Cuomo’s Lead Narrows in Tight NYC Mayoral Primary as Mamdani Surges

The race for New York City’s next mayor is heating up as the June 24, 2025, Democratic primary looms, and former Governor Andrew Cuomo finds his once-comfortable lead slipping. A recent Marist poll shows Cuomo holding 38% of likely Democratic voters, but the gap is narrowing as Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old Queens assemblyman and democratic socialist, surges to 27% with a groundswell of progressive support. The ranked-choice voting system adds an extra layer of intrigue to this 11-candidate showdown.

Cuomo, who resigned in 2021 amid scandals, is banking on his experience steering New York through crises like COVID-19 to reclaim his political footing. His campaign has gone on the offensive, with ads questioning Mamdani’s readiness to lead a city of 8 million, pointing out the young legislator’s thin record of just three passed bills. Meanwhile, Mamdani’s momentum, bolstered by endorsements from heavyweights like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders, signals a hunger for fresh, progressive leadership among New York’s Democratic base.

The primary’s outcome could set the tone for the November general election, where incumbent Eric Adams, now running as an independent after abandoning his Democratic bid, faces an uphill battle with dismal approval ratings. Adding to the drama, Brad Lander, the city’s comptroller, lags in third place and made headlines with a recent arrest during an immigration court incident, further shaking up the race.

National politics also loom large, with candidates, including Cuomo, slamming Donald Trump’s recent deployment of National Guard and Marines in Los Angeles to curb unrest over ICE arrests. They’re framing New York as a bulwark against potential federal overreach, tapping into local anxieties about immigration crackdowns. With over 130,000 early votes already cast, this primary is poised to be a defining moment for the city’s future.