Tuesday, April 23`, 2025
Year : 2, Issue: 34
by Adam Daly, AMNY
The Democratic primary election in the 2025 New York City mayor’s race appears to be turning into a two-candidate race between former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Queens Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, according to the latest poll released Monday morning.
The survey, conducted by the Honan Strategy Group in partnership with the city’s five Chambers of Commerce, shows that the moderate progressive Cuomo has expanded his lead with 45% support among likely Democratic primary voters—up four percentage points since March. Meanwhile, the socialist Mamdani has surged into a stronger second place, gaining 4 points since the previous poll and climbing to 22%.
Honan Strategy Group pollsters conducted a ranked-choice voting simulation. Still, they said it was largely a formality, as the survey found Cuomo won 53% of first-choice votes and ultimately defeated Mamdani 64% to 36% in the simulated final round.
“Adams is out of the Democratic Primary race and Cuomo is picking up momentum,” said Bradley Honan of the Honan Strategy Group. “Cuomo is over 50% of the vote before ranked-choice voting simulation even begins. The ball game appears to be over before the first pitch is even thrown.”
NYC municipal elections use ranked-choice voting in the event a candidate does not gain a majority of 50% plus 1 of the vote on the first ballot.
Gathering momentum
Since January, Cuomo’s support has grown by 10 points. Mamdani, meanwhile, has more than doubled his standing, jumping from 9% in January to 22% in April.
“New Yorkers know that the city is in crisis and that Governor Cuomo is the only person in this race with the capacity and proven record to turn it around and deliver real results,” said Jason Elan, a spokesperson for the Cuomo campaign, in reacting to the latest polling numbers. “We will continue to fight for every voter the same way Governor Cuomo will fight for every New Yorker.”
The poll, which surveyed 823 likely Democratic primary voters between April 16 and 17, finds the other candidates ranking in the single digits.
City Comptroller Brad Lander held steady at 8%, and City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams remained at 4%. Former Comptroller Scott Stringer dropped to 3%, while state Sen. Zellnor Myrie (D-Brooklyn) continues to poll at 2%. Fourteen percent of respondents said they are still undecided.
The poll included both frequent Democratic primary voters and newly registered “anti-Trump surge voters” — individuals motivated to vote Democratic in part because of Donald Trump’s re-election campaign.
A ranked-choice voting simulation from the Honan Strategy Group’s April 2025 poll shows former Gov. Andrew Cuomo defeating Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani 64% to 36% in the final round of the New York City Democratic mayoral primary
Separate polling this month by AARP New York and the Siena College Research Institute placed Cuomo in 34% of support among registered city voters, and Mamdani followed in second place with 16%. In its ranked-choice voting simulation, Cuomo ultimately defeated Mamdani 54% to 27% in the final round.
Cuomo led the pack in the polls even before officially declaring his candidacy. His progressive opponents have countered his rising momentum by highlighting his governorship record as a reason he should not return to elected office. So far, their efforts to resurface his past controversies have done little to dent his polling numbers.
The four New York Working Families Party-endorsed candidates – Adams, Lander, Myrie, and Mamdani – held a rally in City Hall Park Friday to paint Cuomo as “your landlord’s favorite mayoral candidate.” They accused Cuomo of prioritizing landlords over tenants during his time as governor, citing his past opposition to stronger rent protections.
Lander slammed Cuomo on Monday, calling on him to stop using taxpayer money for his personal legal defenses, after revelations that New York State reportedly spent $2.5 million on legal fees and $450,000 to settle a sexual harassment case tied to Cuomo. The former Gov. resigned from his role in 2021 amid multiple allegations of sexual harassment, which he denies.
Lander said Cuomo’s scandals have cost taxpayers a reported $63 million and demanded that he fund his own defamation suit, which was recently filed against an accuser. He urged the money be redirected to housing, education, and public safety instead.
“If Cuomo is really in this race for New York City and not himself, he would return the money he’s spent on his personal legal defense and commit to not spend another cent further,” Lander said. “If he refuses, New Yorkers know exactly where his priorities lie.”
When reporters asked about Cuomo’s lead in the polls, Lander said the race is just starting, but “some people right now mistake bullies for leaders, but I’m pretty optimistic.”
Meanwhile, Mamdani is looking to expand his reach with Latino voters, with the candidate releasing a two-minute Spanish-language video, highlighting his campaign’s commitment to the community.
Honan was skeptical about whether Mamdani’s path to victory exists; he said the lesser-polling candidates in the race seem content to avoid uniting behind him.
“Mamdani is capped at less than 40% and the other progressive candidates have their knives out for him,” Honan said. “Neither Lander nor Stringer wants to play second fiddle to Mamdani.”
