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By: Benyamin Davidsons
A new poll, asking New York City Democrats who they’d pick for mayor in 2025, revealed an overwhelming favorite. As reported by the NY Post, former NYS Gov. Andrew Cuomo would be the strong leader to win a ranked-choice Democratic primary election for mayor. Cuomo, who resigned in disgrace as governor and who has not yet officially entered the race for mayor, dominated the crowded group of well-known Democrats running for mayor, according to the poll, conducted by Democratic activist group Progressive Democrats of America. The poll also showed that incumbent Mayor Eric Adams trailed the pack, in a rank-choice primary.
Per the Post, the poll showed that about 32% of Democrats polled chose Cuomo as their favorite candidate. Former city Comptroller Scott Stringer was ranked next, but trailed far behind with 10% of the voters choosing him, followed by city Comptroller Brad Lander with 8% and Queens state Sen. Jessica Ramos being named the favorite for 7% of respondents. Mayor Adams was the top choice for only 6% of those polled, tying him with Assemblymember Zohran Mandani.
The same poll showed that in a projected ranked-choice scenario, 39% chose Cuomo as their first-round pick, with Stringer getting 12%, Lander 10%, Ramos 9% and Adams getting 8%. In such an event, Cuomo would win on the fifth round with 51% of the Democratic vote, to 16% for Stringer, and 14% apiece for Ramos and Lander, per the poll. Adams, with only 8 percent of the vote, would be eliminated, followed by Mandani with 7%, the poll showed. Brooklyn state Sen. Zellnor Myrie and former Bronx state Assemblyman Michael Blake would each get just 2 percent, per the poll, which was conducted between Dec. 16 and Dec. 22.
The survey showed the 71% of respondents had a negative view of Adams, who is currently battling a federal corruption case, with just 22% expressing a positive view. By contrast, some 48% of Democratic respondents viewed Cuomo favorably, while 44% said they had a negative view of the governor.
For some odd reason, the poll also included former Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., an Adams ally who is not running, showing he got 10% in a ranked-choice vote.
On Monday, during a press briefing, Adams brushed off the survey. He noted that before his 2021 mayoral victory, businessman Andrew Yang had a significant double-digit lead over him in a poll for mayor. “They were calling him mayor. They were measuring the drapes,” Adams said. “Polls don’t make mayors. People do. I don’t focus on polls.”
Hizzoner added that he didn’t start life on “third base” — perhaps taking a subtle shot at Cuomo, the son of former Gov. Mario Cuomo. “No one handed me an empire,” Adams said Monday. Pointing to his legal and political challenges, Adams said “it’s so amazing I’m still in it. I’m still here.”
Some political experts also questioned the poll and whether it represented NYC’s broad Democratic voter base. “This is a poll from a far left group that clearly over-samples liberal voters and also includes two candidates who take directly from the mayor’s base — Cuomo and Diaz — who will not run against Eric — so it’s nonsense,” said a source close to the Adams’ campaign.
