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Poll: Cuomo has slim lead in NYC mayoral race

One day before the Democratic primary, the former governor leads Zohran Mamdani, an anti-Israel state rep, 35% to 32%, according to new Emerson poll.

New York City
New York City, March 11, 2025. Credit: Mike Peel via Wikimedia Commons.

Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo leads anti-Israel state Rep. Zohran Mamdani by just 3 percentage points in the June 24 Democratic primary, according to a new Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill survey released on Monday.

The survey allowed voters to rank up to five candidates in order of preference and found former Gov. Andrew Cuomo leading with 35% support, followed closely by anti-Israel Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani at 32%. New York City Comptroller Brad Lander received 13%, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams 8%, and former Comptroller Scott Stringer 3%, with 4% of voters still undecided ahead of Tuesday’s election.

The survey was conducted from June 18 to 20 among 833 likely Democratic primary voters in New York City, including those who had already voted early.

New York City’s “ranked” voting system allows voters to list multiple candidates in order of preference. Their votes are redistributed when lower-ranked candidates are removed. The new poll conducted up to 8 ranked-choice voting simulations.

The ranked-choice voting simulation over eight rounds ends with Mamdani at 52% and Cuomo at 48%.

Among voters who already cast their ballots during New York City’s early voting period, which began June 14, Mamdani holds a 10-point lead over Cuomo, 41% to 31%. However, Cuomo leads among those who plan to vote on Election Day or had not yet voted at the time of the survey, 36% to 31%.

Vita Fellig is a writer in New York City.
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