As the New York City mayoral race barrels toward its November 2025 climax, few contests in recent memory have generated as much controversy, division, and raw political theater. A fresh batch of polling data, heated public statements, and deepening community divides have turned what might have been a predictable election into a high-stakes referendum on the city’s—and perhaps the nation’s—political future.
According to a Siena College poll released on August 15, 2025, Republican Curtis Sliwa leads among New York City’s conservatives with 40% support. That’s not exactly a shocker, given Sliwa’s long-standing reputation as a tough-on-crime, no-nonsense candidate. But the real surprise? Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani, a relative newcomer, is in second place among conservatives, capturing 23%—well ahead of former Governor Andrew Cuomo (18%) and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams (9%). These numbers, reported by The New York Times, suggest that the city’s political lines are shifting in ways few could have predicted just a few years ago.
But the story gets even more complicated. Among the city’s Jewish voters, Mamdani’s support craters. A separate Siena College poll found that a mere 20% of Jewish New Yorkers intend to back Mamdani in November, while a staggering 75% view him unfavorably. That makes him the least popular political figure among Jewish New Yorkers in the poll, with an unfavorability rating 38 points higher than his standing with the state’s general population. For comparison, 44% of Jewish voters plan to support Cuomo, 23% are with Sliwa, and Adams is left with just 4% of this demographic. The Post Millennial highlighted how these numbers sharply contradict earlier media narratives suggesting widespread Jewish support for Mamdani.
So, what’s fueling this deep disapproval? Much of it traces back to Mamdani’s outspoken positions on Israel and Palestine. Throughout his campaign, Mamdani has accused Israel of “apartheid,” called for a U.S. arms embargo against the country, labeled its Gaza operations a “genocide,” and notably refused to affirm Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state. He’s also been a vocal supporter of the pro-Palestinian boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement. Jewish leaders across the city have condemned his rhetoric, warning that it feeds into the surge of antisemitism both globally and in the United States. Critics argue that Mamdani’s positions erase Israel’s right to self-defense and alienate Jewish New Yorkers who are already on edge about rising hostility toward their community.
The controversy reached a fever pitch when Mamdani defended the slogan “globalize the intifada”—a phrase rooted in past waves of Palestinian terrorism—by comparing it to the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising during the Holocaust. The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum swiftly condemned his remarks as “outrageous and especially offensive to survivors.” Such statements have only intensified the existing rift between Mamdani and large swathes of the city’s Jewish population, making reconciliation seem unlikely as the election nears.
Despite these headwinds, Mamdani’s campaign has been nothing short of meteoric. Virtually unknown before this year’s race, the 33-year-old surged to victory in the Democratic mayoral primary on June 24, 2025, winning 43.5% of first-choice votes to Cuomo’s 36.4% in the city’s ranked-choice system. His platform, built around radical leftist causes and a brand of democratic socialism, has energized a new generation of voters—especially among Gen Z, who have become a key target for his campaign. Mamdani’s supporters argue that his policies offer a much-needed break from the status quo and reflect the values of a city that has always prided itself on progressive ideals.
But not everyone is convinced. In an opinion piece for Fox News published on August 15, contributor Nicole Parker warned that Mamdani’s “radical agenda” could fundamentally alter the character of New York City. Parker, herself a member of Generation Z, argued that “you don’t wake up in a socialist America overnight. It happens slowly—vote by vote, race by race—until one day, the people chanting ‘liberation’ realize they’ve built their own cage.” She went on to invoke President Ronald Reagan’s famous warning that “freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction,” suggesting that the upcoming election could be pivotal in determining whether socialism truly takes root in America’s largest city.
Parker’s concerns aren’t just theoretical. Business owners, according to Fox News, have raised alarms that Mamdani’s platform could drive companies out of the city, jeopardizing New York’s economic future. The fear is that policies like expanded rent controls, higher corporate taxes, and support for sanctuary city measures could make it harder for businesses to thrive. “If socialism can win in New York, that beacon risks becoming a cautionary tale—a dimmed light signaling to the world that freedom in America was just a temporary experiment,” Parker wrote, echoing a sentiment that resonates with many conservative and centrist New Yorkers.
Meanwhile, the race has taken on a national dimension as well. According to The New York Times, former President Donald Trump has had multiple phone calls with Cuomo and is considering “getting involved” in the mayoral race. Cuomo, who remains in the race despite losing the Democratic primary to Mamdani, appears interested in Trump’s support. Sliwa, on the other hand, has publicly rejected the idea, telling Fox 5’s Morgan McKay on “Politics Unusual” that “in this situation, it doesn’t help if he intervenes in New York City.” Sliwa’s logic? Trump’s involvement could actually embolden Mamdani’s campaign by rallying progressive voters against an outside conservative influence.
It’s a delicate balancing act for all involved. For Cuomo, his decision to stay in the race after being defeated in the primary is seen by many as desperate—if not outright delusional. Yet, with 44% of Jewish voters still backing him, he’s clearly not without a base. For Sliwa, the challenge is to consolidate conservative support without alienating moderates or inadvertently boosting Mamdani’s appeal among left-leaning voters. And for Mamdani, the road ahead is fraught: while he’s managed to build a broad coalition among younger and more progressive voters, his divisive stances have made him a lightning rod for criticism from both the right and segments of the left.
Polls of likely voters have produced mixed results. One outlier showed Mamdani with over 50% support citywide, though most surveys suggest a more modest lead. The discrepancy highlights just how volatile and unpredictable this race has become. Media coverage has only added to the confusion, with some outlets accused of overstating Mamdani’s support among groups like Jewish voters—often based on small or unrepresentative samples. As The Post Millennial pointed out, earlier polls cited by The New York Times interviewed only five Jewish respondents, yet still claimed broad support for Mamdani within the community.
With less than three months to go, New Yorkers face a stark choice: embrace a bold, untested vision for the city’s future, stick with familiar faces despite their flaws, or try to chart a middle course in a time of deepening polarization. One thing’s for sure—the outcome of this election will reverberate far beyond the five boroughs, offering a glimpse into the soul of America’s most iconic city at a moment of profound change.
