Bombshell NYC Mayoral Poll Shows Trouble For Zohran Mamdani In One-On-One Race With Andrew Cuomo

A surprising new poll shows that Andrew Cuomo could come within striking distance of left-wing frontrunner Zohran Mamdani in the New York City mayoral race — but only if Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa steps aside.

According to results from Gotham Polling and AARP New York, 44.6% of voters said they would support Mamdani if Sliwa exited the race, compared to 40.7% who would back Cuomo. With the survey’s 4-point margin of error, Cuomo would be nearly neck-and-neck with the Queens assemblyman.

When all three candidates remain on the ballot, Mamdani still leads decisively, drawing 43.2% of the vote to Cuomo’s 28.9% and Sliwa’s 19.4%, the poll revealed.

The data also indicates that undecided voters skew older — with nearly 78% of them aged 50 or above — a demographic that could significantly benefit Cuomo, while Mamdani continues to dominate among younger voters.

“The decisive factor in this race may be the older voters who haven’t yet made up their minds,” said Stephen Graves, president of Gotham Polling & Analytics. “If the contest narrows to two leading candidates, the 50-plus electorate — by far the most reliable voting bloc — will likely determine who becomes the next mayor of New York City.”

The survey was modeled after 2021 general election turnout, when fewer than 40% of voters were under 50. Analysts cautioned that this may undercount Mamdani’s strength, as his campaign has since registered tens of thousands of younger voters, potentially shifting turnout to an even split between age groups this November.

Despite the poll’s projections, both Cuomo and Sliwa have vowed to stay in the race. Cuomo, running as an independent after losing to Mamdani in the Democratic primary, and Sliwa, representing Republicans, have each dismissed suggestions that they should step aside.

Researchers surveyed 1,040 likely voters over two days last week. Across all age groups, respondents cited the cost of living as their top concern, with 63.6% naming it their primary issue. Public safety followed at 48.6%, while 38.9% pointed to housing affordability as their main worry.

Nearly 43% of voters identified as very liberal or somewhat liberal — a clear advantage for Mamdani — while just over 23% described themselves as somewhat or very conservative.

Mamdani, a 33-year-old state assemblyman from Queens, shocked the political establishment when he defeated Cuomo and outgoing Mayor Eric Adams in June’s Democratic primary. Born in Uganda and raised in New York, Mamdani calls himself a proud socialist.

His progressive positions have sparked controversy in political and Jewish circles alike, particularly due to his sharp criticism of Israel and his refusal to denounce Hamas.

Cuomo, age 67, who previously served as New York’s governor and as U.S. housing secretary, took aim at Mamdani’s inexperience during the first of two recent mayoral debates. On Sunday, he again targeted Sliwa, labeling him a “spoiler” and urging him to withdraw.

“The problem is Curtis Sliwa is a spoiler in the race,” Cuomo said on WABC 770 AM’s “The Cats Roundtable.” “A vote for Curtis Sliwa is really a vote for Mamdani.”

Sliwa, 71, founder of the Guardian Angels and a longtime radio host, fired back during last week’s debate, insisting that Cuomo should be the one to step aside instead.

The Gotham/AARP poll concluded that older New Yorkers could once again tip the balance.

“Once again, New York’s older voters are poised to decide this election,” said Beth Finkel, AARP New York State Director. “These are issues that matter not only to older adults and to New Yorkers of every generation.”

{Matzav.com}