Democratic socialist candidate ahead in close NYC mayoral democratic primary: poll

Democratic Socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani is narrowing the New York City mayoral Democratic primary race as Tuesday’s election approaches, according to a poll released Monday. 

“We have gone from the margin of error to the margin of effort,” Mamdani wrote on X.

The 33-year-old Mamdani is statistically tied with former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in first-choice votes, according to the new survey by Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill. While Mamdani leads Cuomo 35-to-32%, the lead is within the poll's 3.3% margin of error. 

However, in ranked-choice voting, Mandani leads Cuomo 52-to-48%.

A candidate who wins over 50% of the vote after all first-choice votes are counted is declared the winner.

If no candidate reaches that mark, then counting continues in rounds. At the end of each round, the last-place candidate is eliminated, and voters who chose that candidate have their vote counted for their next choice, according to the New York City Board of Elections.

The Emerson poll excludes undecided voters.

The ew York Times Editorial Board wrote that Mandani "offers the kind of fresh political style for which many people are hungry during the angry era of President Trump." 

The board also said his viral social media presence and farfetched promises are appealing to some New Yorkers, many are disappointed by the field, but declined to endorse him or any other candidate.

“We do not believe that Mr. Mamdani deserves a spot on New Yorkers’ ballots," they wrote. "His experience is too thin, and his agenda reads like a turbocharged version of Mr. de Blasio’s dismaying mayoralty. As for Mr. Cuomo, we have serious objections to his ethics and conduct, even if he would be better for New York’s future than Mr. Mamdani.”

Mamdani’s unforeseen popularity is not the only event to have manifested a volatile primary. 

In September 2024 the Democratic incumbent Mayor Eric Adams was charged with bribery and campaign finance offenses. A judge dismissed the charges against him in February upon a request from the Justice Department. Adams has since decided to run in the mayoral election as an independent.

While New York City’s fate will be decided during the general election in November, Primary Day begins is Tuesday with early voting ongoing.