Andrew Cuomo Makes a Stunning Comeback as Zohran Mamdani’s Lead in the New York City Mayoral Race Shrinks Dramatically, According to New Poll
The race for New York City mayor has suddenly turned into one of the most unpredictable political battles of 2025. Former Governor Andrew Cuomo, once dismissed by many as a relic of the state’s old guard, is staging a remarkable comeback against Democratic Socialist frontrunner Zohran Mamdani. According to a new poll released this week, Cuomo has managed to cut Mamdani’s lead in half compared to where the race stood just a month ago — a stunning swing that’s breathing new life into a campaign many political analysts thought was all but over.
Mamdani, a progressive state assemblyman from Queens and a rising figure in left-wing circles, entered the race with a commanding double-digit lead, fueled by his grassroots energy and strong support among younger, urban voters. But Cuomo’s recent surge shows that a large segment of New Yorkers — particularly in outer boroughs and working-class neighborhoods — may be warming up to his pitch for experience, stability, and competence. The former governor has framed his campaign as a comeback story rooted in redemption and pragmatism, contrasting his decades in office with what he calls Mamdani’s “dangerously ideological experiment.”
Insiders close to Cuomo’s campaign say the former governor has been relentless in recent weeks, working around the clock to reintroduce himself to voters who may have distanced themselves during his scandal-plagued exit from Albany in 2021. His campaign events have drawn larger crowds, and his messaging has struck a populist chord — emphasizing public safety, cost-of-living issues, and a return to “sensible Democratic leadership” after years of what he describes as chaotic policymaking. “New Yorkers are exhausted,” Cuomo reportedly told supporters at a Bronx town hall. “They want results, not rhetoric. They want action, not ideology.”
The poll numbers appear to back that up. According to data reviewed by the New York Post, Cuomo’s favorability among moderate Democrats and independents has risen by nearly 12 points since September, while Mamdani’s numbers among older voters and suburban commuters have dropped sharply. Analysts attribute part of the shift to growing frustration over rising housing costs and continued concerns about crime in the city — issues Cuomo has been hammering in interviews and campaign ads.
Mamdani’s team, meanwhile, insists the race is still firmly in their control. His campaign manager said the progressive candidate is focused on “building a city for everyone, not the wealthy few,” and dismissed Cuomo’s surge as “a temporary polling blip from recycled machine politics.” But behind the scenes, there’s a sense of unease among progressive organizers who once saw Mamdani’s path as nearly unstoppable. A narrowing race just weeks before the final stretch of campaigning means the movement that helped elect figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez could face its first major test in the city’s political mainstream.
Cuomo’s resurgence also signals something bigger — a potential reshuffling within New York’s Democratic power structure. The former governor’s comeback bid is being closely watched by national Democrats, many of whom see parallels to other centrist pushbacks against far-left candidates across the country. Political strategists believe that if Cuomo manages to close the gap further — or even win outright — it could reignite his broader political relevance, positioning him as a key moderate voice in the post-Biden Democratic landscape.
For now, both campaigns are doubling down. Mamdani continues to draw huge crowds at community events in Brooklyn and Queens, focusing on housing reform and social equity. Cuomo, on the other hand, is leaning on a message of grit and renewal, telling voters that after decades in public service, he’s learned one thing — New Yorkers value toughness above all else. “This city has been through worse,” Cuomo said in a recent speech. “But it’s time we put adults back in charge.”
As Election Day inches closer, the mayoral race is no longer a progressive landslide but a political thriller — one where Andrew Cuomo’s comeback narrative and Zohran Mamdani’s grassroots revolution are colliding head-on for control of America’s biggest city.
