Cuomo dominates NYC mayor polls despite campaign finance setbacks
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is currently leading the pack in the race to become the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor. According to a Marist College survey obtained by Politico, Cuomo holds a significant lead over second-place candidate Zohran Mamdani. In the first round of ranked-choice voting, Cuomo secured 44% of the vote compared to Mamdani’s 22%, maintaining his lead throughout all six rounds of voting. The survey shows Cuomo consistently ahead of Mamdani by 20-24% overall.
The Marist College poll identified only two other Democrats in the crowded primary who managed to garner double-digit percentages: City Council speaker Adrienne Adams and City Comptroller Brad Lander. However, both Adams and Lander were eventually knocked out of the race in the later rounds. The rest of the candidates failed to gain significant traction, with only two making it out of the first round and all five eliminated by the third round.
Despite his strong showing in the poll, Cuomo’s campaign has faced several setbacks. The former governor has been denied matching funds twice, with the New York City Campaign Finance Board citing documentation errors related to contributions as the reason. The Cuomo campaign attributed the denial to a “technical software error.”
In a recent development, the Cuomo campaign was docked over $622,000 in matching funds for allegedly coordinating with a super PAC, marking another financial setback for the campaign. Cuomo’s opponents have also criticized him over past controversies, including his 2021 resignation and handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Current New York City Mayor Eric Adams has called on Cuomo to address allegations surrounding COVID-related nursing home deaths, emphasizing the importance of transparency and accountability.
It is worth noting that Mayor Adams is running for re-election as an independent, not as a Democrat. Despite facing challenges in the race, Adams remains committed to seeing the campaign through to the end. The competition for the Democratic nomination for New York City mayor continues to intensify as Cuomo and other candidates vie for the opportunity to lead the city.
In conclusion, Andrew Cuomo’s bid for mayor of New York City has been marked by both successes and setbacks. As the race progresses, the former governor faces scrutiny over past controversies while maintaining a strong lead in the polls. The outcome of the Democratic primary remains uncertain, with candidates like Zohran Mamdani and others working to close the gap. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting mayoral race.
