Andrew Cuomo has resurfanced as a strong contender for New York City’s mayoral race, just three years after stepping down as governor amid a swirl of harassment allegations. A recent poll by The New York Times and Siena College now places Cuomo as the preferred candidate among Democratic voters, with 22% backing him in a hypothetical primary – positioning him just ahead of State Attorney General Letitia James, who garnered 19%, and current Mayor Eric Adams, who, despite facing his own legal battles, attracted 12% of likely voters.
While nearly 28% of the 853 registered voters surveyed remain undecided or withheld their opinions, Cuomo’s resurgence signals a potential comeback in the making. Despite a U.S. Department of Justice report earlier this year concluding that Cuomo harassed at least 13 female state employees, he has adamantly contested the findings, pushing back on the claims and seemingly attempting to regain his political footing.
Meanwhile, Adams, who is facing his own uphill battle, found unexpected support among Republicans, particularly those who had previously backed Trump in the 2020 election. Roughly 29% of Trump supporters favor Adams, compared to just 10% for President Biden. Nonetheless, Adams’s overall approval has taken a hit following his recent indictment on federal bribery and conspiracy charges, with 53% of voters suggesting he should step down, and only 40% indicating they’d prefer him to finish his term through 2025. Approval for his work as mayor sits at a low 26%.
The poll also reveals an intriguing trend for the upcoming presidential race. Former President Trump has made gains in his hometown as he campaigns against Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee. Although Harris leads Trump among likely voters with a 66%-27% margin, it is around ten points behind Biden’s performance in New York City during the 2020 election. If this trajectory holds, it could mark the most challenging election for a Democratic presidential candidate in New York City since 1988, hinting at a gradual shift in the traditionally steadfast Democratic base.
