Cuomo Dominates Mayoral Race Despite Past Controversies

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo continues to dominate the NYC mayoral race with 38% support, while democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani surprisingly surges to second place, pushing incumbent Mayor Eric Adams to third in a new Emerson College poll.

Top Takeaways

Cuomo’s support increased from 33% to 38% since February, with particularly strong backing from Black voters (47%), Hispanic voters (45%), and seniors over 70 (44%).
Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani has surged from just 1% to 10% support, performing especially well with voters under 30.
Mayor Eric Adams continues to slide, dropping from 10% to 8% support, with 66% of New Yorkers disapproving of his performance.
Public safety ranks as voters’ top concern, with 48% believing the subway system is becoming less safe, followed by housing costs, immigration, and healthcare.
In a hypothetical three-way general election, Cuomo leads with 43% against Republican Curtis Sliwa and independent Eric Adams, though nearly 30% remain undecided.

Cuomo Maintains Commanding Lead Despite Past Controversies

Andrew Cuomo’s political resurrection continues to gain momentum as the former governor solidifies his position as the frontrunner in the 2025 New York City mayoral race. The latest Emerson College poll shows Cuomo increasing his support to 38%, up five points from February’s 33%. Despite facing criticism over his handling of nursing homes during the pandemic and past sexual harassment allegations that led to his resignation as governor, Cuomo has maintained strong support, particularly among older voters and minority communities. His campaign message focused on addressing housing affordability, public safety, homelessness, and fighting anti-Semitism appears to be resonating with voters.

Progressive Challenger Makes Unexpected Gains

The most surprising development in the race is Zohran Mamdani’s rapid rise to second place with 10% support, up from just 1% in February. Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist and current State Assemblyman from Queens, has gained traction with younger voters, sharing 16% of the under-30 vote with Jessica Ramos. His progressive platform, which includes proposals for rent freezes, free public buses, universal child care, and city-owned grocery stores, has energized the left wing of the Democratic Party. Mamdani’s social media campaign has proven effective in building name recognition and support among younger voters.

Meanwhile, Mayor Eric Adams continues to lose ground, with his support dropping from 10% to 8% since February. Nearly two-thirds of New Yorkers (66%) disapprove of Adams’ performance as mayor, with only 18% expressing approval. With the Democratic primary scheduled for June 24, 2025, and early voting beginning a week prior, Adams faces an uphill battle to regain voter confidence amid ongoing investigations and criticism of his administration’s handling of city issues.

Voter Priorities Reflect Urban Challenges

Public safety emerged as the top concern for New York City voters, with 48% believing the subway system has become less safe. Housing affordability ranked as the primary economic worry for 35% of respondents, reflecting the ongoing housing crisis in the city. Immigration policies have also become a divisive issue, with 46% supporting New York’s status as a sanctuary city. The poll revealed sharp divisions on congestion pricing, with 44% opposing and 42% supporting the controversial traffic reduction plan for Manhattan.

The poll, conducted with 1,000 registered voters, including 653 Democratic primary voters, carries a credibility interval of 3 percentage points. Nearly 18% of Democrats remain undecided or support other candidates, suggesting the race could still shift significantly before the primary. City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, who recently entered the race, received 4% support in her first poll appearance. In a potential three-way general election scenario, Cuomo leads with 43% against Republican Curtis Sliwa and independent Eric Adams, though nearly 30% of voters remain undecided.