Trouble for Zohran Mamdani: Polling Numbers Crater as Election Day Nears

As election day draws closer, Zohran Mamdani has difficulties as polling numbers deteriorate — A recent survey shows that support for the NYC mayoral favorite has sharply declined as voter skepticism and dissatisfaction with his platform have grown.

The mayoral contest in New York City has taken a significant turn with just over a week to go before Election Day.

Once appearing to be a certain win for Democratic Socialist contender Zohran Mamdani, the race has become more competitive as new polling indicates that former Governor Andrew Cuomo may be gaining ground.

The difference between Mamdani and Cuomo has shrunk from 20 points in September to only 10 points as of Monday, according to a fresh Quinnipiac University survey.

The survey indicates that Cuomo, who is running as an independent, has risen to 34% of probable voters, while Mamdani has 44%.

Curtis Sliwa, the Republican candidate, is behind with 11%, and 7% of voters are still uncertain.

In the closing stages of one of the most anticipated local elections in the country, the figures indicate that Cuomo is gaining ground.

Analysts attribute the change to a confluence of Mamdani’s increasingly divisive philosophy, a disciplined communications effort, and strategic endorsements.

Even seasoned political analysts have been taken aback by Cuomo’s comeback.

Cuomo, who was once viewed as a holdover from New York’s political history, resigned as governor in 2021 due to controversy and public outrage.

Since then, however, he has made an effort to recast himself as an independent voice for practical governance rather than as a typical Democrat.

“Experience Over Ideology,” his campaign motto, has resonated with independents, centrist Democrats, and older voters who are apprehensive about the city’s radical shift.

The endorsement of Cuomo by Mayor Eric Adams, who had stopped his own candidacy but is still running, earlier this month marked a significant turning point.

The support helped mobilize working-class and centrist voters, especially in Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island, and gave Cuomo’s campaign more respectability.

The candidate “best equipped to tackle crime, affordability, and the dysfunction driving families out of New York” is Cuomo, according to Adams.

Cuomo’s campaign activities seem to have been revitalized by that endorsement.

Previously poorly attended rallies have seen an increase in attendance, and his fundraising totals have increased.

Voters concerned about increased crime, exorbitant rents, and the city’s post-pandemic recovery have responded favorably to his argument, which holds that Mamdani’s ideas are too extreme and economically risky.

Mamdani’s plans have drawn strong criticism from Cuomo, who has warned that they would “turn New York into a test case for utopian socialism.”

Expanded rent control, a wealth tax on high-end property owners, and significant cuts to NYPD spending in favor of social programs are all part of Mamdani’s platform, which has angered moderates but thrilled the activist left.

Mamdani, a 34-year-old Queens state assemblyman and well-known figure in the progressive movement in New York, is still defending his ideas as essential to building a more equitable city.

Tenant rights, affordable housing, and fair economic growth are the main focuses of his campaign.
However, the last several weeks have put his capacity to withstand a barrage of criticism that he is “too extreme” and “too inexperienced” to the test.

Cuomo’s campaign has made extensive use of that storyline.

He questioned Mamdani’s understanding of the city’s intricate governance issues during televised discussions, accusing him of being “a Twitter activist pretending to be a mayor.”

In response, Mamdani has reminded voters of Cuomo’s contentious background, which includes claims of corruption, misbehavior at work, and the events leading up to his resignation in 2021.

However, the latter stages of the election appear to be more characterized by identity and tone than by ideology.

Mamdani would be the first Muslim mayor of New York City and one of the city’s youngest mayors if elected.

His ascent is seen by admirers as a sign of a generational change in urban politics, while detractors question his experience and preparedness.

The challenge facing New Yorkers as the campaign nears its end is not merely one of left vs right, but rather one of stability, trust, and the future of the biggest city in America.

Both candidates are making their final arguments as early voting continues and undecided voters remain available.

It’s an appeal for Mamdani to stick with it and welcome change.
It’s Cuomo’s last attempt to gain notoriety and possibly atonement.

There is no doubt that the results of next week’s polling will be a turning point in the political identity of New York, a city torn between its progressive values and its desire for more stable leadership.