Cuomo Narrows Gap in Mayoral Race
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is running as an independent in the city’s mayoral race and has reportedly halved the lead of Democratic candidate Zoran Mamdani, according to recent updates. A public opinion poll was released just a week ahead of the general election.
The latest poll from Suffolk University indicates that Mamdani is ahead of Cuomo by 10 points—44% to 34%—with Republican Curtis Sliwa trailing at 11%.
A Suffolk poll from last month showed Mamdani leading by 20 points, standing at 45% to Cuomo’s 25%, with Sliwa at 9% and the current Mayor, Eric Adams, at 8%.
Currently, 7% of survey participants are undecided, which is down from 9% in the previous poll.
In a notable shift since last month, Mayor Adams has suspended his re-election campaign and endorsed Cuomo.
The recent poll shows only 2% of respondents planning to vote for Adams, even though his name will still be on the ballot. However, when informed of Adams’s withdrawal, fewer than a quarter of respondents indicated they still intended to vote for him.
Interestingly, Cuomo is reportedly more favored than Mamdani among Sliwa’s supporters. When asked about their second choice, 36% opted for Cuomo, while only 2% went for Mamdani.
David Paleologos, director of the Center for Political Research at Suffolk University, commented, “There is one person in New York City whose voters could have a profound impact on the outcome.” He noted that this individual isn’t Mayor Adams, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, Senator Chuck Schumer, or any billionaire but rather Curtis Sliwa, whose 11% support appears to be a key factor in blocking a Cuomo victory.
Cuomo’s recent gains have been particularly notable among Hispanic voters and independents. He is now just 1 point behind Mamdani among Hispanic voters, recovering from a 30-point deficit last month. Also, he has flipped independent voters, going from being 18 points behind to now leading by 10 points in that demographic.
The poll, conducted from October 23-26, surveyed 500 likely voters for the general election in New York City, with a margin of error of 4.4 percentage points.
