Poll Shows Leaders In NYC Democratic Primaries

Andrew Cuomo, Mark Levine and Jumaane Williams were the leaders in three New York City Democratic primary contests in a poll released in April by Honan Strategy Group. The survey, conducted April 16-17 among 823 likely Democratic primary voters, put Cuomo at 45% in the mayor’s race, Levine at 25% in the comptroller race and Williams at 51% in the public advocate race. The poll arrived as campaigns prepared for the city’s June 24, 2025 primary and as candidates competed for endorsements, donors and turnout operations. Early voting was scheduled for June 14 through June 22, according to Patch’s election calendar. ### Which poll is this, and when was it taken? Honan Strategy Group dated the mayoral and down-ballot findings April 18, 2025, and said it surveyed likely Democratic primary voters using a text-to-web methodology. (empirereportnewyork.com) The firm said the sample included voters with confirmed Democratic primary voting history as well as a portion of what it described as anti-Trump surge voters. (patch.com) The mayoral poll and the comptroller-public advocate poll each reported 823 interviews and a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.41 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. Honan said the survey was conducted in all five boroughs and weighted to reflect the city’s Democratic primary electorate. ### How far ahead was Cuomo in the mayor’s race? (empirereportnewyork.com) Andrew Cuomo, the former New York governor, led the Democratic mayoral field with 45% support in the April poll. Zohran Mamdani, a Queens assemblyman, was second at 22%, while the remaining candidates were each below 10% and 14% of voters were undecided, Honan said. (empirereportnewyork.com) The ranked-choice simulation in the same poll showed Cuomo winning 64% to Mamdani’s 36% in the seventh round. Honan said a full ranked-choice exercise was “largely an academic exercise” in that survey because Cuomo was already above 50% on the initial ballot test. ### Who was ahead in the comptroller and public advocate races? (empirereportnewyork.com) Mark Levine, the Manhattan borough president, led the comptroller primary with 25% support, according to Honan’s April memo. Justin Brannan, a City Council member, had 10%, Kevin Parker, a state senator, had 5%, and about six in 10 voters were undecided. (empirereportnewyork.com) Jumaane Williams, the incumbent public advocate, drew 51% support in the same survey. Marty Dolan, identified by Honan as a businessman, and Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar each had 6%, while 32% of voters were undecided. ### What should readers keep in mind about these numbers? Honan Strategy Group described the five city chambers of commerce tied to the April polling as nonpartisan organizations that do not endorse candidates. (empirereportnewyork.com) The firm’s memo said the survey measured likely Democratic primary voters, not all registered voters, and the undecided share remained large in the comptroller race. The April poll was one snapshot in a fluid campaign. Honan’s earlier March mayoral survey had also shown Cuomo ahead, though at 41%, with Mamdani at 18%, indicating movement before the later April release. ### When do New Yorkers vote, and what happens next? June 24, 2025 was the scheduled primary date for New York City, with polls open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., according to Patch’s voter guide. (empirereportnewyork.com) The city uses ranked-choice voting in primaries for mayor, comptroller and public advocate, and early voting was set to begin June 14. (empirereportnewyork.com) Applications for mail ballots were due by June 14, and in-person early voting was to continue through June 22. The next public test for Cuomo, Levine, Williams and their rivals was turnout in that June primary. (patch.com)