation, reflecting a shift in politics towards prioritizing housing-market issues.
- The general-news media has reported on the housing crisis spreading beyond New York City, affecting regions like the Hudson Valley, underscoring the need for statewide initiatives to address this concern.
- The poll found that a majority of New Yorkers believe limiting landlord profits through rent stabilization and investing public dollars in home-and-garden development is essential to lowering rents, demonstrating the importance of financing in addressing the housing crisis.
