Voters Born Abroad Expected to Give Socialist Zohran Mamdani Important Role in New York City, Survey Reveals

NYC Mayoral Race Update: Mamdani and Cuomo Lead Among Different Voter Groups

In the race for New York City mayor, socialist Democratic candidate Zoran Mamdani is showing a strong preference among foreign-born voters, while independent candidate and former Democratic governor Andrew Cuomo is favored by U.S.-born voters, based on a recent poll.

With less than two weeks until the election, this public opinion survey indicates Mr. Mamdani is positioned well for the upcoming three-way contest against Mr. Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa. The Patriot poll of registered voters reveals that Mamdani’s approval rating among foreign-born voters stands at 62%, compared to Cuomo’s 24% and Sliwa’s 12%.

Conversely, among American-born urban voters, Cuomo leads with 40% support, followed by Mamdani at 31% and Sliwa at 25%. Overall, the poll shows 43% of registered voters supporting Mamdani, while Cuomo has 32% and Sliwa holds 19%.

If elected, Mamdani aims to implement policies such as raising the minimum wage to $30, establishing government-operated grocery stores, and increasing taxes in “wealthier and whiter” neighborhoods. Republicans have raised concerns about these proposals, and there are indications that some city business owners might consider leaving if he wins.

Since gaining the nomination, Mamdani has encountered criticism from both sides of the political spectrum regarding his plans for urban development and his history of anti-police remarks. Additionally, he has faced scrutiny over his reticence to condemn the phrase “globalizing the intifada,” which is often interpreted as a call for anti-Semitic violence.

Interestingly, although he leads overall, Mamdani is struggling with Catholic and Jewish voters, as indicated by the Patriot Poll data. Candidates from the Socialist Democratic Party tend to have stronger support from voters of other faiths, including Muslims, Hindus, and atheists.

The survey also shows Mamdani receiving considerable backing from women, with 49% supporting him compared to 36% of men. In contrast, Cuomo has 31% support from men and 34% from women, while Sliwa garners 27% from men and only 15% from women.

The Patriot Poll gauged the opinions of 715 registered voters using interactive voice response technology on October 18 and 19. The methodology included random digit dialing for landline phones, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.