A newly released survey by Emerson College Polling, simulating the ranked-choice voting system in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary, indicates that Zohran Mamdani is ahead of Andrew Cuomo 52% to 48%, according to The Guardian. The ranked choice system involves voters ranking their top 5 candidates in order.
Mamdani is a 33-year-old assemblyman with more progressive views, while Cuomo is a 67-year-old former governor and part of a politically powerful family in New York. Cuomo had been leading in most polls until now, but Mamdani has been gaining indicating a tight race between the two may be ahead in today’s voting. This competition between a centrist and a progressive could potentially indicate the direction of the Democratic Party
New York Post reports that the poll reveals demographic differences amongst the voters for the two candidates. Black and Hispanic voters both favor Cuomo, while White and Asian voters both prefer Mamdani, who is of Indian descent. The Times of India further notes that Mamdani leads for college-educated individuals and those under 50 years of age.
Mamdani is in the lead for early voters by nearly 10 points, but Cuomo remains ahead for those voting on June 24.
In response to the poll, Republican leader Vivek Ramaswamy addresses New Yorkers in a tweet, “There’s a better way: move to Ohio. True cross-section of America, with 4 full seasons, and an industrial boom ahead. Zero capital gains tax starting in 2027 & headed to zero income tax from there. Top state to raise a young family & give our kids a world-class education – soon.”
According to the New York Post, Cuomo’s campaign has dismissed this poll, with spokesperson Rich Azzopardi stating, “This is an outlier: Every other credible poll in this election — including two released last week — has shown Governor Cuomo with a double digit lead, which is exactly where this election will end tomorrow.”
Azzopardi added, “Between now and then we will continue to fight for every vote like he will fight for every New Yorker as Mayor.”
Rank choice voting works this way. If a candidate gets 50% or more of the votes, they win. If there is no winner, then the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. The votes of eliminated candidate then go to the voter’s next choice until there is a winner.
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