Zohran Mamdani Gets Major Polling Boost in New York Mayoral Race
Newsweek has contacted Mamdani's campaign for comment via email outside regular business hours. Incumbent mayor Eric Adams' campaign and a spokesperson for former governor Andrew Cuomo have also been contacted for comment via email,
Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist, won New York City's Democratic mayoral primary last month in a stunning upset for Andrew Cuomo, after running an energetic campaign focused on lowering the cost of living. He has promised free city buses, free child care, a rent freeze for people living in rent-stabilized apartments, government-run grocery stores and more, all paid for with taxes on the wealthy.
Cuomo, the former governor who is seeking a political comeback from the sexual harassment that led to his resignation in 2021, conceded defeat on the night of the primary, but is weighing whether to mount a campaign as an independent candidate.
The general election field also includes incumbent New York City mayor Eric Adams, who said he would run as an independent rather than seek the Democratic nomination again following backlash over his indictment on federal corruption charges. The case has been dismissed, and Adams has denied wrongdoing.
The field also includes independent candidate Jim Walden and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
Mamdani is leading with 41 percent, followed by 26 percent for Cuomo and just 16 percent for Adams, according to the survey by Gotham Polling & Analytics, first reported by the New York Post. Sliwa had just under 10 percent of support.
The poll surveyed just over 1,000 voters between June 30 and July 2.
According to the Post, the survey was aimed at drumming up support for Adams' reelection bid and was "heavily skewed when surveying voters to try to boost Adams' numbers and tarnish others."
Still, both Cuomo and Adams' numbers appear to be dragged down by their scandals.
More than half—51 percent of voters—said they would never vote for Adams, while 39 percent said the same about Cuomo. Some 46 percent said the same for Mamdani.
Stephen Graves, of Gotham Polling & Analytics, told the Post: "If both [Cuomo and Adams] are in the race anywhere near the election, Mamdani can go pick out drapes for Gracie Mansion.
"If [Adams or Cuomo] drops out, [the other has] a chance, but based on this, Cuomo has the better chance."
Adams' campaign spokesman Todd Shapiro told the Post: "Let's be clear: Andrew Cuomo spent nearly $30 million in the primary and was soundly rejected by voters. If all that money and national attention translates to just a two-point lead in one early poll, that's not a show of strength—it's a ceiling.
"Meanwhile, Mayor Adams is just beginning to campaign, and as more voters hear his message and see the facts, that gap will close and the momentum will shift decisively."
Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi told The Associated Press last week: "We'll be continuing conversations with people from all across the city while determining next steps."
Mamdani said on X last week: "I am humbled by the support of more than 545,000 New Yorkers in last week's primary. This is just the beginning of out expanding coalition to make New York City affordable. And we will do it together."
Voters will go to the polls to decide the city's next mayor on November 4.
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