By: Krug Stillo

A new citywide poll reveals that Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s brand of democratic socialism is no longer a fringe idea in New York politics — but it is deeply polarizing, with voters sharply divided over whether his sweeping agenda represents progress or peril. The findings underscore just how dramatically the city’s political center of gravity has shifted, even as lingering doubts grow about whether Mamdani’s promises can realistically be paid for.

As The New York Post first reported, 56% of New York City voters say they support Mamdani’s democratic socialist vision, while 39% oppose it, according to the latest 5 Borough Barometer poll conducted by the Honan Strategy Group. The numbers suggest a city increasingly receptive to expansive government programs — but far from unified about the direction Mamdani is taking City Hall.

Perhaps most striking, the poll found voters almost evenly split on whether Mamdani’s ideology is now mainstream. About 45% of respondents said his policies reflect the core of today’s Democratic Party in New York, while 47% said they fall far outside the mainstream, the New York Post reported. That razor-thin divide highlights a political moment in flux, where once-radical ideas are gaining traction but still face intense resistance.

“The results show further left migration of Democratic politics and policies in New York City,” said Bradley Honan, president and CEO of the Honan Strategy Group. “It’s a remarkable finding,” he added, according to the Post.

Mamdani’s agenda — which includes taxpayer-funded child care, free citywide bus service, and other high-cost initiatives — appears to be reshaping how voters view democratic socialism itself. Honan told the New York Post that Mamdani has proven to be an unusually effective pitchman. “He’s a great messenger,” Honan said. “He’s rebranding democratic socialism to make it more appealing to people.”

Still, enthusiasm for the mayor does not translate into blind faith. While 38% of voters believe the city’s Democratic Party is moving in the right direction, 42% say it is veering too far left. Another 10% say it isn’t moving left enough, reflecting pressure on Mamdani from both skeptics and hardline progressives, the Post reported.

Despite solid ideological support, Mamdani has yet to fully convince voters that his ambitious vision can be implemented without serious financial consequences. As The New York Post first reported, the mayor would need to raise an estimated $9 billion — largely through higher taxes on corporations and wealthy residents — to fulfill his campaign pledges.

That price tag has fueled anxiety about the city’s long-term fiscal health, especially as uncertainty looms over federal funding. In the poll, voters were asked whether New York City could absorb potential cuts from Washington while still paying for Mamdani’s agenda. The response was telling.

According to the New York Post, 44% of voters said the city is already stretched thin and cannot afford new spending if federal aid is reduced. Only 32% said city finances are strong enough to weather cuts while continuing to invest in Mamdani’s priorities.