Zohran Mamdani would repeat beatdown against Andrew Cuomo in unlikely scenario that field clears: polls

Socialist mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani would still beat Andrew Cuomo in the general election even if President Trump somehow cleared the field for a one-on-one match-up, according to a new poll published Tuesday.

The sobering survey for ex-governor Cuomo has Mamdani still beating him  — 48 to 44 — even if Mayor Eric Adams and GOP nominee Curtis Sliwa manage to get their names off the ballot, the poll from Siena Research/NY Times shows.

“The big ‘if’ is what would happen if both Sliwa and Adams were to drop out of the race and make it a two-person showdown,” said Siena director Don Levy. “Cuomo would capture the vast majority of both Adams’ and Sliwa’s current support and win a majority of voters over [age] 45.”

“At present, Cuomo would need both Adams and Sliwa to drop out in order to close the gap.”

Sliwa has been adamant that he is in the race for the long haul, repeatedly rejecting any potential gigs in the Trump administration, which have only been suggested unofficially in the press.

Adams, for his part, has been mulling a cushy landing spot in the federal government, with top White House officials, including special Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, trying to find him a prestigious job that would give him cover to drop out.

The survey also pitted Mamdani against Adams in a two-man race, with the Democratic socialist toppling the moderate Dem 55 to 35. The poll did not ask about a Sliwa vs Mamdani scenario. 

“Mamdani holds a huge lead among younger voters while voters 45 and older are split between Cuomo and Mamdani in the four-way race,” Levy said.

“A lot could change in this race, if Adams and/or Sliwa drop out, or Mamdani could continue to ride his support among young voters and voters concerned about economic issues all the way to Gracie Mansion.”