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Newsweek
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Zohran Mamdani's Chances of Beating Andrew Cuomo in New York Primary: Polls
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. As the 2025 New York City Democratic mayoral primary approaches, recent polling has shown Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani trailing behind former Governor Andrew Cuomo, but the latest poll suggests Mamdani may be catching up with his opponent. Newsweek has contacted representatives of Cuomo and Mamdani for comment via email. Why It Matters A primary win for Cuomo would mark a dramatic political comeback, just four years after he resigned as New York governor in 2021 amid the threat of impeachment over sexual misconduct allegations, which he has consistently denied. No charges relating to the allegations have ever been brought against him. What To Know With just weeks to go until New York City's Democratic primary on June 24, a new Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill survey shows Mamdani gaining ground against Cuomo, though the former governor still maintains a commanding lead. The poll, conducted from May 23 to 26 among 1,000 registered voters, found that 35 percent backed Cuomo on the first round of the ranked-choice ballot, while Mamdani was favored by 23 percent. Left, Zohran Mamdani speaks to a crowd in Union Square in New York on April 25, 2025. Right, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo marches in the Israel Day Parade in New York on May... Left, Zohran Mamdani speaks to a crowd in Union Square in New York on April 25, 2025. Right, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo marches in the Israel Day Parade in New York on May 18, 2025. More Yuki Iwamura/AP Despite the gap, Mamdani's recent surge—gaining 23 points and attracting second-choice votes nearly two-to-one—has narrowed Cuomo's ranked-choice lead from 12 to 9 points. After ten rounds of vote simulation, Cuomo would reach the 50 percent threshold with 54 percent, while Mamdani would end with 46 percent. Cuomo's support is strongest among Black voters (74 percent), voters over 50 (66 percent), and women (with a 58 percent to 42 percent edge over Mamdani). In contrast, Mamdani has built a solid base among voters under 50, leading with 61 percent, as well as among white voters (57 percent to 43 percent) and college-educated voters (58 percent to 42 percent). This split reflects the stark generational and ideological divides shaping the primary. Looking ahead to the November general election, Cuomo maintains a lead in a hypothetical matchup, garnering 44 percent of support. Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa attracts 13 percent, while current Mayor Eric Adams, running as an independent, secures 10 percent, and independent candidate Jim Walden holds 7 percent. Meanwhile, 26 percent of voters remain undecided. If Mamdani were the Democratic nominee, his general election prospects appear weaker, with 35 percent support compared to 16 percent for Sliwa, 15 percent for Adams, and 6 percent for Walden. Other polls have found Cuomo in a strong position. A SurveyUSA poll conducted in mid-May 2025 showed that he was the top choice among likely Democratic voters for the upcoming June primary, with 43 percent support. He held a solid lead over his closest competitor, Mamdani, who had 11 percent. Cuomo's advantage extended across all major demographics and regions, with particularly strong support from moderate Democrats. His lead suggested he could secure the nomination outright in the first round of ranked-choice voting. Meanwhile, Mamdani's backing was concentrated among progressives, but many voters remained unfamiliar with him. According to a Marist Poll conducted between May 1 and 8 among 3,383 likely Democratic primary voters, Cuomo was the first choice of 37 percent of respondents, including those who were undecided but leaning toward a candidate. Mamdani trailed significantly with 18 percent, followed by Adams with 9 percent, Lander with 8 percent, Stringer with 4 percent, and State Senator Zellnor Myrie with 3 percent. The poll showed that Cuomo held a broad and geographically strong lead. He performed best in the Bronx (50 percent), and posted strong showings in Queens and Staten Island (48 percent each). He also led in Manhattan and was tied with Mamdani in Brooklyn. His support was especially strong among older voters and communities of color. Nearly half of voters over 45 backed him, along with 50 percent of Black voters and 41 percent of Latinos. Mamdani, by contrast, led among younger voters and very liberal Democrats. A separate Data for Progress poll conducted in March showed similar results: Cuomo led with 39 percent, Mamdani with 15 percent, Lander with 8 percent, and Eric Adams with 7 percent. Across every poll, Cuomo has had a strong lead among women. In the final round of the Emerson poll, Cuomo led among men by just 2 points but held a commanding 16-point lead among women. The Marist poll similarly showed Cuomo with a 13-point edge among men and a 23-point advantage with women. SurveyUSA's results echoed this trend, with Cuomo ahead by 30 points among men and an even larger 35-point lead among women. These consistent gender gaps suggest that female voters could play a decisive role in determining the outcome of the primary. Last week, Cuomo accused The New York Times of election interference after the Department of Justice launched a criminal investigation into whether he lied to Congress about his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Republicans initially referred Cuomo to the DOJ for prosecution in October, when Democrats were in power. The department did not act on the referral at the time. But according to the Times, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington, D.C., initiated the inquiry about a month ago after Republicans renewed their request. Current Mayor Adams has exited the Democratic primary and is now seeking reelection through independent ballot lines. On the Republican side, Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa is the party's nominee, while attorney Jim Walden is mounting his own independent campaign. What People Are Saying Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi told Newsweek: "He's working hard to earn every vote and we've been humbled by the breadth of support from every corner of this great city." Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, said: "Cuomo has led in the polls since early 2025, but Mamdani has surged, gaining 23 points and winning second-choice votes nearly 2-to-1, cutting Cuomo's ranked-choice lead from 12 points to 9 points. With four weeks to go, the question is whether Cuomo can run out the clock, or if he needs to win over second-choice voters to hold off Mamdani's momentum. "Cuomo's strongest support comes from Black voters (74 percent), voters over 50 (66 percent), and women (58 percent to 42 percent). Mamdani leads among voters under 50 with 61 percent, and holds an edge among white voters (57 percent to 43 percent) and college-educated voters (58 percent to 42 percent)." Marist pollster Lee Miringoff said: "Right now Cuomo is on a path to success. Someone is going to have to bring him down." What Happens Next Voting in the primary is set to begin on June 14.
Newsweek
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Andrew Cuomo Accuses DOJ of 'Election Interference' Amid Reported Inquiry
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. New York City mayoral candidate and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo hit back at the Trump administration after The New York Times reported that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched a criminal investigation into whether Cuomo lied to Congress. Newsweek reached out to the DOJ for comment via email on Tuesday. The Context Cuomo announced earlier this month that he will run for mayor of New York City as a Democrat and an independent. He's widely viewed as New York City Mayor Eric Adams' strongest rival in the race. Adams was facing criminal charges of his own until earlier this year, when President Donald Trump's DOJ dropped federal bribery and campaign finance charges against Adams, freeing up the mayor to assist Trump with his immigration agenda. New York City mayoral candidate and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo marches in the Israel Day Parade on Sunday in New York. New York City mayoral candidate and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo marches in the Israel Day Parade on Sunday in New York. Yuki Iwamura/AP What To Know Cuomo's spokesperson lambasted Trump and top DOJ officials in a statement to the Times, saying: "We have never been informed of any such matter, so why would someone leak it now? The answer is obvious: This is lawfare and election interference plain and simple — something President Trump and his top Department of Justice officials say they are against." Cuomo's spokesperson, Rich Azzopardi, added that the mayoral candidate "testified truthfully to the best of his recollection about events from four years earlier, and he offered to address any follow-up questions from the subcommittee — but from the beginning this was all transparently political." Republicans initially referred Cuomo to the DOJ for prosecution in October, when Democrats were in power. The department did not act on the referral at the time. But according to the Times, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington, D.C., initiated the inquiry about a month ago after Republicans renewed their request that Cuomo be prosecuted for making false statements to Congress about his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic when he was New York governor. This story is developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Freed Hamas hostages to march in NY's Israel Day Parade this weekend: ‘We won't stop until everyone is home'
Hamas hostage survivors will march down Fifth Avenue on Sunday as part of New York's annual Israel Day Parade — to continue the push to free the remaining 58 captives. Keith and Aviva Siegel, Doron Steinbrecher, Ilana Gritzewsky and Eliya Cohen are expected to join as many as 40,000 other demonstrators for the parade, showing solidarity for Israel as well as advocating for the plight of the hostages. 'We will march together, standing with the families and released hostages, and making our message unmistakably clear: Nothing is more important than bringing them home — all of them. We won't stop until everyone is home,' the Jewish Community Relations Council said in a statement. This year's theme is, fittingly, 'Hatikvah,' meaning 'the hope' in Hebrew. It is also the title of Israel's national anthem. The parade logo for 2025 is a multi-colored tree with a yellow ribbon in its center, which has been used to signify support for the 251 people who were abducted by Hamas during the Oct. 7 attack. The Siegels and Gritzeweky were freed from captivity in November 2023 during the first cease-fire deal with Hamas, while Steinbracher and Cohen endured nearly 500 days of torture. 'It's just impossible to grasp, and there are no words to describe the lack of understanding in our country about what is taking place 50 meters underground,' Cohen said after his release. It will be the second march since the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war, and its mission has since pivoted from celebrating the Jewish culture to stamping out antisemitism and renewing demands to free the remaining hostages. The procession will start at 11:30 a.m. at 62nd Street and continue north to 74th Street.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former Hamas hostages recall horrific torture in Gaza as they call for remaining captives' freedom at NYC Israel Day parade
A pair of freed Israeli hostages recalled the torture they and others endured in Gaza as they joined the thousands marching at New York City's Israel Day parade on Sunday. Keith and Aviva Siegel joined chants from the attendees on Fifth Avenue demanding the remaining 58 hostages in Gaza be freed during the annual parade. US-Israel dual citizen Keith Siegel, 66 — who was held captive for 484 days before being freed in February — said there can be no time to waste in freeing the hostages, given the horrors he endured and witnessed inside Hamas' tunnel network. 'I experienced abuse of many different kinds,' Siegel said, alluding to his days spent shuffling around in dark tunnels and being deprived of food. 'I witnessed the abuse and the literal torture of other hostages that I saw, including women. I witnessed sexual abuse,' he added. 'I witnessed violence and humiliation and starvation and dehydration, being held in terrible conditions, not being able to clean my body for weeks at a time.' Despite the horrors in Gaza and the kidnappings on Oct. 7, which also saw 64 of his neighbors slain, Siegel considers himself 'a very lucky man' for surviving and being able to advocate for his fellow captives. 'We have lives that we can save, we must save them,' he told the crowd on Fifth Avenue. 'I feel terrible that I was released and they were left behind. I am doing anything that I can possibly do to bring them back home.' Aviva, who was freed in November 2023, described 'being in captivity underground and touching death' as 'one of the worst things that anyone can go through.' 'They have to all come home, all the 58 hostages in Gaza. They deserve a better life…We need to, as humans, push and scream for them, because they can't,' she added. The Siegels' plea was echoed by the thousands attending the parade who waved Israeli flags as they chanted 'Bring them home' and 'Hamas gotta go.' Along with the former hostages, wounded Israel Defense Forces soldiers Yiftach Golov, 41, and Liam Shpilman, 27, joined the parade. Golov, who suffered injuries to his back and left shoulder after a bomb blast in the West Bank back in 2003, said he was moved to see such a large crowd in New York in support of the Jewish state. 'Right now, Israel is undergoing a huge rebuilding of national resilience. The story of Israel is about its people, that's what basically is the source of the strength for its people,' he said. Shpilman, who volunteered to serve in the IDF once again following the Oct. 7 terrorist attack, said the war was necessary to protect Israel, no matter the cost. Shpliman was deployed along the northern border in the fight against Hezbollah, with a suicide drone ripping off his right leg and crushing his spine. 'Israel has the right to defend herself,' he said about the current conflict. 'I can say to you that our enemies will always find a reason to attack us. In the past, the Jewish blood was cheaper. Not anymore.' New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and New York Mayor Eric Adams also partook in the parade. Ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo and former Comptroller Scott Stringer — who are running in a crowded Democratic Party primary for city mayor — were also at the event. Democratic socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani skipped the parade. 'Zohran had prior commitments at churches and rallies across New York City today. However, he continues to believe in Israel's right to exist and has said so repeatedly,' his campaign spokesman Andrew Epstein said. Other candidates, city Comptroller Brad Lander and Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, also did not attend the parade. Both attended the pre-parade breakfast sponsored by the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty. Debra Lea, 25, of the Upper East Side, said it was important for as many people as possible to come out to the parade, which marks the second march since the start of the war in Gaza. 'I march every single year. I think it's so important. If we can't be loud and proud in a city like New York, how can we expect that from Jews anywhere else in the world? We are setting an example,' she told The Post. Alan Stern, 90, of Long Island, agreed that it was important to show widespread support for the Jewish community during such trying times. 'I think it's important to be counted,' he said.
CBS News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Israel Day Parade 2025 in NYC honors hostages released and still held by Hamas
The 2025 Israel Day Parade in New York City commemorated the country's 77th year of independence, but it also focused on the effort to bring the remaining hostages home from Gaza. Sunday's parade in Manhattan was held six days after Hamas released Edan Alexander, a New Jersey native who was believed to be the last living U.S. citizen held by the U.S. and Israeli-designated terrorist group. NYPD created a "frozen zone" around the parade route on Fifth Avenue, where security was tight amid an uptick in antisemitic threats and rhetoric. A small counter protest called "No Parade for Genocide" took place an avenue away on Madison. Freed hostages Keith and Aviva Siegel celebrated as honorary guests Honorary guests this year were Keith Siegel, a 66-year-old American-Israeli released by Hamas in February after 484 days in captivity, and his wife, Aviva, who was held hostage for 51 days. Siegel, 66, is from North Carolina, but has family in New York City. The couple said speaking out is part of their efforts to bring the remaining 58 hostages home. "I think it's amazing and it's so joyous to have Edan back home. I think it proves that we can get the hostages out," Keith Siegel said. "I witnesses sexual abuse, I witnessed violence and humiliation and starvation, dehydration." "Being in captivity underneath the ground and touching death is one of the worst things that anybody should go through," Aviva Siegel said. Push to bring remaining hostages home Keith Siegel said he was held with four other hostages who were still alive, including Omri Miran, whose wife, Lishay, was at the parade with their two daughters. "Roni, almost four years old, and Alma, she is two years old. They didn't see their father," she said. "Every morning, Roni asks me two questions. Why is Daddy still in Gaza and when is Daddy, Omri, coming back?" "I just wait to the moment that Roni and Alma run for him. Say 'Daddy!' And just hug him. This is what I want," Miran added. Officials also spoke about the importance of bringing home four Americans, believed by Israel to be dead, with ties to the New York City area. Parade crowd proclaims support for Israel During the parade, enthusiastic crowds accompanied colorful displays, and Holocaust survivors and politicians proclaimed their support for Israel. "1965, this parade started, and we're going to continue to move toward that hope we all look for," Mayor Eric Adams said. "The values that Israel holds are the same values this country holds," New York Attorney General Letitia James said. "To see all these people coming together, Jewish and non-Jewish coming here to stand together united, it means the world to me," Montana Tucker, a social media influencer, said. The theme of this year's parade was Hatiikvah, which in Hebrew means "the hope."
