| 100% | HILLARY | 7 | With 36-Across, First Lady who later became a senator from New York |
| 38% | MANNY | 5 | Boxer Pacquiao who later became a Philippine senator |
| 36% | UTICA | 5 | New York city with a name from antiquity |
| 34% | CHELSEA | 7 | With 33-Across, comedian who hosted a late-night talk show on E! from 2007-2014 |
| 34% | JACOBJAVITS | 11 | Longtime New York senator for whom a center is named |
| 34% | BETTYFORD | 9 | 1970s US First Lady who was honored with a 2024 US postage stamp: 2 wds. |
| 34% | CLINTON | 7 | Hillary ___, politician and icon who was the first female senator from New York |
| 34% | BRADLEY | 7 | Basketball pro Bill ___, who became a US senator from New Jersey |
| 34% | CORYBOOKER | 10 | US senator from New Jersey and 2020 presidential candidate who follows a vegan diet: 2 wds. |
| 33% | MICHELLE | 8 | With 32-Down, first lady who graduated from Harvard Law |
| 33% | MAURICEDUBOIS | 13 | New York news anchor who became coanchor of "CBS Evening News" last month: 2 wds. |
| 32% | LEBRON | 6 | First name of a basketball player who recently signed with a new team |
| 32% | EZRACORNELL | 11 | Man for whom a New York Ivy League school is named, who shares his first name with "The Flash" actor Miller: 2 wds. |
| 32% | KATHY | 5 | Hochul who will become New York's first woman governor |
| 31% | GARRY | 5 | With 36-Across, first host of "I've Got a Secret," which debuted in 1952 |
| 31% | KOCH | 4 | New York City mayor who said, “If you agree with me on twelve out of twelve [issues], see a psychiatrist” |
| 30% | PARTRIDGE | 9 | With 14-Across, first (and last) gift of a seasonal song |
| 30% | BETTYFORD | 9 | First lady who started a rehab center in 1970s |
| 30% | LOUGEHRIG | 9 | First baseman who spent his entire 17-year Major League career with the New York Yankees: 2 wds. |
| 30% | JILLBIDEN | 9 | First lady from New Jersey |
| 30% | AANG | 4 | Titular child from "Avatar: The Last Airbender" who is a member of the Air Nomads with superpowers |
| 30% | GETBACK | 7 | Song from 47-Across with the lyrics "Jojo was a man who thought he was a loner / But he knew it couldn't last" (2 wds.) |
| 30% | RYE | 3 | New York city with a marina |
| 29% | EVITAPERON | 10 | First lady who was once a prominent radio actress |
| 29% | ALCOCK | 6 | John W —, English aviator who, with A W Brown, made the first non-stop flight across the Atlantic |
| 29% | SARDI | 5 | New York restaurateur with a Tony Award |
| 29% | ELLIS | 5 | New York attraction with a museum, ___ Island |
| 29% | DREAMSARE | 9 | With 36 Across and 61 Across, a quote by Lupita Nyong'o |
| 29% | SARATOGASPRINGS | 15 | New York city with a historic race course |
| 29% | ROSALYNNCARTER | 14 | First Lady who wrote the 1984 memoir "First Lady From Plains": 2 wds. |