New York City's Upcoming Race for Mayor Has a New Frontrunner

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has emerged as the frontrunner in New York City’s upcoming Democratic mayoral primary, commanding a nearly three-to-one lead over current Mayor Eric Adams according to a new Quinnipiac University poll.

Key Facts:

Cuomo leads with 31% support among registered NYC Democrats, while Adams trails at just 11%
Adams’ approval rating has plummeted to 20%, the lowest recorded for any NYC mayor in Quinnipiac’s nearly 30 years of polling
Adams faces federal corruption charges, which the Trump administration has requested be dropped
City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams officially announced her candidacy following the poll’s release
The Democratic primary is scheduled for June 24, with the winner typically favored to win the November general election

The Rest of The Story:

The poll, conducted between February 27 and March 3, surveyed 1,260 registered voters with a margin of error of ±2.8 percentage points.

Queens Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani placed third with 8% support, while several other candidates including Public Advocate Jumaane Williams (7%), former Comptroller Scott Stringer (6%), and current Comptroller Brad Lander (5%) rounded out the field.

Cuomo, who resigned from the governorship in 2021 amid sexual harassment allegations, officially entered the race on March 1 after months of speculation.

This Quinnipiac poll confirms previous surveys showing him as the preferred candidate among potential voters despite his controversial exit from state office.

Watch back in 2018 – Andrew Cuomo boasts about passing his crazy ‘No bail/No jail’ law that ended up causing the massive crime wave in NYC:

pic.twitter.com/1VqCF3vYuu

— MARK SIMONE (@MarkSimoneNY) March 4, 2025

Commentary:

The results of this poll show just how dramatically the political landscape in New York City has shifted.

Eric Adams’ administration has been mired in controversy, with his approval ratings in free fall following his federal indictment.

The mayor now finds himself in a precarious position, caught between federal investigations and accusations of making deals with the Trump administration on immigration enforcement.

Adams’ cooperation with federal deportation efforts has alienated him from his progressive base in a city that has traditionally positioned itself as a sanctuary for immigrants.

This has created an opening that Andrew Cuomo seems poised to exploit.

It’s hardly surprising that New Yorkers might turn back to Cuomo despite his ignoble exit from office.

Many voters apparently have short memories when it comes to the nursing home scandal during COVID-19, when his policies led to thousands of preventable deaths among elderly residents.

The fact that a disgraced former governor who faced multiple allegations of sexual harassment now leads the field speaks volumes about the state of city politics.

I'm utterly depressed by this early poll. Is *this* the best NYC can do?https://t.co/Eb3XYTHGS9 pic.twitter.com/JekPBWwpN2

— Rabbi Josh Yuter (@JYuter) March 2, 2025

New Yorkers deserve better options than choosing between an indicted mayor and a governor who resigned in disgrace, but this appears to be where the city finds itself.

New York City voters seem prepared to swing from one problematic leader to another, continuing a cycle of governance that has left many of the city’s fundamental problems unsolved.

The Bottom Line:

New York City’s Democratic primary has become a referendum on Mayor Adams’ troubled administration, with voters currently favoring former Governor Cuomo by a substantial margin.

The race remains fluid with several candidates vying for position and nearly three months until primary day.

As City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams enters the race, the field could see further shifts before voters head to the polls in June.