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Hochul Leads in New York Governor's Race as Russia Strikes Ukraine and U.S. Housing Market Shows Signs of Change
New York Governor Kathy Hochul held a significant lead over Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman in the upcoming gubernatorial race, according to a Siena Research Institute poll released Tuesday. Meanwhile, Russia launched a major overnight attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, and a new analysis predicted a potential dip in home prices in several U.S. cities in 2026. The U.S. House of Representatives also held a key procedural vote on a funding package aimed at ending the partial government shutdown.
The Siena poll, conducted from January 26-28 among 802 registered voters, revealed Hochul leading Blakeman 54 to 28, a margin consistent with December figures. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.3 percentage points. The poll indicated that Blakeman remained "largely unknown" ten months from election day.
On the international front, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for "maximum pressure" on Russia after a barrage of drones and missiles targeted Ukraine's critical energy infrastructure. According to the Ukrainian air force, Russia launched 71 missiles and 450 drones overnight, with 38 missiles and 412 drones either shot down or suppressed. Twenty-seven missiles and 31 drones impacted across 27 locations. The attacks occurred amid temperatures as low as -14 F.
Domestically, the housing market showed signs of potential shifts. Realtor.com released an analysis forecasting that property prices could dip in 22 of the largest 100 U.S. cities in 2026. The real estate market was expected to move in a more "buyer-friendly" direction next year, leading to the "most balanced housing market" since the pandemic, according to Jake Krimmel, a senior economist at Realtor.com. Mortgage rates were expected to dip to an average of 6.3 next year, a slight drop from 2025's 6.6 average rate.
In Washington, D.C., the House of Representatives held a key procedural vote on a massive funding package intended to end the partial government shutdown. The vote on the rule governing debate on the package served as the final hurdle for Republican leaders before a vote on passage. The legislation included five full-year spending bills and a two-week extension of funding for the Department of Homeland Security. Democrats were expected to oppose the rule, though some were expected to ultimately vote to approve the package. Democrats are demanding reforms to how immigration enforcement agencies like ICE conduct their operations.
Separately, Senator Thune rejected President Donald Trump's call to nationalize elections, arguing he was in favor of "decentralized, distributed power." Trump had contended that Republicans should be "tougher" on elections and "take over the voting in at least many 15 places."
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