There’s finally a small shift in the race for New York City mayor, and for people concerned about the city’s direction, it might be the first sign of a possible turnaround. A new Suffolk University poll released this week shows former Governor Andrew Cuomo closing the gap against progressive Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani. While Mamdani still holds the lead, it’s now down to just 10 points—44% to Cuomo’s 34%—a sharp drop from the 20-point margin reported earlier in the race.
This is also the first poll released since Mayor Eric Adams dropped out of the race. His support appears to have mostly shifted to Cuomo, who has positioned himself as the only viable candidate to stop Mamdani’s path to City Hall. Conservative candidate Curtis Sliwa is currently polling at 11%, and while Sliwa is not expected to win, some political watchers say his presence in the race could end up splitting the anti-Mamdani vote. David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center, said Sliwa’s voters could have an “outsized impact” on the final results.
Mamdani’s support seems to have plateaued just under the 50% mark, which is not typical for a front-runner in a New York City mayoral race. Most winning candidates in recent elections have crossed well over the majority threshold. The fact that Mamdani remains stuck at 44% in the final stretch raises questions about whether undecided voters are starting to pull away from his campaign.
Zohran Mamdani gets humiliated by both Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa when Mamdani refuses to answer whether he supports the three ballot amendment questions on housing.
Mamdani just stood there shiny, sweating, and stupid.
He’s a scam artist and wasn’t prepared.
(abc7ny on TT) pic.twitter.com/SIWZxX9RWc
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) October 23, 2025
Some of the scrutiny comes from Mamdani’s recent messaging, which has taken a more aggressive and divisive tone. His latest campaign rhetoric focuses on claims of Islamophobia in New York City. He has suggested that failure to support his candidacy is rooted in religious discrimination, a move that some observers believe is alienating moderate voters who want to hear more about policies and less about identity politics.
This line of messaging has especially drawn attention, given the city’s history and the trauma still associated with 9/11. Mamdani referenced a personal story involving a relative who was allegedly mistreated on the subway years ago, using it to reinforce his view of New York as a city struggling with deep-rooted bias. While he has every right to share his experience, critics say the timing and framing of the story so close to Election Day feels more like pressure than persuasion.
Andrew Cuomo recently said, “God forbid another 9/11, can you imagine Mamdani in the seat?”
Zohran Mamdani responded, not by sympathizing with the many hypothetical victims, but by playing the victim and making everything about Muslims.
Mamdani hates NYC.
(pix11ny on TT) pic.twitter.com/m5eQ6Be5aN
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) October 24, 2025
In addition to his religious appeals, Mamdani has faced renewed criticism over past comments from 2023, where he linked the actions of the NYPD to Israeli military training and blamed “Zionist” influence for what he views as capitalist oppression in New York. In a speech captured on video, he said, “When the boot of the NYPD is on your neck, it’s been laced by the IDF.” The statement has sparked outrage among New Yorkers who see it as inflammatory and divisive, especially in a city with a large Jewish population and deep international ties.
Despite criticism, Mamdani continues to campaign on a message centered around “affordability,” though many voters remain unclear about how he plans to achieve it. While slogans like “affordability for all” play well on social media, details about how rents, housing costs, and public services will actually be managed remain vague. Critics have described his platform as being heavy on buzzwords and light on practical solutions.
Meanwhile, Cuomo is quietly rebuilding his image after resigning from the governorship in 2021. While some voters still have reservations, he appears to be benefiting from concerns about Mamdani’s far-left positions. Cuomo’s campaign has focused on experience, law and order, and restoring basic city functions that many residents feel have declined in recent years.
As much as I HATE to give a compliment to Cuomo, his Mamdani AI video may be the greatest political ad ever released. pic.twitter.com/6yS8xmS7VU
— Glenn Beck (@glennbeck) October 24, 2025
With just days left before voters head to the polls, the race is tighter than expected. Mamdani may still be in the lead, but the momentum is shifting. Whether it’s enough for Cuomo to catch up remains to be seen. But one thing is clear—voters are paying closer attention, and turnout could make all the difference.
