A stunning poll aimed at drumming up support for Mayor Eric Adams’ re-election bid still has the incumbent trailing ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo by double digits as the pair jockey to take on socialist Zohran Mamdani.
Mamdani, the 33-year-old Queens state assemblyman who shockingly trounced Cuomo in the Dem primary last month, leads the ex-gov and Adams by double-digits himself with 41% of the vote in a theoretical general election — while Cuomo garners 26%, and Hizzoner takes home 16%, the survey said.
Both Cuomo and Adams are still listed as running as independents in November.
“If both [Cuomo and Adams] are in the race anywhere near the election, Mamdani can go pick out drapes for Gracie Mansion,” said Stephen Graves of Gotham Polling & Analytics.
“It’s surprising.”
The poll surveyed a little more than 1,000 voters between June 30 and July 2 — just days after Adams formally kicked off his reelection bid on an independent line and the stunning Democratic primary win for Mamdani.
The primary upset has left moderate Dems and those in the business community scrambling to figure out which of the remaining moderate candidates they can line up behind to challenge the upstart socialist.
Adams and Cuomo have both been making their cases to prominent New Yorkers that they are the only one who can take down Mamdani.
On Thursday morning, Adams nabbed the support of billionaire Bill Ackman, who urged Cuomo to drop out.
A day earlier, Rev. Al Sharpton made a similar call telling Cuomo to throw in the towel.
But even with the new poll being heavily skewed when surveying voters to try to help boost Adams’ numbers and tarnish others, the mayor failed to garner much support, much to the chagrin of his campaign.
One of the questions read, “Some people believe Andrew Cuomo’s re-entry into politics shows strength and experience, while others believe it reflects old political habits and unresolved controversies. Which comes closest to your view?”
Another asked the potential voter if they were “concerned” about Mamdani for various reasons, such as his “too extreme” policies, support for defunding the police, lack of experience or his ‘focus on symbolic or foreign issues, not local problems.”
Graves pointed out that Mamdani largely benefits from the fractured moderate vote split among Adams and Cuomo, as well as GOP nominee Curtis Sliwa, who came in with just under 10% of support.
“If [Adams or Cuomo] drops out, [the other has] a chance, but based on this, Cuomo has the better chance,” Graves said, highlighting Adams’ high levels of hard-no voters.
According to the poll, 51% of voters said they would never vote for Adams, while Cuomo came in 12% lower at 39.
Around 46% of voters fell into the never-Mamdani category.
Adams and Cuomo head into the general with years of political baggage, with the mayor’s first term being dominated by federal raids of his top officials and a historic indictment.
The ex-governor resigned in 2021 in disgrace amid a series of sexual harassment allegations and fallout from the controversial COVID response.
Both have vigorously denied any wrongdoing, but the scandals have repeatedly shown in the polls to drag each of their numbers down.
Adams’ campaign spokesman, Todd Shapiro, slammed the survey.
“The Adams campaign will be bringing over one million new voters to the polls, many of whom will be voting for the first time,” Shapiro claimed.
“These are real New Yorkers — working families, first-time voters, and everyday residents from across the five boroughs — who are energized by the results they’ve seen under Mayor Adams.”
“Let’s be clear: Andrew Cuomo spent nearly $30 million in the primary and was soundly rejected by voters,” Shapiro said.
“If all that money and national attention translates to just a two-point lead in one early poll, that’s not a show of strength — it’s a ceiling.”
“Meanwhile, Mayor Adams is just beginning to campaign, and as more voters hear his message and see the facts, that gap will close and the momentum will shift decisively.”
“Mayor Adams is focused on what matters: lower crime, more jobs, and a stronger, safer New York City. And with over one million new voters backing that vision, Eric Adams will win — because New Yorkers believe in progress, not politics.”
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