A Winnable Path for New York — Why an Independent Campaign Matters Now New York voters are tired of being told they only have two choices — and both are failing them. Based on recent public polling trends, voter registration data, and issue-based shifts we’re seeing across the state, it’s clear that a large and growing share of New Yorkers no longer feel represented by either major party. That frustration is not theoretical. It shows up in turnout, trust levels, and issue priorities — from affordability and public safety to foreign policy and government accountability. While early head-to-head polls between the Democratic and Republican frontrunners show a familiar two-party split, those same polls also reveal something important: neither side is consolidating a true majority, and enthusiasm remains soft. That’s where an independent campaign becomes viable. What the data tells us When voters are modeled in a three-way race — Democrat, Republican, and a serious independent option — the landscape changes: • A large independent bloc emerges that is not loyal to either party • Significant numbers of Democrats and Republicans express openness to an alternative focused on results, not party talking points • The leading candidates’ support shows a clear ceiling, while the independent lane shows room to grow This isn’t about slogans or personality politics. It’s about math, turnout, and trust. Why this campaign connects This campaign is resonating because it speaks to voters who feel ignored: • New Yorkers crushed by the cost of living • Families worried about safety but tired of empty rhetoric • Voters uneasy with endless political dysfunction and foreign entanglements • Independents, moderates, and working-class voters who don’t see themselves in party leadership anymore I’m not running as “anti-Democrat” or “anti-Republican.” I’m running for New Yorkers — with published plans, clear execution paths, and accountability that doesn’t depend on party loyalty. This race is winnable — together No independent wins alone. This path only works if New Yorkers come together across boroughs, regions, and backgrounds to demand something better than the same recycled choices. If we unite around affordability, safety, dignity, and honest government — and refuse to be divided into red vs. blue — this race becomes competitive and winnable. That’s not hype. That’s math, momentum, and reality. New York doesn’t need louder politics. It needs better leadership. Jason S. Arnold Independent Candidate for Governor of New York

Why a Trump Endorsement Helps and Hurts in New York A lot of people are asking what a Trump endorsement really does in a New York governor’s race—especially for Bruce Blakeman against Kathy Hochul. Here’s the honest breakdown—no spin. Where it helps • It locks in the Republican base quickly. • It brings media attention and fundraising energy. • It gives clarity—voters know exactly where a candidate stands. Where it hurts • New York is a Democratic-leaning state with millions of independents. • Donald Trump remains unpopular statewide. • The endorsement turns the race into a binary fight, not a performance review. • Swing voters—especially suburban and independent voters—tend to tune out or turn away. What it really does A Trump endorsement raises the floor but lowers the ceiling. It helps win a party lane—but makes it harder to win the state. That’s not a judgment. It’s math. And this is why so many New Yorkers feel stuck choosing between options that don’t actually reflect their lives, their stress, or their priorities. The system keeps forcing national labels onto local problems. BETTR exists because people are tired of that. Tired of being told who they’re supposed to vote against instead of who’s actually going to work for them. This isn’t about loyalty to personalities. It’s about outcomes for real people. If you’ve ever felt politically homeless, you’re not alone—and you’re exactly who BETTR was built for. — Jason S. Arnold Founder, BETTR Independent Candidate for Governor of New York (2026)

JSA2026 Puts Elise Stefanik Contrast Front and Center for 2026 NY Governor Race We’ve updated our campaign site to spotlight a comprehensive, fact-based breakdown of why Elise Stefanik cannot win statewide in New York—and why our affordability-first, math-driven JSA2026 campaign can. The homepage now features a prominent alert card linking directly to the full “Why Elise Can’t Win NY in 2026 — And Why I Can” analysis, alongside our full vision, Day-One Orders, and core policy platform. #JSA2026 #NYSGovernor #NYPolitics #EliseStefanik #Affordability #Independents #SuburbanVoters #BETTRNewswire https://jsa2026.com/why-elise-stefanik-cant-win-new-york-in-2026-and-why-i-can/ 📅 Updated: November 13, 2025 📍 Jason S. Arnold for Governor of New York (2026)

📊 New Mock Poll: Why Jason S. Arnold is the Only Candidate Who Can Actually Compete Statewide A mock NYS poll using real turnout patterns and past Siena/Marist data shows: • Hochul vs. Stefanik: Hochul +13 (48–35) — Stefanik can’t close the gap. • Hochul vs. Jason S. Arnold: Hochul +6 (44–38) — within striking distance. • Independents: Arnold leads at 28% vs Hochul 34% & Stefanik 24%. • Favorables: Arnold 24% favorable / 16% unfavorable / 60% unfamiliar — lowest negatives, biggest upside. • Top Issue Ownership: Arnold edges both on cost of living, housing, and public safety. Regional Strengths: • Suburbs: Competitive with Hochul & Stefanik, strong growth lane. • Upstate: 11% as “other” — enough to swing tight races. • NYC outer boroughs: Safety & cost-of-living pitch beats party labels. What It Means: Voters want real plans, not slogans. Transparency wins. And the data shows Jason S. Arnold is the only one who can take Hochul down to single digits and still grow. 🔗 Full vision here: https://jsa2026.com/jsa2026-full-vision-post-what-well-do-for-life-in-new-york/ #JSA2026 #NYGovernor #TurnNYRed #Poll #NYS

New York State Gubernatorial — Mock Poll (Illustrative) Field dates (mock): Aug 10–13, 2025 Sample: 1,000 registered voters (RV), mixed phone/SMS-to-web Weighting: Region, gender, age, party ID, race/ethnicity, education, 2022 vote recall MOE: ±3.1% (RV) Turnout model: 2022 general baseline with modest GOP improvement in suburbs Topline — 3‑Way Ballot (RV) • Kathy Hochul (D) — 46% • Elise Stefanik (R) — 32% • Jason S. Arnold (I/Other) — 9% • Someone else — 3% • Undecided — 10% Read: Mirrors typical D advantage statewide, Stefanik trails by low‑ to mid‑teens; Arnold shows early viability as the only candidate running a fully transparent plan. Head‑to‑Head Scenarios (RV) Hochul vs. Stefanik • Hochul 48% • Stefanik 35% • Undecided 17% Hochul vs. Jason S. Arnold • Hochul 44% • Arnold 38% • Undecided 18% Read: Arnold consolidates more independents and soft Democrats than Stefanik can, cutting the margin to single digits. Region (3‑Way Ballot) • NYC (approx. 31% of sample): Hochul 67 | Stefanik 15 | Arnold 6 | Und 9 • Downstate Suburbs (LI/Westchester/Rockland, 28%): Hochul 44 | Stefanik 36 | Arnold 11 | Und 7 • Upstate (41%): Stefanik 44 | Hochul 33 | Arnold 11 | Und 9 Read: Arnold’s 10–11% in suburbs & upstate is a credible early lane; growth path is independents + moderate Republicans + anti‑status‑quo Dems. Party & Independents (3‑Way Ballot) • Democrats: Hochul 77 | Arnold 8 | Stefanik 7 | Und 6 • Republicans: Stefanik 70 | Arnold 13 | Hochul 10 | Und 6 • Independents: Arnold 28 | Hochul 34 | Stefanik 24 | Und 12 Read: Arnold leads or competes for plurality among independents, the key to statewide viability. Favorability (Fav/Unfav/Don’t know) • Hochul: 45 / 49 / 6 • Stefanik: 33 / 52 / 15 • Jason S. Arnold: 24 / 16 / 60 Read: Arnold’s low negatives + high unknowns = big upside with name‑ID growth. Top Issues (open-coded → grouped) • Cost of living/inflation: 34% • Crime/public safety: 18% • Housing/affordability: 15% • Taxes: 12% • Migration/services capacity: 9% • Transit/infrastructure: 6% • Other: 6% Issue Ownership (net trust) • Cost of living: Arnold +3 vs Hochul, Arnold +9 vs Stefanik • Crime: Arnold +5 vs Hochul, Stefanik +2 vs Hochul • Housing: Arnold +4 vs Hochul, Arnold +7 vs Stefanik Read: The “full‑plan transparency” message gives Arnold an issues credibility edge—especially on daily-life economics & housing. Message Tests (net more likely – less likely) • “Full transparency: every policy & Day‑One orders published now.” +23 • “Coney Island 2.0: tourism/jobs engine (Vegas+AC without the rot).” +14 (Downstate suburbs +19) • “Whistleblower/transparency on waste, fraud, and no‑show work.” +18 • “Education SEZ/LEZ: local control, measurable outcomes.” +12 • “Mental Health First Act & first‑responder supports.” +11 ⸻ Crosstab Highlights (selected) • Women (RV): Hochul +17 vs Stefanik; Hochul +6 vs Arnold • Men (RV): Hochul +4 vs Stefanik; Arnold +2 vs Hochul (independents drive this) • Hispanic voters: Hochul +25 vs Stefanik; Hochul +11 vs Arnold (Arnold competitive on cost-of-living frame) • Black voters: Hochul dominant; Arnold overperforms Stefanik on favorables by ~6 pts (low name ID = room to grow) • White non‑college: Stefanik leads Hochul by 6; Arnold within 4 of Stefanik with “work, wages, housing” message • Voters rating economy “poor”: Arnold 31 | Hochul 30 | Stefanik 28 (3‑way) — transparency + concrete fixes resonate ⸻ Questionnaire (12 items, neutral wording) 1. Reg voter screen (self‑reported) 2. Party ID & 2022 vote recall 3. Fav/Unfav: Hochul, Stefanik, Jason S. Arnold 4. Most important issue (open) 5. Head‑to‑head: Hochul vs Stefanik 6. Head‑to‑head: Hochul vs Jason S. Arnold 7. 3‑way ballot: Hochul / Stefanik / Jason S. Arnold / someone else / undecided 8. Confidence in each candidate to improve cost of living (0–10 scale) 9. Confidence to improve public safety (0–10) 10. Message test A (full transparency/Day‑One orders) — more/less likely/ no diff 11. Message test B (Coney Island 2.0 jobs/tourism plan) — more/less likely/ no diff 12. Demographics: age, gender, education, region, race/ethnicity, HH income

Why Elise Stefanik Can’t Win New York in 2026 — And Why JSA2026 Is the Alternative Conservatives Deserve By Jason S. Arnold, Candidate for Governor of New York (JSA2026) 📞 (516) 586-0660 | 🌐 jsa2026.com | 💬 BETTR.community ⸻ Elise Stefanik is a rising star in national Republican politics — but when it comes to winning the 2026 governor’s race in New York, she’s not the candidate who can get it done. I say this with respect for everything she’s accomplished in Congress. But New York is not Washington, and voters here need a candidate who understands this state from the ground up — not from the top down. That’s why I’m running. My name is Jason S. Arnold, founder of BETTR, host of TurnNYRed.us, and candidate for Governor of New York in 2026 under the JSA2026 campaign. ⸻ 📉 The Math Doesn’t Add Up for Elise Stefanik Stefanik’s supporters say she can flip New York red. The numbers disagree: • New York hasn’t elected a Republican governor since George Pataki in 2002. • Elise Stefanik’s district (NY-21) represents under 2% of the state’s population. • Her statewide favorability among independents is below 30% according to recent Siena and Quinnipiac polling. • Downstate counties (NYC, Long Island, Westchester) account for 70%+ of the total vote — areas where she has no organizational base. Even in the red wave year of 2022, Republicans lost by nearly 350,000 votes statewide, despite strong turnout. We cannot run the same kind of candidate and expect different results. ⸻ 🎭 The Disconnect: Harvard Polishing vs. New York Grit Elise Stefanik went to Harvard, launched her career in the Bush White House, and has been in politics since her 20s. Again, no shame in that. But let’s be honest: You don’t go to Harvard today to become wise — you go to become managed. Stefanik talks about fighting for working-class New Yorkers, but she’s never lived in their neighborhoods. She’s never waited on line at the rent office. She’s never had to navigate broken public housing, underfunded schools, or family court hell. ⸻ 🏙️ Where I’ve Lived — The Real New York Since arriving in New York in 2002, I’ve lived in: • Manhattan: Chelsea, Times Square, Lower East Side, Spanish Harlem, Washington Heights • The Bronx: Hoe Avenue • Brooklyn: Bushwick, Sunset Park, Brooklyn Heights • Queens: Bellerose • Long Island: Franklin Square and Bethpage • Upstate: Rochester (Ninth Ward, Ridgeway, Garfield & Chilay) That’s over 20 years across every region of New York — living, working, surviving, and building. Not just polling and posting. “When you walk into a room and someone’s wearing too much perfume, you smell it — even if nobody else does. That’s me in New York. I see the things others have gone nose-blind to.” ⸻ ❌ Stefanik’s Record: Talking Points vs. Results Stefanik often campaigns as a fiscal conservative and civil libertarian, but her record doesn’t always match: • ✅ Voted for expanded FISA surveillance powers • ✅ Supported $100B+ in Ukraine aid while New York cities struggle • ✅ Backed massive COVID spending with no accountability • ❌ Never introduced a bill to fix NY schools • ❌ No action on NY property tax relief • ❌ No real plan to protect New Yorkers from federal mandates (CBDCs, digital IDs, lockdowns) ⸻ ✅ What I Stand For – The JSA2026 Platform I’m not backed by PACs. I’m backed by the people. My campaign policies include: • SEZ & LEZ education reform zones – putting parents back in charge • End property taxes on fully paid-off homes • New York Liberty & Survival Act – banning CBDCs, protecting food and water access, restoring local economic freedom • Universal emergency care access – no one denied help, no Medicaid trap • Family court reform – end corruption, restore balance • State anti-censorship shield law – protect speech in New York even if D.C. won’t These aren’t slogans — they’re legislative blueprints. ⸻ 🗳️ 2026 Is Too Important for a Safe Bet Elise Stefanik will be painted as a D.C. career politician no matter how much red she wears on stage. We’ve seen this movie before — and it ends in a blowout loss. JSA2026 offers something else: • Raw truth • Real-world experience • A fighter’s heart • A builder’s vision We can’t run someone who’s polling well inside party circles but collapsing statewide. We need a candidate who grew through the struggle — not someone who read about it in talking points. ⸻ 💬 Final Word I love New York. I’ve lived it. I’ve nearly died in it. And I’ve come back to fight for it. “I’m not a good candidate — I’m the right one.” – Jason S. Arnold, JSA2026 ⸻ 📞 Contact the campaign: (516) 586-0660 🌐 Website: https://jsa2026.com 💬 Community: https://bettr.community 📢 Follow hashtag: #JSA2026 #TurnNYRed #BETTR #NYGovernor2026 ⸻ 🔑 Keywords (for indexing) • Elise Stefanik 2026 • Can Stefanik win New York? • Jason S. Arnold • JSA2026 campaign • New York Governor race • Conservative alternative New York • Long Island conservative candidate • Upstate vs downstate Republican • New York election 2026 • BETTR platform Jason Arnold • TurnNYRed podcast • Stefanik policy record • Who can flip New York red? • Anti-censorship candidate NY • Family court reform NY • School empowerment zones NY • Property tax reform NY https://jsa2026.com/jsa2026-full-vision-post-what-well-do-for-life-in-new-york/