New York City, NY, USA: New York State Assembly member Zohran Mamdani has taken a commanding lead in the race for New York City mayor, holding a 22-point advantage, according to a newly released survey.
The poll, conducted by The New York Times/Siena College, places Mamdani at 46%, leaving his closest rival, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, far behind at 24%. Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa follows with 15%, while current Mayor Eric Adams trails at just 9%.
“Mamdani is strongly favored among younger voters, while those aged 45 and older remain divided between him and Cuomo in this four-way contest,” said Don Levy, head of the Siena Research Institute.
The survey further showed that Mamdani enjoys a 52% approval rating among likely voters. Meanwhile, 59% expressed an unfavorable opinion of Cuomo. For Mamdani’s supporters, the rising cost of living emerged as the city’s biggest challenge, while those backing Cuomo, Adams, or Sliwa highlighted crime as their top concern.
However, analysts believe the race could tighten under different circumstances. Levy explained, “If both Adams and Sliwa were to withdraw, the race could become highly competitive. In such a scenario, Cuomo would gain most of their support and the 22-point lead Mamdani now enjoys would shrink to just four points. For Cuomo, both candidates stepping aside is the only realistic way to close the gap.”
This possibility has fueled talks of consolidation among candidates. Earlier this week, independent contender Jim Walden ended his campaign and urged others to form a united front against Mamdani. Still, neither Cuomo nor Adams has shown any willingness to exit the race.
Mamdani’s growing influence has also reshaped political alliances in New York. While real estate groups were initially cautious of his democratic socialist platform, they have begun discussions with his team on property-tax reforms and affordable housing. At the same time, Mamdani is receiving strong backing from national progressive leaders, including Senator Bernie Sanders, who joined him at a rally in Brooklyn.
The survey was conducted between September 2 and 6 among 1,284 likely voters, with a margin of error of 3.6%.
