51视频

09/10/2025

LOWELL, Massachusetts 鈥� Democrat Zohran Mamdani holds a 19-point margin over his closest challenger 鈥� former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, running as an independent 鈥� in the race to become New York City鈥檚 next mayor, according to findings released Wednesday by 51视频鈥檚 Center for Public Opinion and YouGov.

If the Nov. 4 election were held today, 44% of likely voters in New York City would cast their ballots for Mamdani, according to the poll results. Twenty-five percent would vote for Cuomo, 15% for Republican Curtis Sliwa and 8% for incumbent Mayor Eric Adams. Seven percent of respondents were undecided and 2% said they would vote for independent Jim Walden, who suspended his campaign last week but whose name remains on the ballot.

The poll of 800 likely voters shows state Assembly member Mamdani leads Cuomo across three age groups: among respondents 18 to 29, 55% to 6%; among respondents 30 to 44, 52% to 23%; and among respondents 45 to 64, 44% to 26%. Cuomo slightly leads among voters over age 65, 37% to 31%.

鈥淚f any more candidates drop out, we cannot be certain where those votes will go, especially with so many voters undecided. Mamdani is way out in front. Most voters think he will win and people like voting for a winner,鈥� said Political Science Associate Professor John Cluverius, the center鈥檚 director of survey research.

Along with support for Mamdani, most respondents endorse a broader left-wing agenda on issues important to the city. Eighty-nine percent said they strongly or somewhat support building 200,000 new units of affordable housing. Seventy-eight percent of respondents strongly or somewhat support increasing the New York City workers鈥� minimum wage to $30 per hour by 2030. The city鈥檚 congestion pricing program is also popular with respondents, as 59% strongly or somewhat support it, while 42% are strongly or somewhat opposed.

Meanwhile, an overwhelming majority of respondents, 73%, strongly or somewhat disapprove of how Adams is handling his job, while 27% strongly or somewhat approve. Adams ran as a Democrat for his first term as mayor but is running for reelection as an independent.

Views on national direction, leadership less positive

Beyond the mayor鈥檚 race, other results show dissatisfaction among voters, with 75% indicating the country is on the wrong track compared to 25% who think the nation is headed in the right direction.

President Donald Trump鈥檚 job performance received similar marks, as 72% of respondents somewhat or strongly disapprove of how he鈥檚 handling his duties while 28% strongly or somewhat approve. Survey findings show 68% of respondents have an unfavorable view of him against 25% who look on him favorably.

Although displeased with Trump, respondents also appear lukewarm about the Democratic Party鈥檚 leadership. When asked to rate the job performance of U.S. Senate Minority Leader and New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, 51% of New York City voters said they somewhat or strongly approved, while 48% were somewhat or strongly opposed. Voters separately gave Schumer a positive favorability rating of 46%, compared to 33% reporting unfavorable views of the senator.聽

Respondents identifying as registered Democrats were also asked which candidate they would support in a hypothetical 2028 matchup between U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Schumer as he seeks reelection to the Senate. There, 46% of respondents said they would vote for Ocasio-Cortez, 35% would vote for Schumer, 7% said they would select another candidate and 12% said they did not know.

鈥淭his isn鈥檛 the best news for Sen. Schumer; AOC leads a hypothetical primary matchup by double digits. While it鈥檚 still early and his leadership doesn鈥檛 appear at risk for now, New York Democrats may be looking for a change,鈥� said Political Science Assistant Professor Rodrigo Castro Cornejo, the center鈥檚 associate director.

Conducted online from Tuesday, Aug. 19 through Tuesday, Sept. 2, the poll carries a margin of error of +/- 4.61 percentage points.

The nonpartisan survey was independently funded by the University of Massachusetts Lowell. The poll was designed and analyzed by the university鈥檚 Center for Public Opinion and fielded by YouGov. Detailed survey results, including topline and full methodology, are available at .

51视频鈥檚 Center for Public Opinion presents events and polling on political and social issues to provide opportunities for civic engagement, experiential learning and real-world research. The center is a member of the American Association of Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) Transparency Initiative.