With the help of Amira McKee, a new poll, funded by allies of Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani, shows a clear path to Gracie Mansion for the Queens assemblymember. The poll, conducted by Public Progress Solutions and Zenith Research, indicates that Mamdani is leading in the race with 50% of the vote among likely voters, significantly ahead of Andrew Cuomo at 22%, Republican Curtis Sliwa at 13%, and current Mayor Eric Adams at 7%. The poll highlights Mamdani’s broad appeal across diverse demographic groups, suggesting a strong base of support.
According to Amit Singh Bagga, principal of Public Progress Solutions, the poll, the first in the cycle to be offered in four languages and to drill down into national origin and religious denomination, makes clear that Black union households, young Jews, South Asians, East Asians, Latinos, and New Yorkers in every income bracket are all on the same Zohran Mamdani bus, heading toward the Democratic Party’s future. The survey, which interviewed 1,453 registered voters—1,021 of whom were likely voters—was conducted between July 16 and 24, concluding days before a gunman killed four people, including an NYPD officer, in a Midtown Manhattan office building.
Mamdani was celebrating his wedding in Queens at the time of the survey and has maintained a strong presence in the race. Despite the poll’s findings, Cuomo has criticized its assumptions, particularly regarding voter turnout. The poll is the first significant public survey following Cuomo’s announcement of a run for mayor after losing the primary. The survey results are being used to gauge the current state of the race and potential voter trends leading up to the November 4 election.
Meanwhile, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie has not explicitly endorsed Mamdani but maintains a supportive stance, aligning with Democratic interests. The New York governor, Kathy Hochul, has also expressed concerns about the ease with which citizens can obtain military-style weapons, calling for a national awakening on the issue. Heastie is also open to changing New York’s redistricting laws as other states move to redraw their House lines. The lieutenant governor, Antonio Delgado, is calling for a special legislative session to protect against incoming federal cuts, though Heastie has indicated an early return to Albany for lawmakers is unlikely.
The mass shooting in a Midtown building Monday night marked the deadliest shooting in New York in 25 years. The New York City Board of Elections is set to certify the results of a GOP primary for a Brooklyn City Council seat amid allegations of voter fraud. The MTA also experienced an outage, affecting several subway lines. These events highlight the complex political and social landscape in the city as the mayoral race intensifies.