With the NYC mayoral race entering its final days, Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani is seen holding varying yet significant leads over former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the latest polls. According to a CBS News report, an Emerson College poll has Mamdani with 50% of likely voters' support, doubling Cuomo's 25%, and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa trailing with 21%. This lead extends Mamdani's appeal particularly among young voters under 50 and substantially among Black voters.
The race, however, still shows signs of potential fluctuations. A Quinnipiac University survey, as shared by the New York Post, suggests Mamdani is ahead of Cuomo by only 10 percentage points. Mary Snow, an assistant director at Quinnipiac, highlighted that "The percentage of likely voters not weighing in has increased a bit since earlier this month, suggesting there’s room to move in the final stretch." This indicates a race that, while leaning towards Mamdani, could still narrow prior to Election Day.
Looking to the campaign trail, both candidates are actively seeking to bolster their cases with NYC's electorate. Mamdani recently touted an endorsement from the United Bodegas of America, aligning himself with small business interests despite some contentious reactions to his city-run supermarket proposal. Cuomo, meanwhile, secured the backing of former Mayor Michael Bloomberg and is pitching himself as the more experienced choice, especially appealing to Staten Island voters and Republicans who may be decisive, as he noted the endorsement from former President Trump for Sliwa who is "not ready for prime time".
Mamdani's advance over Cuomo also reflects in early voting figures. The CBS News article suggests that those who have already cast their votes are skewing heavily in favor of Mamdani, giving him a 33-point margin over Cuomo among early voters. Citing poll data, Emerson College highlighted that the early voters' preference might just give Mamdani the additional edge needed to seal the victory in the coming days.
The Marist poll, as reported by the New York Post, also found a 16-point lead for Mamdani, indicating a significant but not insurmountable advantage.
The city's political landscape appears to be trending towards Mamdani, despite Cuomo's attempts to reclaim ground. The polls reflect a clear but complex picture of a frontrunner pulling ahead while his opponents seek to find last-minute inroads with voters.
