UPDATE: The race for New York City mayor is heating up as Zohran Mamdani, the socialist Democrat, is now in a tight battle with former Governor Andrew Cuomo, just days before the election on November 7, 2023. A new poll reveals Mamdani at 43.9 percent support, closely followed by Cuomo at 39.4 percent, igniting urgency among voters.
Polling data from AtlasIntel shows a dramatic shift in the race dynamics, with Curtis Sliwa, the Republican candidate, lagging at 15.5 percent. Notably, if it were a two-candidate race, Cuomo would lead with 49.7 percent versus Mamdani’s 44.1 percent. This unexpected surge by Mamdani has sparked discussions about potential electoral strategies among party leaders.
The poll surveyed 2,404 respondents between October 31 and November 2, with a margin of error of +/- 2 percentage points. The findings indicate that despite Cuomo’s controversial past, including his resignation amidst sexual harassment allegations, he has a significant following among women, garnering 45.1 percent support compared to Mamdani’s 37.4 percent. In contrast, Mamdani leads among men with 50.9 percent versus Cuomo’s 33 percent.
Age demographics reveal stark contrasts: Mamdani holds a commanding 62.2 percent of voters aged 18-29, while Cuomo leads with 54.3 percent among those aged 65 and over. Analysts note that as turnout increases, the race may favor Cuomo, who is drawing more independent voters.
The urgency of this election is underscored by projections of a record voter turnout exceeding 2 million, the highest since 1969. This surge is attributed to high early voting participation, emphasizing the critical nature of voter engagement.
Political experts, such as Lee Miringhoff from the Marist Institute for Public Opinion, suggest that calls for Sliwa to withdraw could have influenced his declining support from 24 percent to 15.5 percent. Stephen Graves, an analyst with Gotham Polling, explains, “As turnout gets larger, it leans more moderate and brings in the independents,” which could pose challenges for Mamdani’s coalition.
With the election just hours away, the stakes have never been higher. Voters are urged to consider the implications of their choices as the city faces pivotal decisions on its future leadership.
Stay tuned for live updates on this developing story as New York City prepares for a potentially historic election.
