Cuomo closes gap with Mamdani for New York City Mayor

Socialist Zohran Mamdani continues to lead comfortably in the New York City mayoral race, but a recent poll suggests his lead could be at risk in a head-to-head matchup with former Governor Andrew Cuomo.

With current Mayor Eric Adams stepping aside, three candidates are vying to succeed him: Mamdani, Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa. If all remain on the Oct. 4 ballot, the latest Gotham Polling/AARP survey projects a Democratic-Socialist victory, with Mamdani receiving 43.2% of the vote. Independent Cuomo is at 28.9%, while Sliwa trails with 19.4%.

If Sliwa drops out, however, Mamdani’s lead narrows. He would still top the field with 44.6% of the vote, but former Governor Cuomo’s support would climb to 40.7%, according to a poll results distributed by The New York Post. With a 4% margin of error, Cuomo could potentially tie.

The three candidates faced off in their first debate last week. Following Adams’ exit, Cuomo shifted his strategy, portraying the race as a two-person contest between himself and Mamdani.

Two keys: the over-50s and the cost of living

With just over two weeks until the election, the pollster says Cuomo still has room to gain support: 78% of undecided voters are 50 or older, a group that tends to favor the independent over the Democrat.

"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," said Gotham Polling & Analytics President Stephen Graves, according to the Post.

The cost of living is voters’ top concern, according to the Gotham Polling/AARP survey. About 68.6% cited high prices as a priority, while 48.6% highlighted public safety and 38.9% pointed to housing affordability.

Gotham surveyed 1,040 likely voters during the last two days of last week.