With Election Day just days away, a new Suffolk University poll shows Zohran Mamdani still ahead in New York City’s heated mayoral race — but Andrew Cuomo is closing the gap fast.
Mamdani, the 34-year-old progressive firebrand from Queens who stunned the political world in June by beating Cuomo and nine others for the Democratic nomination, leads with 44% of likely voters. Cuomo, now running as an Independent after his primary loss, follows with 34%.
The poll, conducted from Thursday through Sunday, came right after outgoing Mayor Eric Adams threw his support behind Cuomo. Adams, who had been running as an independent before bowing out last month, remains on the ballot but has urged his supporters to unite behind the ex-governor.
Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa — running once again as the GOP’s pick — trails with 11%. Four minor candidates combine for 2%, while 7% remain undecided and another 2% declined to answer.
Mamdani’s current edge over Cuomo has shrunk sharply from September, when Suffolk found him up by 20 points. David Paleologos, director of Suffolk’s Political Research Center, noted that “Cuomo’s biggest gains” have come from Hispanic voters and independents.
As Election Day nears, Cuomo has gone on the offensive, warning that “mayhem” would follow a Mamdani victory. He’s also attacked Mamdani over his faith, accusing him of using his religion as a shield from criticism. Cuomo has charged that Mamdani’s rhetoric about Israel and Gaza is “antisemitic,” saying the candidate “has offended Jewish New Yorkers.”
Mamdani, striking back, called the attacks bigoted and desperate. “We’re speaking about a former governor who, in his final moments in public life, is engaging in rhetoric that is not only Islamophobic, not only racist, it’s also disgusting,” he said.
Meanwhile, pressure is mounting on Sliwa to bow out to consolidate anti-Mamdani votes behind Cuomo. Among those pushing him to withdraw is billionaire businessman and radio host John Catsimatidis, a close ally of President Donald Trump.
Pollsters say Sliwa’s supporters could prove decisive — they favor Cuomo over Mamdani by a 36%–2% margin when asked for a second choice. “There is only one person in New York City whose voters will determine the outcome,” said Paleologos. “And that person isn’t Mayor Adams, Hakeem Jeffries, Chuck Schumer, or any New York billionaire. It’s Republican Curtis Sliwa and his voters who hold the 11% blocking Cuomo from winning the race. Politics has its ironies.”
If Mamdani prevails, he would make history as New York City’s first Muslim and first Millennial mayor. Born in Uganda and raised in Queens, Mamdani’s rise has been fueled by a grassroots movement centered on affordability and social reform. His campaign has been powered by progressive stars like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders.
Using social media to rally younger and lower-turnout voters, Mamdani has pitched sweeping changes: fare-free buses, tuition-free CUNY, rent freezes for public housing, free childcare for young families, and government-operated grocery stores.
His opponents have blasted those proposals as reckless and extreme, citing not only their cost but his sharp criticism of Israel and the NYPD. Mamdani has called for transferring some police responsibilities to social programs and neighborhood-based initiatives — a stance that has energized his base while alienating many moderates.
The final week of campaigning promises to be fierce, with Cuomo’s comeback effort intensifying and Mamdani’s movement fighting to hold its lead in a city long shaped by political drama and divided loyalties.
{Matzav.com}
