Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin is within striking distance of Democrat Kathy Hochul in the governor’s race, trailing New York’s chief executive by 6 points, according to a new poll.

The survey of 1,194 likely voters — conducted by the polling firm co/efficient — showed 49% backing Hochul, 43% supporting Zeldin and 8% undecided.

The right-leaning pollster predicted GOP underdog Glenn Youngkin’s upset victory over  Democrat Terry McAuliffe in the Virginia governor’s race last year.

“It is a competitive race, more than most people assume. It’s an uphill battle for Zeldin but a winnable race,” said Ryan Muncie, president of the co/efficient polling firm.

“The intensity of voters is definitely on the right but whether that’s enough to overcome the Democratic registration advantage remains to be seen,” he added.

There are rays of hope for Zeldin, the underdog in a state where Democratic candidates benefit from a huge party enrollment advantage in statewide races.

Zeldin split the Hispanic vote with Hochul — usually a reliable Democratic constituency in New York —  41% to 41% with 18% of respondents undecided amid worries about crime and inflation.

He also leads among independents — voters not affiliated with a political party — 52% to Hochul’s 38%.

Hochul leads Zeldin in Democrat-dominated New York City, 61% to 28% with 11% undecided.

Zeldin leads Hochul on her upstate turf in the western NY/Buffalo region 54% to 38% and is up by 21 points in the central NY/Syracuse region.

They’re splitting the votes in the battleground suburbs.

Zeldin and Hochul are in a dead heat on the lawmaker’s Long Island turf — 48% to 47%. They’re also tied in the Hudson Valley suburban counties north of New City, 48% to 48%.

Zeldin said Sunday he’s gaining momentum.

“With every new Hochul scandal, pro-criminal laws like cashless bail, DAs like Alvin Bragg refusing to enforce the law, and punishing taxes and an ever rising cost of living, New Yorkers are hitting their breaking point and getting more and more energized to fire Kathy Hochul and save our state,” Zeldin said.

He called Hochul “weak” and “out of touch” and said he’s the candidate “to save New York.”

The Hochul campaign had no immediate comment.

Muncie said the swing of New York independent and Hispanic voters to the GOP is consistent with a national trend, asserting independents are upset with Biden’s push to cancel college loan debt.

He also called Zeldin’s 28% support in the Big Apple a decent showing, given the GOP believes a statewide candidate has to score at least 30% of the city vote while carrying  a solid majority of voters in the rest of the state to have a shot at the governorship.

Muncy said Zeldin will have to do better in his Long Island base and other suburbs to topple Hochul, the former lieutenant governor who replaced disgraced ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo after his resignation.

Polling showed a gender disparity: Hochul, the first female governor, led Zeldin among women, 55% to 36% while Zeldin led Hochul among men, 52% to 42%.

Zeldin was 8 points ahead among white voters, 51% to 43%. Hochul had a huge edge among black voters, 86% to 13%.

The congressman received support from 93% of fellow GOP voters while Hochul was backed by 83% of Democrats.

The co/efficient survey claims a much closer race than most other public polls conducted by colleges showing Hochul with a double-digit lead, though an April poll also predicted a close race.

An Emerson College poll released last week found a 15-point spread, with Hochul ahead of Zeldin 50% to 35%; a recent poll by the independent Trafalgar Group showed Hochul with just a 4-point lead over Hochul.

The survey of 1,194 likely voters was conducted from Sept. 5 through Sept. 7 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percentage points. Voters were queried via cell phone texts and landlines.