A new poll shows former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo holding a substantial advantage over other contenders in the race for the Democratic nomination for New York City mayor. Cuomo, who stepped down in 2021 following allegations of harassment, has not yet formally announced his candidacy. Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, despite facing federal corruption allegations and struggling approval ratings, is seeking a second term.
The survey reveals that Cuomo currently leads with 32% support among likely Democratic voters, followed by former City Comptroller Scott Stringer at 10%, current Comptroller Brad Lander at 8%, state Senator Jessica Ramos at 7%, and both Adams and state Assembly member Zohran Mamdani at 6%.
The poll, conducted from December 16-22 by Progressives for Democracy in America and shared with Politico, shows the primary election scheduled for June 24. In a ranked-choice format, Cuomo maintains a strong lead with 39% support in the first round, while Stringer holds 12%. After five rounds of voting, Cuomo would emerge victorious, with Adams being eliminated in the fourth round.
The survey, commissioned by Progressives for Democracy in America and carried out by Washington-based Hart Research Associates, surveyed 800 likely Democratic voters, according to Politico.
Adams is facing significant challenges in his bid for reelection, with 71% of voters expressing negative views of him, while only 22% have a positive opinion. In contrast, Cuomo has a narrow edge with 48% of respondents viewing him positively, compared to 44% negative.
An October poll by The New York Times had Cuomo ahead of Adams by 21% to 11%, though that survey also included Attorney General Letitia James, who has confirmed she will not be entering the mayoral race.
“Any polling is very premature — voters’ real feelings won’t be clear until they’ve had a chance to be reminded of what Eric has accomplished, including reducing crime, and where any opponents have failed,” said Ben Tulchin, Adams’ pollster, in a statement to Politico.
{Matzav.com}