With Election Day less than a month away, Zoran Mamdani is holding a double-digit lead in the race for New York City mayor, though former Governor Andrew Cuomo is narrowing the gap, according to a recent poll.
Mamdani, a 33-year-old Democratic Socialist legislator from Queens, previously surprised many by defeating Cuomo and eight other candidates for the Democratic nomination in June. In a Quinnipiac University poll, he currently has 46% support among likely voters.
Cuomo, who stepped down as governor in 2021 due to multiple scandals, is now running as an independent after losing in the primary, and he garnered 33% in the same poll.
Curtis Sliwa, the Republican candidate and co-founder of the Guardian Angels, has just 15% support in a city that leans Democratic.
The survey was conducted from October 3 to 7, following the withdrawal of Democratic Mayor Eric Adams, who was seeking re-election as an independent.
In an earlier Quinnipiac poll from early September, Mamdani had a 22-point advantage over Cuomo, with the numbers then at 45% to 23%. Sliwa stood at 15% and Adams at 12%.
Mary Snow, the Assistant Director of the Quinnipiac University Poll, mentioned that while the numbers have shifted, the overall dynamics of the race remain intact. Cuomo appears to be attracting many of Adams’ supporters, which has allowed him to close in on Mamdani, although Mamdani still leads by a significant margin.
Cuomo’s campaign spokesperson responded, claiming the investigations are indicative of a changing race and that Mamdani’s support appears stagnant.
The poll indicates that Mamdani enjoys the most robust support among Democrats (60%), Asian American voters (67%), and younger demographics aged 18 to 34 (62%) and 35 to 49 (60%).
In contrast, Cuomo finds his strongest backing among Jewish voters (60%), while Sliwa’s strongest support comes from Republicans (54%).
Mamdani is particularly resonating with his base—90% of his supporters express high enthusiasm for him. In comparison, enthusiasm dips to 85% among Sliwa’s supporters and 69% for Cuomo’s backers.
If elected, Mamdani would be notable as the first Muslim and millennial mayor of New York City.
His victory in the Democratic primary was attributed to a strong campaign focused on affordability and the high cost of living in the city, supported by grassroots movements and progressive figures like Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders.
Mamdani has effectively utilized social media, especially TikTok, to connect with younger, less engaged voters. His proposals include eliminating bus fares, making CUNY tuition-free, freezing rents in public housing, providing free childcare for children up to age 5, and establishing government-run grocery stores.
However, he has faced criticism from opponents for his far-left policies, comments on Israel, and suggestions to divert some law enforcement responsibilities towards community services and social programs.
