With early voting kicking off in just over two months, Zohran Mamdani’s grip on Jewish voters remains firm despite his antisemitic positions that have drawn sharp criticism from pro-Israel groups.
New polling data by Zenith Research and Public Progress Solutions shows Mamdani maintaining his lead among Jewish voters citywide (43%) compared to 26% for former Governor Andrew Cuomo and 15% for incumbent Mayor Eric Adams.
Mamdani, a state assemblyman from Queens and a prominent member of the Democratic Socialists of America, has often been at odds with pro-Israel institutions. He has endorsed the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement and declined to affirm Israel’s status as a Jewish state. His positions that have drawn sharp criticism from both Republican and centrist Democratic circles who have accused him of crossing into antisemitic rhetoric, pointing to his past hesitation to condemn chants like “globalize the intifada.”
Mamdani has consistently denied those claims, arguing that his critique is aimed at Israeli government policy, not Jews or Judaism. Nevertheless, he appears to be gaining ground among Jewish voters, especially the younger generation.
Many seem drawn to his progressive platform, which includes a proposed Department of Community Safety to address violence without expanding police power, and increased funding to fight hate crimes citywide. Among Jewish voters aged 18 to 44, support for Mamdani jumps to 67%.
Meanwhile citywide Mamdani remains the clear front-runner in a fractured race. The poll has him at 50% overall, compared to 22% for Cuomo, 13% for Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, and just 7% for Adams, who is running as an independent.
Though once a vocal supporter of defunding the police, Mamdani has since softened his stance in recent months—particularly after a deadly shooting at a Midtown office building. He now says he supports maintaining NYPD staffing levels while investing heavily in non-police solutions to public safety.
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