NEW YORK (Diya TV) — Zohran Mamdani has built a strong lead in the New York City mayor’s race, according to new polling that shows the Democratic nominee outpacing former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and other rivals.

A survey from Emerson College/PIX11/The Hill released Wednesday found Mamdani with 43% support among registered voters. Cuomo, running as an independent, trailed with 28%. Republican Curtis Sliwa stood at 10%, while incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, also running as an independent, received 8%. Nine percent of voters remain undecided.

Among voters who said they were “very likely” to cast a ballot in November, Mamdani widened his edge. He led Cuomo 46% to 27%. The poll also showed a sharp age divide. Mamdani held a 29-point advantage among voters under 50 and a narrower six-point lead among those 50 and older.

These results echoed a New York Times/Siena College poll conducted earlier this month. That survey found Mamdani at 46%, Cuomo at 24%, Sliwa at 15%, and Adams at 9%. Both polls suggest Mamdani has consolidated support from younger and progressive voters.

Pollsters note the race could shift if some candidates drop out. The Times/Siena poll modeled a two-way matchup between Mamdani and Cuomo. In that scenario, Mamdani’s lead shrank to just four points, 48% to 44%.

Don Levy, director of the Siena Research Institute, said Cuomo would gain most of Adams’ and Sliwa’s backers if they exited the race. “Cuomo would capture the vast majority of both Adams’ and Sliwa’s current support and win a majority of voters over forty-five,” Levy said.

So far, neither Adams nor Sliwa has shown interest in stepping aside. Both insist they will stay in the race until Election Day.

The polls highlight clear differences in voter priorities. Supporters of Mamdani, a democratic socialist and state assembly member, point to the cost of living as the city’s biggest problem. Nearly half of voters in the Emerson poll said they trusted him most to address affordability in New York.

In contrast, voters backing Cuomo, Adams, and Sliwa cited crime as their top concern. Cuomo, who governed New York from 2011 to 2021, continues to face high unfavorable ratings. In the Times/Siena poll, 59% of likely voters viewed him unfavorably.

Mamdani’s rise has drawn national attention. His victory over Cuomo in the Democratic primary earlier this year was considered a shock. The campaign has energized progressives and unsettled centrist Democrats.

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont campaigned with Mamdani at a rally in Brooklyn last weekend. The event drew thousands of supporters and reinforced Mamdani’s appeal among younger voters and working-class residents.

Real estate groups that once resisted his platform have also begun talks with his team. They are engaging on issues such as affordable housing and property-tax reform, signaling how his candidacy is reshaping political debate in the city.

The race for mayor of New York City remains fluid with eight weeks to go before voters head to the polls. Independent candidate Jim Walden suspended his campaign earlier this month and urged others to unite against Mamdani. But consolidation has not happened.

Reports have surfaced that advisers to former President Donald Trump reached out to Adams about dropping out, with promises of a possible role in a future administration. Discussions also included Sliwa. Neither man has confirmed interest in such a deal.

For now, Mamdani enjoys a commanding lead in multiple polls. But with Cuomo still drawing nearly a third of voter support, the possibility of a tighter contest looms if the field changes. The November election will decide whether New York embraces Mamdani’s progressive agenda or turns back to a more centrist vision offered by Cuomo and other challengers.