Mamdani Maintains Lead in NYC Mayoral Race, Poll Indicates

A Suffolk University CityView poll released this week shows Zohran Mamdani leading the New York City mayoral race with six weeks to Election Day. The 33-year-old Democratic Socialist state lawmaker from Queens registered 45% support among New Yorkers who are very or somewhat likely to vote in November, a 20-point edge over former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who stood at 25% in the poll conducted Sept. 16–18.

Curtis Sliwa, the Republican nominee, had 9%, while incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, running as an independent after skipping the Democratic primary, had 8%. Nine percent of those surveyed were undecided, and 1% supported one of the other candidates on the ballot. Suffolk noted that this was the first public poll to include all seven candidates listed on the official ballot and nine party designations.

Ballot designations underscore the uniqueness of the race. The official ballot lists Mamdani and Sliwa twice each because they represent multiple parties or designations, with Suffolk University Political Research Center director David Paleologos explaining that Mamdani appears first on the ballot as the Democratic Party nominee and again fourth as the Working Families Party designation. Cuomo is listed once, as the eighth choice out of nine.

Cuomo’s independent bid comes after losing the Democratic primary in June, while Adams and Sliwa have each said they will stay in the race despite ongoing chatter that they could exit if offered posts by supporters of President Donald Trump. The former president has urged narrowing the field to aid Cuomo’s chances, and Trump advisers have floated potential roles for both Sliwa and Adams if they left the race, according to notes from Fox News coverage.

Mamdani’s campaign has been powered by a grassroots network and endorsements from national progressives, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. He has promoted affordability-focused measures, such as eliminating fares to ride the city bus, making City University of New York tuition-free, freezing rents on municipal housing, providing free child care for children up to age five, and creating government-run grocery stores. He also leaned into a strong social-media outreach, using platforms like TikTok to engage voters who vote less frequently.

Analysts note that Mamdani’s platform and messaging have appealed to a segment of voters unsettled by the city’s high cost of living, while critics have argued his proposals are far-left and may be difficult to implement. New York City’s political landscape remains heavily Democratic, and Mamdani’s rise has been accompanied by significant attention from national progressive figures who endorsed him during the Democratic primary.

The poll also highlights the policy concerns driving voter choice: affordability, at 21%, was the top issue for New York City voters, followed by crime at 20%, the economy and jobs at 14%, and housing at 9%. The survey indicates that voters are increasingly pushing back against online narratives about Mamdani and Cuomo, with 59% saying they do not believe Mamdani is antisemitic, 52% saying he would not raise taxes, and 53% saying Cuomo would not continue alleged past misconduct.

Earlier in the month, other public surveys had similarly shown Mamdani ahead by double digits, with margins ranging from about 15 to 22 points. Still, six weeks remain in a race with several high-profile names and a field of nine ballot choices, making the outcome uncertain as voters weigh affordability and public safety against far-reaching proposals.

As candidates sharpen their messages ahead of Election Day, observers say the outcome could hinge on turnout among independents and moderate voters in a city accustomed to Democratic control, as well as how effectively the campaigns can translate policy proposals into tangible results for urban residents facing housing costs, transit expenses, and job prospects.