This column originally appeared in The Politics Brief, Gothamist’s weekly newsletter on the people, power and policies that shape New Yorkers' lives. A Siena poll released this week showed 42% of the 802 voters surveyed said the state is on the right track compared to 41% who say we’re headed in the wrong direction. That’s a statistical tie — the margin of error for the poll is 4.2% — but it’s the first time in four years that the measure is positive. This tidal picture of the electorate is important for both parties as they plot courses in next year’s state elections. The Siena poll found Trump’s favorability rating slipped this month to 34%-61%, the lowest point since his 2024 re-election.