A new Siena poll has revealed that Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor, is maintaining a commanding lead in the race. With 44% of registered voters supporting him, Mamdani outpaces his primary opponents, including former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent, with 25% of the vote. Republican Curtis Sliwa and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams trail behind at 12% and 7%, respectively. The poll data underscores shifting voter sentiments, with City Democrats overwhelmingly favoring Mamdani over Cuomo by a margin of 53-32%. However, more than two-thirds of City Republicans support Sliwa, indicating significant intra-party divides.
The poll also reveals that Cuomo faces the lowest favorability rating of his career, with a 37-54% disapproval rating within the city and an even worse 29-61% disapproval rating statewide. This has prompted Cuomo’s opponents to criticize his re-entry into the race, calling for the city to move on from his tenure as governor. Adams, who opted to pursue the race as an independent, is also facing favorability issues, especially after being indicted on bribery and campaign finance charges, though the case was later dropped. Adams has positioned himself as a pro-law enforcement alternative to Mamdani, particularly following the recent 345 Park Avenue office shooting.
Mamdani, who has been included in the poll for the first time, has a 46-32% favorability rating with New York City voters, while he faces a negative 28-37% favorability rating among statewide voters. The poll highlights that while younger voters and a plurality of those aged 35-54 support Mamdani, older voters tend to favor Cuomo. The race has drawn significant attention, especially as Mamdani’s win was seen as an upset against Cuomo, and he has pushed several far-left policies, including anti-Trump rhetoric, which has become a central theme in his campaign. His anti-Trump tour has seen him criticize the impact of Trump’s policies on all five boroughs of New York City.
Cuomo, however, has launched a counteroffensive, even pitching ‘Zohran’s Law’ after it came to light that Mamdani lives in a rent-stabilized apartment. Cuomo criticized Mamdani for living in such an apartment, suggesting it should only be rented to those in need of affordable housing. In response, Mamdani accused Cuomo of focusing more on his personal living situation than on the housing crisis affecting New Yorkers. The race, set for November 4, marks one of the few major off-year elections, with the outcome expected to have significant implications for the city’s future.