Latest Polls in NYC Mayoral Race Show Mamdani with a Lead
As Election Day approaches, Zoran Mamdani is leading the tightly contested race for New York City mayor, according to recent polls. However, former Governor Andrew Cuomo is making strides in closing the gap.
Mamdani, at just 34 years old, is a Democratic Socialist state representative from Queens. He surprised many in June by defeating Cuomo and several other candidates to secure the Democratic nomination for mayor. A recent Quinnipiac University poll indicates that he has support from 44% of likely voters.
Cuomo, who resigned in 2021 amid controversy, is now running as an independent candidate in the general election after losing the primary. He garnered 34% support in the same poll.
This survey was conducted from Thursday to Sunday, notably after incumbent Mayor Eric Adams endorsed Cuomo in his attempt to unseat Mamdani. Adams, who sought re-election as an independent, withdrew from the race last month but remains on the ballot.
Curtis Sliwa, the Republican candidate and co-founder of the Guardian Angels, polled at 11%. The other four candidates received 2% support collectively, while 7% of those surveyed were undecided and 2% refused to answer the poll.
Mamdani’s 10-point lead over Cuomo has shrunk from a 20-point lead observed in a September poll conducted in Suffolk.
David Palaiologos, Director of the Suffolk University Center for Political Research, pointed out that Cuomo’s significant gains are among Hispanic voters and independents.
Cuomo has increasingly criticized Mamdani as the campaign winds down, warning of potential “chaos” if Mamdani were to win. He has also highlighted Mamdani’s Islamic faith, accused him of portraying himself as a victim due to it, and claimed that Mamdani’s comments regarding the Israeli government could alienate Jewish New Yorkers.
Mamdani recently responded to Cuomo’s rhetoric, describing it as not only offensive but also dangerous. “It’s indicative of a former governor who, as he exits public life, is resorting to Islamophobic and racist rhetoric,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sliwa is facing pressure to withdraw from the race to potentially facilitate a direct contest between Cuomo and Mamdani, steering clear of Sliwa’s influence on the vote.
Among those pushing for Sliwa’s exit is John Catsimatidis, a billionaire businessman and conservative radio host allied with Donald Trump.
If given a second choice, Sliwa voters favored Cuomo over Mamdani by a margin of 36% to 2%. Palaiologos noted the importance of Sliwa’s voters, insisting that they could determine the election’s outcome.
If elected, Mamdani—a Ugandan-born candidate—would become the first Muslim and first millennial mayor in New York City’s history.
Mamdani’s rise to prominence in the Democratic primary was fueled by a focused campaign on affordability amid the city’s high cost of living. His grassroots efforts gained traction with prominent progressive figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders supporting him.
Smartly leveraging social media, Mamdani has aimed to engage younger voters. His proposals include eliminating fares on public transportation, making CUNY tuition free, freezing rents, providing free childcare for young children, and establishing government-operated grocery stores.
However, he has faced considerable criticism from opponents, particularly over his progressive proposals. They have taken issue not just with those but also with his stance on Israel and past comments about the New York Police Department (NYPD).
