In a city famous for its political drama and high-stakes elections, New York City’s 2025 mayoral race is shaping up to be one for the history books. Just days before voters head to the polls, new data and shifting alliances have injected fresh uncertainty and intrigue into a contest that has already seen more than its share of twists and turns.
On October 23, 2025, Mayor Eric Adams made headlines by formally endorsing former Governor Andrew Cuomo as his preferred successor, following Adams’ own suspension of his re-election campaign last month. The endorsement, delivered with characteristic bravado at Madison Square Garden alongside Cuomo after the final mayoral debate, threw a spotlight on the deepening divisions within New York’s political establishment. According to WNYW, Adams declared, “I'm fighting for the family of New York. That's why I'm here today, to endorse Andrew Cuomo, to be part of this fight, and I'm going to give him my all these next few days to make sure that Black and Brown communities, specifically, who have believed there's nothing at stake in this election for them. It is.”
The timing of Adams’ endorsement was anything but accidental. The night before, Cuomo, running as an Independent, had squared off against Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani and Republican Curtis Sliwa in the last televised debate of the season. Rather than linger with reporters, Cuomo bolted to join Adams courtside at the Knicks game, a move that underscored the new alliance between two of the city’s most prominent—and controversial—political figures.
Mamdani, who has consistently led in polls since winning a surprise victory in the Democratic primary in June, wasted no time in blasting the Adams-Cuomo partnership. In a statement reported by Fox News Digital, Mamdani charged, “Today confirms what we’ve long known: Andrew Cuomo is running for Eric Adams’ second term. It’s no surprise to see two men who share an affinity for corruption and Trump capitulation align themselves at the behest of the billionaire class and the president himself. We are going to turn the page on the politics of big money and small ideas that these two disgraced executives embody and build a city every New Yorker can afford.”
The numbers, at least for now, appear to be on Mamdani’s side. According to a Fox News survey conducted October 10–14, 2025, Mamdani holds a commanding 21-point lead among registered voters, with 49% backing him, compared to 28% for Cuomo and just 13% for Sliwa. Among likely voters, Mamdani’s support climbs to 52%, with Cuomo at 28% and Sliwa trailing at 14%.
But the story doesn’t end there. A separate poll by Patriot Polling, conducted October 18 and 19 and cited by the Daily Caller News Foundation, reveals a more nuanced picture. Among foreign-born New Yorkers—a critical voting bloc in the nation’s most diverse city—Mamdani commands a stunning 62% support, with Cuomo at 24% and Sliwa at 12%. Yet among American-born voters, the tables turn: Cuomo leads with 40%, Mamdani follows at 31%, and Sliwa holds 25%. Overall, the poll puts Mamdani at 43%, Cuomo at 32%, and Sliwa at 19%.
The same survey highlights the demographic divides shaping the race. Mamdani, a self-identified socialist, performs especially well among women (49% support, compared to 36% among men) and among voters from “Other” religious backgrounds—including Muslims, Hindus, and atheists. However, he “suffers a serious deficit” with Catholic and Jewish voters, according to Patriot Polling, despite his overall lead.
Policy differences between the candidates couldn’t be starker. Mamdani has pledged to raise the minimum wage to $30, launch government-run grocery stores, and impose new taxes on what he calls “richer and whiter” neighborhoods. These proposals have drawn sharp criticism from both Republicans and moderate Democrats, with some business owners reportedly considering leaving the city should Mamdani win. The Republican contender, Curtis Sliwa, meanwhile, continues to trail in both fundraising and polling, prompting calls from wealthy donors and political operatives for him to exit the race and clear a path for Cuomo.
Cuomo’s campaign, reinvigorated by Adams’ endorsement, has tried to position itself as the last line of defense against what supporters describe as Mamdani’s “radical” agenda. Adams, for his part, made no secret of his motivations, telling supporters, “Am I angry that I'm not the one taking down Zohran, the socialist and the communist? You're darn right I am. But, you know what, the city means more to me than anything, and it is time for us as a family to come together.”
Behind the scenes, the pressure has been mounting for candidates to consolidate support. As reported by Fox News Digital, billionaires like John Catsimatidis and Bill Ackman have reportedly intensified efforts to persuade Sliwa to drop out and boost Cuomo’s odds. Meanwhile, Governor Kathy Hochul, who once considered removing Adams from office amid a wave of City Hall resignations, has thrown her support behind Mamdani. Despite Hochul’s endorsement, Mamdani has yet to reciprocate with support for the governor’s own re-election campaign—a sign of the lingering tensions within the Democratic Party.
It’s not just policy or party lines that have shaped this race. Mamdani’s history of anti-police statements and his initial reluctance to denounce the controversial phrase “globalize the intifada” (widely seen as a call to antisemitic violence) have made him a lightning rod for criticism. Though he has since retracted those positions, the issue remains a sore spot, especially among religious and law enforcement communities.
Cuomo, no stranger to controversy himself, has been dogged by his own legacy. Adams’ endorsement came just months after the Justice Department dropped bribery, wire fraud, and conspiracy charges against the mayor—a fact not lost on Mamdani, who has repeatedly accused both men of representing the “politics of big money and small ideas.”
As the campaign enters its final days, the candidates are sharpening their appeals to distinct constituencies. Mamdani, ever the insurgent, continues to ride a wave of grassroots enthusiasm that propelled him to victory in the Democratic primary. Cuomo, buoyed by establishment support and a late-breaking alliance with Adams, is betting that moderate and American-born voters will rally to his side. Sliwa, despite being squeezed by calls to exit, remains in the race, hoping for a late surge.
With less than two weeks remaining, the outcome remains uncertain. Polling data, while favorable to Mamdani, shows enough volatility—especially across demographic lines—to keep all three campaigns on edge. And in a city where politics is always personal and alliances can shift overnight, no one is taking anything for granted.
The coming days will test not only the candidates’ political skills but also the city’s appetite for change. New Yorkers, never shy about voicing their opinions, will soon have their say on what kind of future they want—and who they trust to lead them there.
