Latest news with #NewYorkersforLowerCosts
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
New polls show a Cuomo-Mamdani face-off in a tightening New York mayoral race
NEW YORK — The Democratic primary for New York City mayor is effectively a two-person race between Andrew Cuomo and Zohran Mamdani, two new internal polls show. A survey conducted by Data for Progress on behalf of a super PAC for Mamdani found Cuomo up by just two points, while a poll from the ex-governor's camp showed Cuomo with a 12-point lead. Data for Progress, which conducted its text and web poll of 819 likely Democratic voters between May 30 and June 4, found Cuomo starts the ranked-choice race with a seven-point edge. He wins it in the eighth round by a 51-49 split — within the three-point margin of error. It was conducted on behalf of the super PAC New Yorkers for Lower Costs, as well as the national PAC for the Working Families Party — whose local arm is backing the democratic socialist state lawmaker. The findings indicate Mamdani's message of combating income inequality is resonating with voters who routinely rank housing and inflation as leading concerns, despite his rivals' hits on the 33-year-old lawmaker's inexperience. Cuomo's more recent poll of 600 likely Democratic primary voters, conducted between June 3 and 7 by Expedition Strategies, shows him beating Mamdani by 12 points — 56 to 44 — in the eighth round of voting. While it was being conducted, the candidates faced off in their first televised debate on June 4 and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez selected Mamdani as her top choice the following day. During the same period, pro-Cuomo super PAC Fix the City also started blanketing the airwaves and hitting mailboxes with ads saying Mamdani wanted to raise taxes and defund the police. Both surveys show every other candidate in single digits. "This poll makes clear that New Yorkers increasingly want a mayor who is focused on affordability, like Zohran Mamdani, and not a scandal-ridden politician like Andrew Cuomo,' New Yorkers for Lower Costs spokesperson Bill Neidhardt said in a statement. Cuomo resigned from office in 2021, following reports from the state attorney general that he sexually harassed female staffers and under counted nursing home deaths during Covid — all of which he denies. His pollster offered a different take on the findings. 'With five days to go until early voting begins in New York City, our latest poll shows Governor Cuomo with a durable lead and significant advantages over the rest of the field when it comes to critical qualities such as the ability to solve the city's problems,' Pete Brodnitz, founder and president of Expedition Strategies, wrote in a poll memo. His team reached likely voters by phone, including landlines, and text-to-web interviews. It has a 3.9 percent margin of error. The polls are solidifying the shape of the race as it enters its final weeks: Early voting begins Saturday, and the primary is June 24. Most voters' minds are made up by now, but the surveys each found some room for movement, with 8 percent of likely voters in Data for Progress' poll claiming to be undecided about the candidates, compared to 9 percent in the Expedition poll. More than one-quarter of likely voters, 28 percent, told Data for Progress they hadn't heard enough about Mamdani to form an opinion. Those who know him like him, giving him a 58-15 percent favorability rating. Cuomo's was even at 48-49, and just 3 percent of voters didn't know enough about the three-term New York governor to form an opinion. These polls reflect the continued trend in this race to replace Mayor Eric Adams, who is running as an independent following the fallout from his federal indictment: Cuomo is leading, Mamdani is gaining and no one else has found a foothold to climb. "We're confident in our methodology and these results — we have a strong track record here, and believe this snapshot reflects the state of the race as it stood in early June,' said Ryan O'Donnell, deputy executive director of Data for Progress. The firm was accurate in its 2021 mayoral poll just before primary day. The Cuomo campaign survey reached voters through phone calls, including landlines, while the Mamdani poll was on the web only. The samples — the pollsters' expectation of the demographics of voters who will show up to vote — varied only slightly. The Cuomo poll's respondents were 41 percent white, and 30 percent under the age 45, for example, while the Mamdani poll's sample was 42 percent white and 33 percent under 45. Cuomo polls best with Black voters and older voters, while Mamdani leads the field with white voters and younger voters. The most notable difference was how much support each of the leading two candidates picked up when ranked-choice votes were distributed. In Cuomo's poll, the ex-governor maintains his 12-point lead over Mamdani the whole time — suggesting voters who ranked other candidates first are fairly evenly split between the leading contenders. The Mamdani supporters' poll, meanwhile, demonstrates Mamdani picking up 16 percentage points from the first to the eighth round, while Cuomo gains 11. That suggests the anti-Cuomo DREAM strategy — an acronym for Don't Rank Evil Andrew for Mayor, promoted by the Working Families Party — is reaching more voters, who are choosing to leave Cuomo off their ballots entirely. Meanwhile, Cuomo and the main super PAC backing him have started going after Mamdani, who told NBC New York on Monday that indicates his rise in the polls. 'His decision to start focusing on me in the final weeks of this race shows the fact that he is scared,' Mamdani said. 'Scared of the fact where he once had a 40-point lead, it is now in single digits.'
Politico
16 hours ago
- Business
- Politico
New polls show a Cuomo-Mamdani face off in a tightening New York mayoral race
NEW YORK — The Democratic primary for New York City mayor is effectively a two-person race between Andrew Cuomo and Zohran Mamdani, two new internal polls show. A survey conducted by Data for Progress on behalf of a super PAC for Mamdani found Cuomo up by just two points, while a poll from the ex-governor's camp showed Cuomo with a 12-point lead. Data for Progress, which conducted its text and web poll of 819 likely Democratic voters between May 30 and June 4, found Cuomo starts the ranked-choice race with a seven-point edge. He wins it in the eighth round by a 51-49 split — within the three-point margin of error. It was conducted on behalf of the super PAC New Yorkers for Lower Costs, as well as the national PAC for the Working Families Party — whose local arm is backing the democratic socialist state lawmaker. The findings indicate Mamdani's message of combating income inequality is resonating with voters who routinely rank housing and inflation as leading concerns, despite his rivals' hits on the 33-year-old lawmaker's inexperience. Cuomo's more recent poll of 600 likely Democratic primary voters, conducted between June 3 and 7 by Expedition Strategies, shows him beating Mamdani by 12 points — 56 to 44 — in the eighth round of voting. While it was being conducted, the candidates faced off in their first televised debate on June 4 and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez selected Mamdani as her top choice the following day. During the same period, pro-Cuomo super PAC Fix the City also started blanketing the airwaves and hitting mailboxes with ads saying Mamdani wanted to raise taxes and defund the police. Both surveys show every other candidate in single digits. 'This poll makes clear that New Yorkers increasingly want a mayor who is focused on affordability, like Zohran Mamdani, and not a scandal-ridden politician like Andrew Cuomo,' New Yorkers for Lower Costs spokesperson Bill Neidhardt said in a statement. Cuomo resigned from office in 2021, following reports from the state attorney general that he sexually harassed female staffers and under counted nursing home deaths during Covid — all of which he denies. His pollster offered a different take on the findings. 'With five days to go until early voting begins in New York City, our latest poll shows Governor Cuomo with a durable lead and significant advantages over the rest of the field when it comes to critical qualities such as the ability to solve the city's problems,' Pete Brodnitz, founder and president of Expedition Strategies, wrote in a poll memo. His team reached likely voters by phone, including landlines, and text-to-web interviews. It has a 3.9 percent margin of error. The polls are solidifying the shape of the race as it enters its final weeks: Early voting begins Saturday, and the primary is June 24. Most voters' minds are made up by now, but the surveys each found some room for movement, with 8 percent of likely voters in Data for Progress' poll claiming to be undecided about the candidates, compared to 9 percent in the Expedition poll. More than one-quarter of likely voters, 28 percent, told Data for Progress they hadn't heard enough about Mamdani to form an opinion. Those who know him like him, giving him a 58-15 percent favorability rating. Cuomo's was even at 48-49, and just 3 percent of voters didn't know enough about the three-term New York governor to form an opinion. These polls reflect the continued trend in this race to replace Mayor Eric Adams, who is running as an independent following the fallout from his federal indictment: Cuomo is leading, Mamdani is gaining and no one else has found a foothold to climb. 'We're confident in our methodology and these results — we have a strong track record here, and believe this snapshot reflects the state of the race as it stood in early June,' said Ryan O'Donnell, deputy executive director of Data for Progress. The firm was accurate in its 2021 mayoral poll just before primary day. The Cuomo campaign survey reached voters through phone calls, including landlines, while the Mamdani poll was on the web only. The samples — the pollsters' expectation of the demographics of voters who will show up to vote — varied only slightly. The Cuomo poll's respondents were 41 percent white, and 30 percent under the age 45, for example, while the Mamdani poll's sample was 42 percent white and 33 percent under 45. Cuomo polls best with Black voters and older voters, while Mamdani leads the field with white voters and younger voters. The most notable difference was how much support each of the leading two candidates picked up when ranked-choice votes were distributed. In Cuomo's poll, the ex-governor maintains his 12-point lead over Mamdani the whole time — suggesting voters who ranked other candidates first are fairly evenly split between the leading contenders. The Mamdani supporters' poll, meanwhile, demonstrates Mamdani picking up 16 percentage points from the first to the eighth round, while Cuomo gains 11. That suggests the anti-Cuomo DREAM strategy — an acronym for Don't Rank Evil Andrew for Mayor, promoted by the Working Families Party — is reaching more voters, who are choosing to leave Cuomo off their ballots entirely. Meanwhile, Cuomo and the main super PAC backing him have started going after Mamdani, who told NBC New York on Monday that indicates his rise in the polls. 'His decision to start focusing on me in the final weeks of this race shows the fact that he is scared,' Mamdani said. 'Scared of the fact where he once had a 40-point lead, it is now in single digits.'
New York Post
04-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Rashid Tlaib fund-raises for NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani
Radical Israel-bashing 'Squad' Rep. Rashida Tlaib is doing a text blast to raise funds for a super PAC backing Zohran Mamdani for mayor — but not everyone is pleased with the solicitation. Tlaib's pitch recently showed up on the mobile phones of prospective donors courtesy of the pro-Mamdani group New Yorkers for Lower Costs. Mamdani, as with the Michigan congresswoman, is an ardent foe of Israel and supports the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against the Jewish state. 3 Rep. Rashida Tlaib is helping raise funds for a super PAC supporting mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. Photo by3 Tlaib's message of support for Mamdani was sent out as a text to potential donors by New Yorkers for Lower Costs. Robert Miller 'Zohran, who's led hunger strikes for a cease-fire [in Gaza] and workers' rights, isn't raising any more money for his campaign under New York City's public financing system,' Tlaib said in the solicitation. The Mamdani campaign has already hit the maximum fundraising cap under the system after raising thousands of small donations that qualified it for the 8 to 1 in public matching funds. New Yorkers for Lower Costs has raised about $60,000 in its efforts to date, although that's a pittance compared to the more than $4 million secured by the Fix The City super Pac supporting Democratic mayoral front-runner and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. 'Andrew Cuomo, who's on the legal team defending [Israel] Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu for war crimes in Gaza, has millions pouring in from his billionaire-backed super Pac,' Tlaib complained in the ad for Mamdani. 3 Tlaib participated in a Democratic Socialists of America virtual organizing call for Mamdani last month. 'Zohran is getting drowned out on the airwaves. That's why I'm supporting the official Zohran Mamdani support PAC — to run the ads Zohran can't,' said the congresswoman — who has been openly supportive of the Palestinian terror group Hamas and called for the destruction of Israel. A Jewish donor who is a staunch backer of Israel and requested anonymity told The Post they were 'appalled' at receiving a text message from Tlaib on behalf of Mamdani. Brooklyn state Assemblyman Kalman Yeger, a strong ally of Israel, also said he is not surprised that Tlaib is being used as a fundraising tool by the pro-Mamdani camp. 'Unfortunately, in New York City, there are antisemites out there who would be receptive to her message, and Mamdani is the most antisemitic candidate New York has ever seen,' Yeger said. Mamdani, a state assemblyman from western Queens, is running second behind Cuomo in recent Democratic primary polls. Last month, Tlaib participated in a Democratic Socialists of America virtual organizing call for Mamdani, where she urged 'comrades' to back him for mayor. Tlaib, a member of the US House of Representatives' far-left 'Squad' alongside Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-Bronx-Queens) and others, is known for her disdain of her own party's support for Israel. As the only Palestinian American in Congress, she has been openly supportive of Hamas during her time in office and has even been censured by colleagues for defending it and for calling for the destruction of the Jewish state. During Netanyahu's address to Congress last spring, Tlaib was widely ripped for brandishing a sign accusing the Israeli leader of being a 'war criminal' and 'guilty of genocide.' She also repeatedly berated then-President Joe Biden as an 'enabler' over his handling of the Israel-Hamas war and even declined to endorse Kamala Harris as her party's 2024 presidential pick. Branded by some Republicans as the 'poster child' for Trump derangement syndrome, Tlaib most recently held up real-time signs during President Trump's joint session of Congress last month declaring him a 'liar.'
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump backer Bill Ackman supports Cuomo's mayoral bid with $250K donation
NEW YORK — Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, a prominent supporter of Republican President Donald Trump, has donated $250,000 to a super PAC boosting Andrew Cuomo's run for New York City mayor, new campaign finance filings show. It's the latest example of GOP-affiliated players getting behind New York's Democratic former governor as he vies to replace Mayor Eric Adams. Ackman's contribution helped the pro-Cuomo Fix the City super PAC exceed $4.8 million in donations, while an effort to blunt Cuomo's comeback is having a much tougher time. New Yorkers for Better Leadership reported a $1,000 contribution from climate tech investor Thomas O'Keefe — its first donation of $1,000 or more since forming March 11 to castigate Cuomo's Albany record. Other super PACs opposing Cuomo have also attracted only modest support. New Yorkers for Lower Costs, which favors democratic socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, reported raising $56,500 through last week. And a group with the slogan 'Don't Rank Evil Andrew for Mayor' has just $10,500 in contributions of $1,000 or more. Fix the City, meanwhile, has lured 71 major contributors since the beginning of March, according to disclosures filed Monday with the state Board of Elections. Over the past week, New York real estate developer brothers Kamran and Frederick Elghanayan of TF Cornerstone donated $25,000 each, cardboard magnate Dennis Mehiel gave $50,000 and Republican Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff, who served as state treasurer under former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, gave $5,000. The donations underscore Cuomo's appeal to finance and real estate titans as he dominates the polls in his bid for mayor. A political firebrand, Ackman's opposition to diversity, equity and inclusion policies have triggered weekly protests from Al Sharpton. Ackman made headlines last week for breaking with Trump over his tariff policy, then vociferously praising Trump for delaying the implementation. 'This was brilliantly executed' by Trump, Ackman posted on X. 'Textbook, Art of the Deal.' Representatives for Pershing Square Holdings, Ackman's firm, and the super PAC both declined to comment on the donation. Ackman has been an outspoken critic of Columbia University's handling of campus protests supporting Palestine and criticizing Israel. Cuomo has also criticized Columbia's response in making opposition to antisemitism a central plank of his campaign. A prolific donor to Republicans and Democrats, Ackman also gave $2,034 to long-shot Democratic mayoral candidate Whitney Tilson — an investor with whom he attended Harvard University. Campaign finance records show Ackman last gave to Cuomo for his gubernatorial reelection bid in 2013, and he contributed $250,000 to a super PAC backing Wall Street investor Ray McGuire, who finished seventh in the Democratic primary for mayor four years ago. Cuomo's opponents have criticized his donors as out of step with Democratic primary voters. 'Brad Lander has joined Rev. Sharpton and the National Action Network to protest Bill Ackman's disgusting pushes to roll back civil rights and DEI programs nationally,' Dora Pekec, a spokesperson for the city comptroller and mayoral candidate, said in a statement. 'No one is surprised Trump agent Ackman is bankrolling Cuomo's Super PAC, after Cuomo himself accepted thousands in donations from MAGA donors who helped elect Trump.' Lauren Hitt, a spokesperson for New Yorkers for Better Leadership, said more money would come to block Cuomo. 'We know that it is more than possible to fund a strong anti-Cuomo movement, and we're confident once a strong challenger emerges to the former governor, that effort can come together quickly,' Hitt said in a statement. 'Cuomo is still very beatable — he has the highest negatives of any candidate in the race, and his lead is primarily rooted in the fact that his challengers are virtually unknown.' Earlier donors to Fix the City include entertainment mogul Barry Diller, Walmart heir Alice Walton and singer Billy Joel, a friend of Cuomo's. Players in the real estate and financial sectors have donated heavily to the organization, which is run by longtime Cuomo ally Steven Cohen. New York City mayoral candidates who participate in the city's matching funds program — as all Democrats this year are — agree to a $2,100 contribution ceiling, but super PACs can take unlimited donations as long as they don't coordinate with campaigns.
Politico
14-04-2025
- Business
- Politico
Trump backer Bill Ackman supports Cuomo's mayoral bid with $250K donation
NEW YORK — Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, a prominent supporter of Republican President Donald Trump, has donated $250,000 to a super PAC boosting Andrew Cuomo's run for New York City mayor, new campaign finance filings show. It's the latest example of GOP-affiliated players getting behind New York's Democratic former governor as he vies to replace Mayor Eric Adams. Ackman's contribution helped the pro-Cuomo Fix the City super PAC exceed $4.8 million in donations, while an effort to blunt Cuomo's comeback is having a much tougher time. New Yorkers for Better Leadership reported a $1,000 contribution from climate tech investor Thomas O'Keefe — its first donation of $1,000 or more since forming March 11 to castigate Cuomo's Albany record. Other super PACs opposing Cuomo have also attracted only modest support. New Yorkers for Lower Costs, which favors democratic socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, reported raising $56,500 through last week. And a group with the slogan 'Don't Rank Evil Andrew for Mayor' has just $10,500 in contributions of $1,000 or more. Fix the City, meanwhile, has lured 71 major contributors since the beginning of March, according to disclosures filed Monday with the state Board of Elections. Over the past week, New York real estate developer brothers Kamran and Frederick Elghanayan of TF Cornerstone donated $25,000 each, cardboard magnate Dennis Mehiel gave $50,000 and Republican Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff, who served as state treasurer under former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, gave $5,000. The donations underscore Cuomo's appeal to finance and real estate titans as he dominates the polls in his bid for mayor. A political firebrand, Ackman's opposition to diversity, equity and inclusion policies have triggered weekly protests from Al Sharpton. Ackman made headlines last week for breaking with Trump over his tariff policy, then vociferously praising Trump for delaying the implementation. 'This was brilliantly executed' by Trump, Ackman posted on X . 'Textbook, Art of the Deal.' Representatives for Pershing Square Holdings, Ackman's firm, and the super PAC both declined to comment on the donation. Ackman has been an outspoken critic of Columbia University's handling of campus protests supporting Palestine and criticizing Israel. Cuomo has also criticized Columbia's response in making opposition to antisemitism a central plank of his campaign. A prolific donor to Republicans and Democrats, Ackman also gave $2,034 to long-shot Democratic mayoral candidate Whitney Tilson — an investor with whom he attended Harvard University. Campaign finance records show Ackman last gave to Cuomo for his gubernatorial reelection bid in 2013, and he contributed $250,000 to a super PAC backing Wall Street investor Ray McGuire, who finished seventh in the Democratic primary for mayor four years ago. Cuomo's opponents have criticized his donors as out of step with Democratic primary voters. 'Brad Lander has joined Rev. Sharpton and the National Action Network to protest Bill Ackman's disgusting pushes to roll back civil rights and DEI programs nationally,' Dora Pekec, a spokesperson for the city comptroller and mayoral candidate, said in a statement. 'No one is surprised Trump agent Ackman is bankrolling Cuomo's Super PAC, after Cuomo himself accepted thousands in donations from MAGA donors who helped elect Trump.' Lauren Hitt, a spokesperson for New Yorkers for Better Leadership, said more money would come to block Cuomo. 'We know that it is more than possible to fund a strong anti-Cuomo movement, and we're confident once a strong challenger emerges to the former governor, that effort can come together quickly,' Hitt said in a statement. 'Cuomo is still very beatable — he has the highest negatives of any candidate in the race, and his lead is primarily rooted in the fact that his challengers are virtually unknown.' Earlier donors to Fix the City include entertainment mogul Barry Diller, Walmart heir Alice Walton and singer Billy Joel, a friend of Cuomo's. Players in the real estate and financial sectors have donated heavily to the organization, which is run by longtime Cuomo ally Steven Cohen. New York City mayoral candidates who participate in the city's matching funds program — as all Democrats this year are — agree to a $2,100 contribution ceiling, but super PACs can take unlimited donations as long as they don't coordinate with campaigns.
