Mamdani Maintains Lead in NYC Mayoral Race as Polls Tighten

The race for the mayoralty of New York City is intensifying, with a recent poll indicating that Democrat Zohran Mamdani holds a significant lead. According to a survey conducted by AARP and Gotham Polling, Mamdani has captured 43.2% of voter support, while Independent candidate Andrew Cuomo trails at 28.9% and Republican Curtis Sliwa is in third with 19.4%. As early voting begins in just five days, the political landscape is becoming increasingly competitive.

The poll, released on October 20, 2025, reveals that the dynamic shifts dramatically if Sliwa were to withdraw from the race. In a hypothetical scenario without Sliwa, Mamdani and Cuomo would be in a much closer contest, with Mamdani leading at 44.6% to Cuomo’s 40.7%. This margin is notably within the poll’s margin of error, indicating a potential neck-and-neck race.

Both candidates responded to the poll’s implications during recent appearances. Sliwa, who remains adamant about his participation in the election, stated, “I’m not dropping out. One person, one vote. That’s how we determine elections.” His presence in the race has been characterized by Cuomo as potentially detrimental to his own chances against Mamdani. Last week, Cuomo acknowledged that Sliwa’s candidacy complicates his path to victory, but he later dismissed Sliwa’s relevance, calling him “a spoiler” and “not a viable candidate.”

Mamdani, for his part, welcomed Sliwa’s participation, framing it as beneficial for democracy. He stated, “It’s genuinely positive for our democracy that there’s another candidate in this race who believes New York City voters should pick their next mayor, not billionaires who mostly live somewhere else.” This sentiment underscores Mamdani’s appeal to a voter base seeking representation beyond traditional political elites.

Cuomo has continued to assert that Mamdani lacks the necessary experience to serve as mayor. In contrast, Mamdani emphasized his focus on direct engagement with New Yorkers, criticizing Cuomo for concentrating on other candidates rather than addressing the electorate’s needs.

The upcoming debate on Wednesday night on NY1 is poised to further shape the electoral landscape as all three candidates prepare to confront each other on a public platform. With Election Day looming in just 15 days, the stakes are high, and the dynamics of the race could shift considerably in the final stretch.