Recent polls indicate that New Yorkers are starting to turn against socialist candidate Zoolan Mamdani, although he still maintains a prominent position in the crowded mayoral race.
A survey involving 1,400 voters from AARP Gotham Polling & Analytics revealed mixed opinions about the self-identified democratic socialist.
Interestingly, nearly half of those surveyed—47%—expressed an unfavorable view of Mamdani, while the same percentage held a positive view of him.
In contrast, an earlier poll suggested that voters had more favorable opinions, with Mamdani’s unfavorable ratings reported at around 30% to 40%.
In this latest poll, conducted on August 11, Mamdani received about 42% support, while former Governor Andrew Cuomo trailed with 23%. GOP candidate Curtis Sliwa garnered 16%, and current Mayor Eric Adams was at just 9%.
This survey comes nearly two months after Mamdani unexpectedly triumphed over Cuomo in the Democratic primary, marking a significant moment in the political landscape.
Cuomo, now running as an independent in the upcoming general election, hasn’t managed to gain much traction in his attempt to reclaim the mayoralty.
As for Adams, who opted not to participate in the June primary and is now seeking reelection as an independent, he hasn’t seen much support in recent polls, struggling to reach double digits.
However, signs of vulnerability are surfacing for Mamdani, who is finding it challenging to rally the party’s support, particularly as some Democrats are working to distance themselves from the socialist label.
Governor Kathy Hochul has shown reluctance to back party candidates thus far, even criticizing Mamdani’s proposal to increase taxes on businesses and the wealthy.
Over the weekend, during her reelection campaign, Hochul dismissed Mamdani’s urban-run food initiative, arguing that it favors “free enterprise” over government intervention in the economy.
Both left and right lawmakers seem to be struggling to secure backing from other influential Democrats, like Brooklyn Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
A poll released Tuesday examined various dropout scenarios, asking voters who they would support if frontrunners exited the race.
Despite these challenges, Mamdani still appears strong in the field, maintaining over 42% support even in hypothetical situations.
“Mamdani’s core support hovers around 40%, but there seems to be a solid ceiling that may keep him below a majority, making it a competitive environment,” noted Stephen Graves, president of Gotham Polling & Analytics.
“Cuomo likely has the best chance among challengers, but even in a one-on-one scenario focusing on lower turnout and older voters, he still trails by double digits,” Graves added. “If he runs a focused persuasion campaign, this could still turn into an engaging race.”
