NEW YORK (Diya TV) — Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for mayor of New York City, is leading the general election race by a wide margin, according to a new poll released this week. The survey shows Mamdani with the support of over half of likely voters, putting him in a commanding position heading into the final stretch of the campaign.
The poll, conducted by Public Progress Solutions and Zenith Research from July 16 to 24, surveyed 1,453 registered voters. Of those, 1,021 said they were “absolutely certain” to vote. Among likely voters, Mamdani secured 50% support in a five-way matchup.
Independent candidate and former Governor Andrew Cuomo follows with 22%, while Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa holds 13%. Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams polls at 7%, and attorney Jim Walden trails with 1%. Another 6% of likely voters remain undecided.
In head-to-head matchups, Mamdani continues to lead. He beats Cuomo 52% to 40% and defeats Adams 59% to 32%. Even among all registered voters, Mamdani comes out ahead with 42%, compared to Cuomo’s 26%.
Mamdani, a progressive state assemblyman from Queens, is also seeing growing support among Jewish voters, despite past criticism of his stance on Israel. A new poll from the same researchers shows that 43% of Jewish voters plan to vote for Mamdani, including 67% of those aged 18 to 44.
Cuomo garners 26% of the Jewish vote, while Adams gets 15%. The poll is the first to focus specifically on Jewish voter preferences in the general election.
Mamdani’s criticism of Israel has been a key issue in the race. He has accused Israel of genocide in Gaza, expressed support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, and said he would arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visited New York. Mamdani cited the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Netanyahu.
Despite backlash from older and more observant Jewish communities, many younger and less observant Jewish voters appear undeterred. A separate survey this week revealed that Mamdani’s pro-Palestinian stance helped drive voter turnout during the Democratic primary. Eighty-three percent of new voters in that poll said his advocacy motivated them.
Several prominent Jewish business leaders are organizing efforts to defeat Mamdani. Real estate executives and hedge fund managers have launched super PACs aimed at stopping his campaign. Hedge funder Ricky Sandler pledged $500,000 to block Mamdani. Billionaire investor Bill Ackman has said he is willing to spend “hundreds of millions of dollars” to support an alternative.
Marty Burger, CEO of Infinite Global Real Estate Partners, told The New York Times that donors plan to unite behind an “anybody but Mamdani” candidate. Meanwhile, grassroots organizing efforts have sprung up on social media platforms like WhatsApp to oppose Mamdani’s candidacy.
A number of Indian and Hindu American groups have also been campaigning against Mamdani, disregarding his lineage and cultural ties, because of his pointed rhetoric against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and dalliances with extremists.
During a summer mayoral debate, Mamdani claimed Modi was a “war criminal,” falsely claiming “we don’t even believe there are Gujarati Muslims anymore,” when millions of Muslims continue to live in Gujarat to this day.
His comment was a reference to the 2002 riots in Gujarat where thousands of Hindus and Muslims were killed and injured during communal riots started when 59 Hindu Pilgrims were burned alive in a train in Godhra. 31 Muslims were convicted for that crime, a historical fact Mamdani left out.
He has also been seen speaking at a rally led by Khalistan supporters in New York City where Hindus were being verbally abused by event organizers. Mamdani is also one of the sponsors of a caste discrimination bill in New York State, despite no evidence that widespread caste-based discrimination is prevalent in New York.
Even so, polling data suggests these sharp criticisms are falling short of resonating with New York voters. The latest numbers show that Mamdani would still beat Cuomo 52% to 40% in a two-person race, with 8% undecided.
The poll also shows broad dissatisfaction with the current direction of the city. Seventy percent of likely voters say they are unhappy with how things are going in New York. Voters cite rising living costs—particularly housing, groceries, and utilities—as top concerns, along with crime and public safety.
Mamdani has campaigned on a platform of social justice, affordable housing, and higher taxes on the wealthy to fund public services. His proposals have energized progressive voters while drawing fierce opposition from corporate interests.
As the general election approaches, Mamdani’s momentum appears strong. His historic primary win over Cuomo last month reshaped the city’s political landscape. Now, with majority support among likely voters and a strong base among younger and progressive communities, Mamdani could be on the path to becoming New York City’s next mayor.
Still, political veterans warn that races in the city can shift quickly. Voter turnout, media scrutiny, and external spending could all influence the outcome. But for now, Mamdani is the candidate to beat.
