New York’s new mayor is getting a solid but far-from-spectacular report card as he closes in on his 100th day at City Hall. Nearly half of New Yorkers say they approve of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s job performance, according to a Marist University poll that finds 48% approve, 30% disapprove and 23% are unsure. It is a modest net positive that gives Mamdani some goodwill to work with, along with a clear warning that patience could wear thin if big campaign promises do not turn into visible results.
The Marist Institute for Public Opinion surveyed 1,454 New York City adults from March 26 to 31, 2026, with a reported margin of sampling error of ±3.3 percentage points. Citywide approval landed at 48%, with 25% saying they “strongly approve” of Mamdani’s performance and 21% saying they “strongly disapprove.” Brooklyn, at 54%, and Manhattan, at 55%, were the most enthusiastic, while Staten Island stood out as the most skeptical borough, where 57% disapproved, according to Marist Institute for Public Opinion.
The New York Daily News cast the survey as the first nonpartisan snapshot of Mamdani’s standing since his January inauguration, describing it as an early, data-backed read on how neighborhoods are reacting to his opening moves on housing, taxes and winter response. The outlet noted that the poll gives the mayor some political capital to lean on state and federal leaders over affordability measures, while also pointing out that roughly one in four residents remain undecided, according to the New York Daily News.
Poll Snapshot
Beneath the top-line approval number, the Marist release suggests many New Yorkers see Mamdani as putting in the work. Seventy-four percent of residents say he is working hard, 61% say he understands the city’s problems and 60% believe he is keeping his campaign promises. Voters also give him an early win on storm response, with 65% approving of how his administration handled winter storms, a sign that residents see basic operations functioning even as political divides linger, according to Marist Institute for Public Opinion.
What It Means Politically
Even with generally favorable views on effort and competence, the poll shows a tricky political road ahead. Large majorities of Democrats tilt positive, while Republicans and many unaffiliated voters remain less impressed. The New York Daily News notes that Mamdani is already trying to turn his early popularity into leverage, pressing President Trump and Albany lawmakers to raise taxes on the city’s wealthiest residents and corporations, a high-risk move that could fire up his base while energizing opponents, according to the New York Daily News.
For now, Mamdani’s first three months have bought him some political breathing room, pairing decent approval numbers with solid marks for effort and early operational wins. The real test will come in budget season and in negotiations with lawmakers, and in whether the roughly 23% of New Yorkers who remain unsure decide to back the new mayor or break into the opposition column.
