Zohran Mamdani’s Popularity Is Surging in New York

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani‘s popularity in the metropolis has surged since his election last month, according to a new poll.

Newsweek reached out to Mamdani’s team for comment via email.

Why It Matters

Mamdani’s win over former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent, and Republican Curtis Sliwa last month was a major victory for the political left. Mamdani is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).

His tenure as mayor will be closely watched as a measure of how popular more socialist policies may be among the electorate as the Democratic Party remains divided about whether to embrace a more progressive or centrist path forward after 2024 electoral losses.

What To Know

Mamdani has been popular with more progressive Democrats but did not perform as strongly among more moderate members of his party in the election last month.

Many of those voters opted to support Cuomo, who lost to Mamdani in the primary and cast himself as a centrist alternative in the general election.

Whether or not Mamdani can win support from those voters who opposed him could be a test for him when he takes office in January.

A new poll released on Tuesday suggested he is making inroads with more voters following his election.

The Siena College poll found that Mamdani’s favorability rating across the state has improved from November. His favorability rating sat at +15. Forty-six percent viewed him favorably, while 31 percent viewed him unfavorably. That compares to a neutral favorability in November, when 40 percent viewed him favorably and unfavorably.

In New York City, his favorability is even stronger, according to the poll. Sixty-one percent of respondents viewed him favorably, while 23 percent viewed him unfavorably. In November, 55 percent viewed him favorably and 31 percent viewed him unfavorably.

Siena pollster Steven Greenberg wrote in the report that Mamdani is in a “honeymoon” period with voters.

“Two-thirds of Democrats across the state view him favorably. Independent voters are now leaning favorably by six points, while they were six points on the unfavorable side in November. And while he’s viewed favorably in New York City, 61 percent to 23 percent, voters outside the City, who were decidedly negative toward him last month, are now close to breakeven,” he wrote.

The poll also found support for some of Mamdani’s proposals—65 percent of New York State voters support offering universal, free child care for families with young children, and 50 percent of city voters support eliminating fares on New York City buses.

The poll surveyed 801 New York registered voters from December 8-12, 2025 and had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points.

Joseph Viteritti, the Thomas Hunter professor of public policy at Hunter College, told Newsweek that Mamdani is “now an established winner” and has “gained credibility by proceeding cautiously and recruiting experienced administrators while not abandoning his basic principles.

“His affordability agenda has resonated both locally and nationally,” Viteritti said. “His ability to advance it is the big test ahead. If he succeeds, he is obviously a winner.”

However, if Mamdani does not advance his agenda as mayor, the question will be “whether that failure reflects more poorly on him or those who opposed him,” Viteritti added.

What People Are Saying

Siena pollster Steven Greenberg wrote in the polling memo: “Two-thirds of City voters and a small plurality of voters outside the Big Apple say Mamdani’s election will be good for New York City. Two-thirds of Democrats say his election is good and two-thirds of Republicans say it is bad. Independent voters, some 43 percent to 30 percent, up from 38 percent to 40 percent last month, now say it will be good.”

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani told CBS New York on Sunday: “I think this will be a questionable job. There’s no question about it. John Lindsay once said it’s the second most difficult job in the United States. But I also think there have been many who have failed to even try to deliver for working class New Yorkers. They have left that discussion at the door. When in fact, what we need to do is make City Hall a place that is fighting for working people.”

President Donald Trump said after meeting Mamdani in November: “We had discussions on some things. I’m not going to discuss what they were, but I feel very confident that he can do a very good job. I think he’s going to surprise some conservative people, actually.”

What Happens Next

Mamdani’s inauguration is set for January 1, 2026.

Update, 12/16/25, 12:25 p.m. ET: This article was updated with expert comment from Joseph Viteritti, the Thomas Hunter professor of public policy at Hunter College.