Days after the 2025 voter registration day, the New York City mayoral race is continuing to heat up with Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani taking the lead in the latest polls.
In a new Marist poll released Tuesday, Mamdani currently has a 21-point lead amongst voters when compared to other candidates such as Andrew Cuomo, current Mayor Eric Adams and Curtis Sliwa.
Although the majority of his support is amongst Democrats, Mamdani is the only candidate that a majority of New Yorkers tend to favor. Approximately 52% of the people polled had a favorable view of him. In comparison, Cuomo was viewed favorably by 40%, but was viewed as unfavorable by just as many people. Approximately 39% reported that they viewed him unfavorably.
The results of the latest poll come as Mamdani continues to win endorsements due to his proposed policies. The 33-year-old Democratic Socialist’s platform revolves around making living more affordable for New Yorkers. According to professionals, the cost of living in the city is on the rise as a family of four needs approximately $276,973 annually to live comfortably.
Mamdani’s platform revolves around addressing the issues that exacerbate the cost.
Amongst housing, the candidate proposes that rent should be frozen for all stabilized tenants.
Just last year, the Rent Guidelines Board voted to increase rent-stabilized leases by 2.75% on 1-year leases and 5.25% on 2-year leases. Through his policies, Mamdani is focused on providing permanently affordable housing, planning for 200,000 new units by the next decade.
The candidate is also suggesting that the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants and coordinate code enforcement come together to ensure that tenants are being treated fairly by landlords, while also addressing the property tax system to ensure that taxes are being paid by the wealthy.
Along with taxing the wealthiest 1% of New Yorkers, Mamdani is also advocating for increasing street safety through the creation of the Department of Community Safety, promising to utilize medical workers and mental health workers to address crisis responses. An emphasis will be placed on safety in subway stations as the city has reported 119 felony assaults underground in the last three months alone.
Mamdani’s platform largely revolves around affordability. Along with increasing funds for small businesses by 500%, the candidate is promising to work on increasing the minimum wage to $30 in the next 5 years, creating city-owned grocery stores to make food affordable and launching fare-free bus lines. A focus will also be put on expanding health care and decreasing costs, as well as on funding public schools and providing free childcare for every New Yorker.
Throughout his campaign, Mamdani has also emphasized the importance of protection for New Yorkers. As well as offering support and resources to delivery workers, his campaign advocates for the protection of workers against corporate exploitation through challenging utility companies and fighting misleading contracts. Mamdani is also pledging to ensure New York City remains a sanctuary city, placing an emphasis on getting rid of ICE, making sure that LGBTQIA+ New Yorkers are protected and ensuring that reproductive rights are never denied.
Already, Mamdani has received numerous endorsements. Civil rights attorney Maya Wiley, state assemblymember Karines Reyes and Attorney General Letitia James have all publicly come out in support of him. Over 100 politicians and organizations, including MoveOn and 32BJ, have endorsed the Democratic candidate.
Most recently, Senator Bernie Sanders showed his support by inviting Mamdani to speak at a Brooklyn town hall. Considered as a stop of his national Fighting Oligarchy Tour, at the town hall, Sanders praised Mamdani, calling him “the future of the Democratic Party” and denouncing claims from opponents that his ideas are radical.
“We’re the richest country in the history of the world,” said Sanders per the New York Times. “There’s no excuse for people not having affordable housing, good quality, affordable, decent transportation, free transportation.”
Since the town hall, other Democrats have come out to show support for Mamdani. Earlier this weekend, Gov. Kathy Hochul endorsed the candidate. In a guest essay printed in the New York Times, the New York State leader claimed that, while the two leaders “don’t see eye to eye on everything,” Mamdani displayed the same “commitment” to New York as she did during their conversations together.
“I will always reserve the right to disagree honestly and to argue passionately. But I also believe that New York State and New York City are at our best when we stand together against those who attempt to tear us apart,” said Hochul in the opinion piece. “For all these reasons, I am endorsing Zohran Mamdani in the upcoming election for mayor. And I look forward to working with him to ensure that New York City’s best days lie ahead.”
In conversation with reporters on Monday, Mamdani echoed similar sentiments of unity.
“It is a time for strength, and it is a time to speak in one voice,” said Mamdani per NBC News. “And I am proud that, when New Yorkers ask themselves what are their leaders doing, they will know that the governor and the mayor are working hand in hand to fight for the people that call this great city home.”
