Politics
Zohran Mamdani Holds Lead, but Cuomo Narrows the Gap in NYC Mayoral Race: Poll
By Jake Beardslee · October 9, 2025
A Shifting Race in the Nation’s Largest City
With Mayor Eric Adams officially out of the New York City mayoral race, former Governor Andrew Cuomo is closing the gap against frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday. The survey, conducted after Adams suspended his campaign on September 28, shows Cuomo gaining 10 percentage points since last month. Tania Savayan/The Journal News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Mamdani Holds Lead as Cuomo Closes the Gap
Mamdani, a progressive state assemblymember, continues to lead the race with 46 percent support, while Cuomo follows with 33 percent. Republican Curtis Sliwa trails at 15 percent. The results for Mamdani and Sliwa remain largely unchanged from the September 10 poll, but Cuomo’s rise marks a significant shift in the race’s dynamics. Yannick Peterhans/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Adams to Stay on Ballot but Not Run Independently
Adams, whose name will remain on the November ballot, has yet to endorse another candidate and is not expected to campaign as an independent. Kevin R. Wexler/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Cuomo’s Campaign Sees Opening
Cuomo’s team celebrated the poll as proof that the race has narrowed to a two-man contest between him and Mamdani.“The path is now clear: This is a two-person race between Andrew Cuomo and Zohran Mamdani,” Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi said in a statement.
The former governor’s campaign, which has operated without the institutional support of his previous runs, believes Adams’ departure has opened a lane for moderate and blue-collar voters—demographics Cuomo and Adams previously shared. Shawn Dowd/Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Mamdani Stays Confident
Mamdani’s campaign showed little concern over Cuomo’s surge, emphasizing their broad grassroots operation and populist platform.“Zohran is meeting voters every day in all five boroughs, who are ready to turn the page on the broken politics of the past,” campaign spokesperson Dora Pekec said. “As the billionaires continue to throw out their last-ditched efforts to prop up Andrew Cuomo, we have genuine enthusiasm and 80,000 volunteers on our side.”
Mamdani has maintained a consistent lead since winning the Democratic primary in June, positioning himself as the face of a new progressive movement in city politics. Bingjiefu He, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Moderate Base Shifts Toward Cuomo
Political analysts note that Adams’ exit largely benefits Cuomo. Both men campaigned on public safety and quality-of-life issues, appealing to working-class, moderate, and voters of color—groups that Mamdani struggled to attract during the primary.Cuomo, who is running as an independent after his Democratic primary loss, has been seeking to reclaim those voters by emphasizing experience and pragmatic leadership. Bingjiefu He, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Public Opinion Still Divided
Despite his comeback, Cuomo continues to face image challenges. The poll found that 52 percent of voters hold an unfavorable view of him, largely tied to the sexual harassment allegations that led to his 2021 resignation—charges he denies.While voters see Cuomo as more experienced, Mamdani commands stronger enthusiasm: 90 percent of his supporters said they are “very” or “somewhat enthusiastic” about their choice, compared to 69 percent for Cuomo. Peter Carr/The Journal News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
A Test for New York’s Political Future
Mamdani’s candidacy has become a national focal point for Democrats debating the party’s direction in the post-Trump era. His platform—calling for rent freezes, free public buses, and government-run grocery stores—has resonated with voters struggling with affordability in one of the world’s most expensive cities.However, his criticism of Israel has sparked backlash among moderates, even as 41 percent of voters say his views on the conflict align with their own. Mamdani has earned endorsements from Governor Kathy Hochul and several local figures, though prominent Democrats such as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries have yet to weigh in. Emiliano Bar / Unsplash
Poll Methodology
The Quinnipiac University poll surveyed 1,015 registered voters between October 3 and October 7. It carries a margin of error of 3.9 percentage points. Element5 Digital / Unsplash