Poll Shows Zohran Mamdani Leading NYC Mayoral Race As Cuomo Trails Behind

A newly released poll shows that Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is the frontrunner to win the New York election in November.

Mamdani won the race against former governor Andrew Cuomo to secure the Democratic nomination in the city’s mayoral primary earlier this year.

The 33-year-old Democratic socialist is now polling ahead of Cuomo, running as an independent, and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.

A report released by Gotham Polling and the city AARP on Monday, October 20, shows Mamdani was projected to secure 43.2% of the vote in a three-way race.

Cuomo is expected to secure 28.9% of the vote, and Sliwa 19.4%.

If Sliwa were to drop out of the election, making it a two-way race, Mamdani was projected to win 44.6%, with Cuomo's projection sitting at 40.7%.

In the scenario where Cuomo dropped out, and it was between Mamdani and Sliwa, Mamdani was projected to secure 46.8% and Sliwa 31.5%.

According to the New York Post, the findings also detailed that 78% of undecided city voters are 50 or older.

“The decisive factor in this race may be the older voters who haven’t yet made up their minds,” Stephen Graves, president of Gotham Polling & Analytics, said.

“If the contest narrows to two leading candidates, the 50-plus electorate — by far the most reliable voting bloc — will likely determine who becomes the next mayor of New York City.”

For the study, Gotham pollsters interviewed 1,040 likely voters over a two-day period last week.

The findings revealed that rising living expenses in New York City’s five boroughs topped the list of concerns for residents across all age brackets.

According to the poll, 63.6% of respondents identified the cost of living as their primary issue, while 48.6% pointed to public safety and 38.9% highlighted housing affordability as their main worry.

Additionally, almost 43% of participants described themselves as very or somewhat liberal, which could be a favorable sign for Mamdani.

Just over 23% said they leaned somewhat or strongly conservative.

Cuomo, who is trying to make a comeback after a sexual harassment scandal, has called for Sliwa to drop out of the race.

“The problem is Curtis Sliwa is a spoiler in the race,” Cuomo told The Cats Roundtable radio show on Sunday. “A vote for Curtis Sliwa is really a vote for Mamdani.”

Sliwa, who founded vigilante group the Guardian Angels, says he has no intention of dropping out and has called for Cuomo to do so instead.

Speaking on Fox Business after the latest polling was released, Sliwa said: “He [Cuomo] should be the one to drop out.”

Sliwa named several people, including former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, who he claimed were supporting him for the job.

He further described Cuomo as the “architect of New York state's destruction” and said he was the only "genuine" and “legitimate” New Yorker in the race.

Asked if he would step down from the race, Sliwa said: “Absolutely not.”

“Let the people decide who the next mayor is,” he added. ‘I would suggest to Andrew Cuomo he actually get into the streets and start campaigning.”

President Donald Trump has not announced any endorsement of a candidate as of yet, but has threatened to pull federal funds from the city if Mamdani wins.

The second debate between Mamdani, Sliwa and Cuomo will be held on Wednesday, October 23.

During the trio's first debate, they clashed over a range of issues including public-safety policy, housing affordability and how to engage with the Trump administration.

Cuomo repeatedly characterized Mamdani as inexperienced and unqualified to run a city of New York’s size.

Mamdani pushed back by accusing Cuomo of lacking integrity, singling out the former governor’s COVID-19 nursing-home death record controversy and past harassment allegations.

“Once again, New York’s older voters are poised to decide this election,” Beth Finkel, AARP New York State Director said. “These are issues that matter not only to older adults and to New Yorkers of every generation.”